By BRENT LONG

What goes around comes around in Adam Brown’s world.

Forty years ago this past summer Brown picked up the phone, put his index finger in the rotary phone at his parents’ home in Dundas, ON and dialed long distance to a town called Woodbridge.

News of a fabulous new golf course named The National Golf Club designed by the team of American golf course architects George and Tom Fazio had been buzzing around the province for a few months and Brown wanted to see what it was all about for himself.

By that time the 21-year-old had won the Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship, lost in a playoff to Kelly Roberts in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship and was playing well in the U.S. on a scholarship at Miami University in Oxford Ohio.

“I grew up trying to be like Jack (Nicklaus),” said Brown who started to play the game at the age of nine at what is now Hidden Lake GC in Burlington followed by Glendale G&CC. “I have never met Jack, but I did have one of my first lessons from his instructor Jim Flick at Cincinnati County Club.”

Brown’s stomach twirled with a touch of nervousness and anticipation as the phone rang and he waited to be connected to Ben Kern, a noted professional who would be named the club’s Head Professional in 1976.

“The course wasn’t officially open at that time and I didn’t even know if Ben would know who I was, but I wanted to give it a try”, Brown says as he sits in the club’s modern day clubhouse that opened in 2008. “I’ll never forget that call, I introduced myself and asked if I could play and he warmly welcomed me. Ben said, “Yes” to junior champions because he wanted to promote the game and help aspiring young players. He knew who the players were.”

Brown played his first round at The National on his own. At every turn and with every shot he could not believe what he was seeing and playing.

“As I drove in along old Pine Valley Drive to the clubhouse I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the first course of its kind in the country and it looked incredible,” says Brown. “I remember being amazed by the quickness of the green speeds. I had never played on anything like that and there were no pitch and run shots to be made at The National. I grew up with a pitch and run game. All of a sudden I was being faced with having to make a lob or a flop shot when I missed a green and it was very challenging.”

The sight and size of the Fazios’ fairway and green side bunkers also made Brown take a second look and sometimes a third before firing away.

“I asked Ben, “Is this the way modern golf is going? And he said, “Yes,” recalls Brown, who returned to play the course two more times that summer with his father and was personally welcomed back each time by Ben.

Today, at The National Golf Club of Canada, there was an official name change along the way, Brown is Head Professional. He started working at the Club as an assistant in 1999 and took the top job in 2005, after winning the 2004 PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.

The club has only had four head professionals over its 40-year history – Al Balding from 1974-1975, Ben Kern from 1976 to 1995, Norm Hitzroth from 1996 to 2004 and Brown.

Its three original founding members; Gil Blechman, Harvey Kalef and Irv Hennick each passed away within seven years of each other between 2000 and 2007. As legend goes the dream of The National was conceived on a hot, lazy afternoon in the summer of 1972 at Maple Downs G&CC where the trio were members. They were tired of the slow play and kids splashing around in the pool during their back swings. It was time for a change when Kalef said, “Enough of this crap. What we ought to do is buy ourselves a super golf club, the best anywhere. We’ll make it exclusive, for men only.”

That was a Friday afternoon and Blechman knew of a course that was for sale. On the Monday, Kalef went to his lawyer and without having seen Pine Valley Golf Club put in an offer to purchase from the estate of the late Jack Bailey that was accepted.

They hired the Fazios’ to design, “the best golf course in the world and money’s no object,” Blechman said. It’s a good thing it wasn’t, because Tom Fazio told Blechman he needed more land to make his dream reality and they proceeded to buy three adjoining farms totalling 135 acres. Construction of the Fazio masterpiece started on May 15, 1973, the land was cleared by June 1^st and the course was finished in three months with an official opening in 1975. The Fazio golf course design team continue to make annual visits to the club to review the course and make suggestions for tweaking the layout.

When it first opened the course, which was an instant success and on its way to quickly becoming the No. 1 golf course in Canada, the layout had three sets of tees. Today it has four sets of tees with two hybrid options for a total of six playing options measuring from 6002 to 7,235 yards, par-71. It’s very first scorecard had Al Balding as Head Professional and Ken Venturi as Associate Director with the tees measuring 5,855 yards, 6,306 yards and 6,989 yards, par-71.

“The course continues to evolve without losing its essence of being tough but fair and that’s what makes it timeless,” Brown says. “It was tough 40 years ago and it has that exact same toughness today although there have been changes and that is truly remarkable.”

Once a year players gather for the Ben Kern Pro-Am. It’s the only tournament at the club played from the back Gold tees. It’s one of the exceptional golf experiences in Canada that only the lucky few have the opportunity to play.

The favourite part of Brown’s job is seeing the expressions of first time guests as they play the course. “I’ll greet them when they arrive and I’ll go out and see them on the seventh or eighth hole and you can see it in their eyes. It gets everybody and the better the player the more they have recognized what they have played.”

He too knows the players and the champions. The tradition continues although cell phones have replaced rotary phones. Austin James won the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship and Matt LeMay won the 2014 Ontario Junior Boys Championship. You just never know where they might be 40 years from now.

The GAO is pleased to present the NXTee program. A program designed for kids from 8-13 so that they can find their pathway in golf.

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 to offer 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.

www.gao.ca/nxtee

MARKHAM — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2014 Volunteer of the Year, District Volunteer of the Year, Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award, Paul “Fitz” Fitzgerald Award and Len and Went Award. The announcement was made on Oct. 2, at a Volunteer Appreciation Day at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham.

The GAO volunteer recognition program has been designed to recognize outstanding performance 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.

Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award — Ian Giles

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. Throughout his time in golf, he was known a masterful coordinator, promoter, official, fan, and – most importantly – passionate volunteer who put his heart and soul into making golf better. The GAO’s Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual’s meritorious service to the game of golf in Ontario 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.

The 2014 recipient, Hamilton’s Ian Giles, has been involved with volunteering in golf for more than 40 years. From 1982-1989 he served as the Men’s Section President at his home club Chedoke Golf Club. During that time he acted as the Host Club Chair for the Ontario and Canadian Junior Boys’ Championship.  In 2001, Giles acted as the President of the Ontario Golf Association (OGA) and the next year helped lead the association through the amalgamation with the Ontario Ladies Golf Association.  Before becoming President, Giles spent six years as a Director on the OGA board chairing numerous committees including the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame committee in 2007 and 2008.

Giles went on to become a Governor with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada), from 2003-2012, where he chaired many national Tournaments. In 2010, he achieved his certification as a level 4 rules official. Giles continues to serve the GAO as a site coordinator, senior rules official, rules official and tournament official as well as a member of the GAO Officials Development Committee.

Volunteer of the Year — John Turner

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. This year the award is presented to Bayfield resident John Turner. Turner has been a volunteer with the GAO since 2008.  Turner joined the GAO already with many years of experience as an accomplished rules official and jumped into the role of senior rules official with the association.

Turner has been part of the GAO Board of Directors since 2010 and has served as the Officials Development Chair since 2013. He has also been part of the Finance, Sport and Membership committees. Turner has been active in setting professional standards for GAO officials. He has conducted weekly online educational seminars to help educate and prepare officials for certification or re-certification.

During the season, Turner can still be found at GAO and Golf Canada events as a rules official and taking on the role of senior rules official.

District Volunteer of the Year — Gerry Bower

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.

Kanata Resident and Greensmere Golf Club member Gerry Bower is the 2014 recipient of the award. Bower has been long-time member of Golf Canada and a GAO member for the past three. He became a rules official in 2007 and has served on the Ottawa Valley Golf Association (OVGA) Board as its Rules Committee Chair for the past five years.

During the winter, Bower conducts weekly Go To Meeting sessions in order to train and prepare the members of the OVGA Rules Committee for their various levels of exams.  He works an average of 25-30 days for the district alone on tournaments, plus provides support for the GAO qualifiers as a site coordinator/rules official and at championships as senior rules official. The last two years Bower has participated as a member of the GAO’s Officials Development Committee.

Paul “Fitz” Fitzgerald Award — Bob Heath

The Paul “Fitz” Fitzgerald Award is to recognize Ontario Course Raters that have demonstrated leadership and dedication to the promotion of the course rating system by achieving a combination of the following: completing courses on schedule, tending to extra rating requests, helping to train raters, attending a national course rating calibration seminar and/or instructing at a seminar.

This year, the award goes to Bob Heath. Heath a resident of Newmarket and member of the South Muskoka Curling and Golf Club, has been consistent in completing his schedule in a timely manner. He has always been willing to help, most recently by helping the Niagara team complete their schedule as well as provided additional training to their raters. In 2011, Heath helped train the Waterloo team, from scratch, and they are now one of the strongest rating teams in the province. Heath has attended the national course rating seminar on multiple occasions and presented several items at this year’s provincial seminar.

In addition to achieving all of the benchmarks, Heath has been instrumental in helping the GAO put together a Course Rater Certification Program. Heath has been a huge asset to the course-rating department for several years.

Len and Went Award

The “Len and Went Award” is presented annually to individuals who have achieved National (Level 4) Certification in the Rules of Golf. Achieving the level this year are:

• Blake Wimperis
• Brad Elliot
• Mike O’Neill

The GAO congratulates all of the 2014 award winners and thanks all of the volunteers who put in countless hours to make GAO events successful.

Americans finish with team-total, 17-under par 559 for wire-to-wire gold medal finish at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

Team USA’s Mika Liu (-9) wins individual gold medal by three shots over teammate Megan Khang (-6) with Sweden’s Emma Svensson (-3) capturing the bronze medal 

MARKHAM, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Team USA got out to an early lead and never let it go, finishing with a team-total score of 17-under par 559 for the wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.

The Americans (137-141-137-144—559) began Wednesday’s final round with a commanding 16-shot lead and went on to shoot a team-total, even-par 144 to capture top spot on the medal podium.

Team USA counted matching rounds of even-par 72 by 16-year old Megan Khang (67-73-70-72—282) and 15-year old Angel Yin (73-72-73-72—290) while 15-year old Mika Liu (70-69-67-73—279), who finished as individual gold medalist, rounded out the scoring with a round of 1-over 73.

For Team USA non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum, the victory capped a special week that left her beaming with pride for her young squad.

“They’re my dream team, it’s been wonderful it’s been a great week and a real team effort; I couldn’t be more proud of the three of them, the way they conducted themselves on the course and off the course,” said Myhrum. “Go play and have fun, there is really not much else I can say to these three. They had great course management and are really easy to captain because they know how to get around the golf course – they didn’t really need me this week.”

Sweden, which began the day tied for fifth, five shots back of a podium placing, vaulted into the silver medal by counting the low team-total of the final round – 5-under par 139. Leading the way for the Swedes was 18-year old Emma Svensson (76-70-72-67—285) who counted the low round of the day on the South Course at Angus Glen, a sizzling 5-under 67. Seventeen year old Filippa Mork (81-75-77-72—305) saved her best round – even-par 72 – for the final day to count the second score while 18-year old Michaela Finn (74-72-72-75—295) rounded out the scoring for Sweden.

Team Canada (144-146-141-149—580) was looking to build on their team-best score from Tuesday but it wasn’t meant to be as the host country shot a final-round, team-total 5-over 149 to claim the bronze medal. The Canucks counted final-round scores of even-par 72 by Brooke Henderson (17) of Smiths Falls, Ont. (70-73-71-72—286) and 5-over 77 by Grace St-Germain (16) of Ottawa (74-73-78-77—302) while teammate Naomi Ko (17) of Victoria (77-79-70-81—307) completed the scoring with a non-counting 81.

Rounding out the top-five in the team competition at the inaugural World Junior Girls Team Championship was Team Denmark (149-143-141-150—583) in fourth at 7-over 583 followed by Spain in fifth (147-146-142-152—587) at 11-over 587.

Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee (17) of Calgary (72-77-75-75—299), Selena Costabile (16) of Thornhill, Ont. (78-74-74-76—302) and Alisha Lau (14) of Richmond, B.C. (83-80-75-74—312) shot a final-round, team-total 5-over 149 (150-151-149-149—599) to finish tied for 13th position.

In the individual competition, 15-year old American standout Mika Liu (70-69-67-73—279) shot a final-round, 1-over 73 to win the gold medal by three shots over her USA teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70-72—282). Liu came into Wednesday’s final round with a four-shot lead over Khang and was more excited to contribute to the team victory than capturing individual gold.

“Yes, I am extremely happy that my team won first and that I did too – it is a total celebration,” said Liu, the no. 48 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. “To be able to share the podium with my teammates who were out there on the course with me and my captain and manager makes me extremely happy and proud because we came here together and we are able to leave as champions together.”

Sweden’s Emma Svensson (76-70-72-67—285) saved her best play for the final round, firing a 5-under 67 and tournament-total 3-under 285 to edge out Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70-73-71-72—286) by a single stroke and capture the bronze medal. Team USA’s Angela Yin Angel Yin (73-72-73-72—290) and Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey (77-67-74-72—290) tied for fifth at 2-over for the tournament.

The following are final team scores from the World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course / par 72 / 6,298 yards):
1. United States of America – Megan Khang, Angel Yin, Mika Liu *137-141-137-144-559 -17
2. Sweden – Emma Svensson, Filippa Mork, Michaela Finn *150-144-144-139-577 +1
3. Canada 1 – Brooke Henderson, Naomi Ko, Grace St-Germain *144-146-141-149-580 +4
4. Denmark – Puk Thomsen, Line Hansen, Marie Lund-Hansen *149-143-141-150-583 +7
5. Spain – Nuria Iturrios Servera, Alejandra Pasarin Olalla, Ana Pelaez Trivino *147-146-142-152-587 +11
6. Czech Republic – Kristýna Frýdlová, Karolína Kohoutová, Hana Ryškova *153-143-143-149-588 +12
7. Ireland – Mary Doyle, Olivia Mehaffey, Annabel Wilson *155-140-149-147-591 +15
7. England – India Clyburn, Alice Hewson, Inci Mehmet *148-149-143-151-591 +15
7. Belgium – Diane Baillieux, Clarisse Louis, Elodie Van Dievoet *150-145-146-150-591 +15
10. Italy – Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso, Martina Flori, Carlotta Ricolfi *147-145-146-154-592 +16
11. Australia – Hannah Green, Karis Davidson, Soo Jin (Jenny) Lee *154-145-144-153-596 +20
12. Finland – Anna Backman, Ellinoora Moisio, Sandra Salonen *145-149-152-152-598 +22
13. Canada 2 – Jaclyn Lee, Selena Costabile, Alisha Lau *150-151-149-149-599 +23
13. Mexico – Isabella Fierro, Maria Fassi, Monica Dibildox Hassaf *151-154-147-147-599 +23
15. New Zealand – Alanna Campbell, Julianne Alvarez, Wenyung Keh *156-147-157-148-608 +32
16. Norway – Sandra Nordaas, Dorthea Charlotte Forbrigd, Renate Grimstad *151-153-149-156-609 +33

The following are final individual scores from the World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course / par 72 / 6,298 yards):
1. Mika Liu, United States of America, *70-69-67-73-279 -9
2. Megan Khang, United States of America, *67-73-70-72-282 -6
3. Emma Svensson, Sweden, *76-70-72-67-285 -3
4. Brooke Henderson, Canada 1, *70-73-71-72-286 -2
5. Olivia Mehaffey, Ireland, *77-67-74-72-290 +2
5. Angel Yin, United States of America, *73-72-73-72-290 +2
7. Hana Ryškova, Czech Republic, *74-71-70-76-291 +3
7. Ana Pelaez Trivino, Spain, *73-73-71-74-291 +3
7. Puk  Thomsen, Denmark, *73-76-69-73-291 +3
10. Michaela Finn, Sweden, *74-74-72-75-295 +7
11. Kristýna Frýdlová, Czech Republic, *79-72-73-73-297 +9
11. Clarisse Louis, Belgium, *74-73-76-74-297 +9
11. Alejandra Pasarin Olalla, Spain, *74-74-71-78-297 +9
14. Diane Baillieux, Belgium, *76-76-70-76-298 +10
15. Martina Flori, Italy, *76-70-75-78-299 +11
15. Jaclyn Lee, Canada 2, *72-77-75-75-299 +11
15. Line  Hansen, Denmark, *76-67-72-84-299 +11
18. Hannah Green, Australia, *78-72-70-80-300 +12
18. Anna Backman, Finland, *71-73-73-83-300 +12
18. Carlotta Ricolfi, Italy, *74-75-74-77-300 +12
21. Alice Hewson, England, *78-73-68-82-301 +13
22. Inci Mehmet, England, *76-76-78-72-302 +14
22. Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso, Italy, *73-80-72-77-302 +14
22. Selena Costabile, Canada 2, *78-74-74-76-302 +14
22. Wenyung Keh, New Zealand, *76-75-79-72-302 +14
22. Grace St-Germain, Canada 1, *74-73-78-77-302 +14
27. India Clyburn, England, *72-77-75-79-303 +15
27. Isabella Fierro, Mexico, *76-78-76-73-303 +15
29. Soo Jin (Jenny) Lee, Australia, *77-77-74-76-304 +16
30. Karis Davidson, Australia, *77-73-78-77-305 +17
30. Filippa Mork, Sweden, *81-75-77-72-305 +17
30. Renate Grimstad, Norway, *78-73-74-80-305 +17
33. Elodie Van Dievoet, Belgium, *77-72-76-82-307 +19
33. Mary Doyle, Ireland, *78-73-75-81-307 +19
33. Alanna Campbell, New Zealand, *80-72-79-76-307 +19
33. Naomi Ko, Canada 1, *77-79-70-81-307 +19
37. Annabel Wilson, Ireland, *82-76-76-75-309 +21
37. Maria Fassi, Mexico, *75-87-71-76-309 +21
37. Sandra Nordaas, Norway, *73-80-77-79-309 +21
40. Ellinoora Moisio, Finland, *82-76-79-73-310 +22
40. Monica Dibildox Hassaf, Mexico, *84-76-76-74-310 +22
42. Alisha Lau, Canada 2, *83-80-75-74-312 +24
43. Nuria Iturrios Servera, Spain, *81-73-81-78-313 +25
44. Sandra Salonen, Finland, *74-82-79-79-314 +26
45. Julianne Alvarez, New Zealand, *80-79-78-79-316 +28
46. Dorthea Charlotte Forbrigd, Norway, *84-83-75-77-319 +31
46. Marie Lund-Hansen, Denmark, *79-80-83-77-319 +31
48. Karolína Kohoutová, Czech Republic, *86-98-85-89-358 +70

NOTES FROM ROUND 4:
•    Angus Glen’s 10th hole – a 380-yard par 4 – played as the most difficult hole Wednesday, with players averaging more than a 1/2 (0.58) of a stroke above par (4.58).
•    The 325-yard, par 4 15th and the 485-yard, par 5 16th holes played as the easiest holes Wednesday, with players averaging 0.03 of stroke below par.
•    Team USA’s Mika Liu and Emma Svensson of Sweden led the field in birdies this week with 18 each.
•    All three members of Team USA finished in the top-5 in the individual competition.
•    Wednesday’s low round of 5-under 67 was recorded by Emma Svensson of Sweden.
•    Wednesday’s final-round scoring included 2 eagles; 105 birdies; 499 pars; 210 bogies; 36 double bogies; and 12 other scores.
•    The average final-round score among the 48 competitors was 76.31, up from the third-round scoring average of 74.41.
•    Weather in Markham, Ont. today: High of 15°, low of 14° (Celsius). Fog, overcast with winds gusting up to 13 km/h.
•    Angus Glen Golf Club hosted the World Junior Girls Golf Championship as a test event for the 2015 golf competition of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. The Pan Am Games will run July 10-26, 2015 with the golf competition running July 16-19, 2015.

TRANSCRIPTS & PHOTOS:
•    Audio and video transcripts from the World Junior Girls Golf Championship are available online.
•    Photo galleries from the World Junior Girls World Championship are also available online.

ABOUT THE WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP:
The inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship – contested on the South Course at Angus Glen Golf Club – was conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario. The championship featured three-player teams of athletes under the age of 19 representing 15 countries. As host country, Canada fielded two teams in the competition.

The 16-team field competed over 72 holes for both individual and team honours. The event – which is supported by the International Golf Federation, received grant funding by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Other funding partners include the Golf Canada Foundation (Women’s Golf Fund) and the R&A as well as Central Counties. Funding was also provided from the Federal and Provincial governments in preparation for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

For more information, visit www.worldjuniorgirls.com.

The newest issue of Ontario Golf News is now available. Click the link below to see the September issue.

http://www.flagstick.com/digitalissues/ogndigi_2014/ogndigisept2014/

25 players from across Canada to compete in the Skills Challenge at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont., site of the 2014 World Junior Girls Championship

Markham, Ont. (Golf Canada) – The World Junior Girls Golf Championship won’t be the only major junior golf competition taking place this week at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

Twenty-five competitors from across Canada will converge at Angus Glen Golf Club on Saturday, September 27^th for the sixth annual CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event.

The Junior Skills Challenge National Event is one of the many activities planned around the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship which runs September 26 to October 1 at Angus Glen Golf Club.

WHAT:

CN, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada will host the national finals for the 2014 CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge on Saturday, September 27^th at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

The National Junior Skills Challenge event is delivered in the same format as the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge Qualifiers. As determined by their standing on the National Leaderboard, the top 25 juniors in the country will compete in a four part skills challenge (putting, chipping, driving and iron play) with one overall winner per age group and gender.

WHO:    

CN Future Links participants who qualified from various golf facilities across Canada – boys and girls qualifiers within each age group (age groups: 9-11; 12-14; and 15-18).

A total of 25 competitors who achieved the highest skills challenge scores from events across Canada during the 2014 golf season will travel to Angus Glen with the hope of becoming a CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Champion.

Ages 9-11

Ages 12-14

Ages 15-18

WHEN:                   

Saturday, September 27, 2014

9:00am – 10:30am: Practice & Warm-up

10:45am – 11:00am: Opening Address

11:00am – 1:00pm: Skills Challenge

Following completion of skills challenge will be a complimentary BBQ and awards presentation.

* All times EDT

WHERE:

Angus Glen Golf Club

10080 Kennedy Road

Markham, Ont.

L6C 1N9
Tel: 905-887-0090

www.angusglen.com

FORMAT:

• Driving: Each competitor receives three drives. Points are awarded and dependent on distance and aim of the drive. The drive must land within the 30-yard width to qualify for points. The number of points is dependent on the distances completed.
• Chipping: Each competitor receives three shots from their distance. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the iron shot from the target.
• Putting: Each competitor receives two putts each from each distance of 3, 5 and 8 feet. Points are awarded for holing the putt.
• Iron Play: Each competitor receives three shots from their distance. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the iron shot from the target.

Prizing for CN Future Links Junior Skills National Event is provided by Titleist and Footjoy. In addition, the winner of the male and female 15-18 categories will earn an exemption into their local 2015 CN Future Links Championship events.

Championship field to feature 48 players from 15 countries including the world’s no. 1 ranked amateur golfer, Brooke Henderson from Smiths Falls, Ont.

 Practice round scheduled for Saturday, September 27^th with tournament rounds running Sunday September 28^th to Wednesday October 1^st

 CN Future Links Skills Challenge National Event to take place on Saturday, September 27^th

Markham, Ont. (Golf Canada) – The world’s best female junior golfers are set to compete in a showcase international competition as the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship will run September 26^th to October 1^st at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ontario Canada.

An elite field of female junior golfers will compete at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship which will be conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario.

In all, 48 of the world’s top female junior golfers representing 15 different countries worldwide will compete in both a team and individual competition on the South Course at Angus Glen.

The championship features three-player teams of athletes under the age of 19. As host country, Canada will field two teams in the competition.

In addition to a 72-hole competition, the World Junior Girls Golf Championship will include an international golf coaches’ summit, golf clinics and a fundraising golf tournament conducted by the Golf Canada Foundation in partnership with TORONTO 2015. The World Junior Girls Golf Championship will also include the sixth annual CN Future Links Skills Challenge National Event.

Everything you need to know about the World Junior Girls Golf Championship:

The Event:

The inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship

Where:

Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course)

10080 Kennedy Road, Markham, Ont., L6C 1N9

www.angusglen.com

When:

Friday, September 26^th to Wednesday, October 1^st 

Admission: 

Free for spectators all week.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, September 26^th  Golf Canada & TORONTO 2015 Fundraising Golf Event (2:00pm)

Coaching Summit – Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO)

Skill Development Clinic (3:00pm-5:00pm)

Saturday, September 27^th  Championship Practice Round (7:30am – 9:00am)

CN Future Links National Junior Skills Challenge Final (11:00am)

Official Opening Ceremony (5:30pm)

Sunday, September 28^th  Round 1 / Team & Individual (8:00am – 9:17am off 1^st & 10^th tee)

Monday, September 29^th  Round 2 / Team & Individual (8:00am – 9:17am off 1^st & 10^th tee

Tuesday, September 30^th Round 3 / Team & Individual (8:00am – 9:17am off 1^st & 10^th tee

Wednesday, October 1^st  Final Round / Team & Individual (8:00am – 9:17am off 1^st & 10^th tee

Closing Ceremony (immediately following the completion of play –approximately 2:00pm)

Format:

Team Competition: 3 players per country (best 2 out of 3 scores count each day); 72 holes of stroke play; no cut

Individual Competition: 72 holes of stroke play; no cut

Countries represented: 15

(Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden and USA)

Click here for a full listing of team rosters.

Notables Players Set to Compete:

• Brooke Henderson (Canada) – no. 1 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; Runner-up at 2014 US & Canadian Amateur; Low Amateur at 2014 US Women’s Open; Low Individual at 2014 World Amateur
• Megan Khang (USA) – no. 40 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; two-time US Open competitor
• Mika Liu (USA) – no. 48 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• Karis Davidson (Australia) – no. 53 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; 2014 Australian Amateur runner-up
• Angela Yin (USA)– no. 57 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; medalist at 2014 US Junior Girls
• Nuria Iturrios Servera (Spain) – no. 61 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; 2012 silver medal & 2013 bronze medal at European Girls Team Championship
• Alice Hewson (England) – no. 75 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; quarter-finalist at 2014 British Amateur
• Alejandra Pasarin Olalla (Spain) – no. 108 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• Inci Mehmet (England) – no. 113 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• Puk Lyng Thomsen (Denmark) – no. 129 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• Ana Pelaez Trivino (Spain) – no. 131 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• Hannah Green (Australia) – no. 156 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• So Jin (Jenny) Lee (Australia) – no. 179 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking
• Olivia Mehaffey (Ireland) – no. 227 on World Amateur Golf Ranking; Irish Girls U18 Open Stroke Play champion
• Julianna Alvarez (New Zealand) – no. 260 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; T10 at the 2014 Youth Olympics
• Naomi Ko (Canada) – no. 279 on World Amateur Golf Ranking; 2014 British Columbia Junior champion
• Jaclyn Lee (Canada) – no. 423 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; 2014 Alberta Amateur & Junior champion
• Selena Costabile (Canada) – no. 426 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; 2014 GAO Spring Classic champion
• Maria Fassi (Mexico) – no. 459 on World Amateur Golf Rankings; T13 at the 2014 Youth Olympics
• Sandra Salonen (Finland) – T20 at the 2014 Youth Olympics
• Grace St-Germain (Canada) – no. 472 on World Amateur Golf Ranking; 2014 Canadian Junior Girls champion

Canadians in the Field:

• Brooke Henderson, Smiths Falls, Ont. (17)
• Naomi Ko, Victoria, B.C. (17)
• Grace St-Germain, Ottawa, Ont. (16)
• Jaclyn Lee, Calgary (17)
• Selena Costabile, Thornhill, Ont. (16)
• Alisha Lau, Richmond, B.C. (14)

As the host country, Canada will field two team in the competition – one team will featuring Brooke Henderson, Grace St-Germain and Naomi Ko while the second team includes Jaclyn Lee, Selena Costabile and Alisha Lau. Click here for a listing of Team Canada player bios.

The Canadian teams will be coached by Team Canada Development Squad Women’s Coach Ann Carroll, alongside Reggie Millage, the provincial Head Coach for the Golf Association of Ontario.

Supporting Partners:

A special thank you to our partners who have aligned their brand with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship including the International Golf Federation; the R&A; Sport Canada; the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport; Central Counties; TORONTO 2015; the PGA of Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation.

Conducted by:

Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario URL: www.worldjuniorgirls.com

An exclusive interview with top ranked Canadian amateur golfer Corey Conners who stopped by the GAO office on Sept. 5

UXBRIDGE, ON— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is proud to announce one of their newest initiatives: She Swings She Scores (SSSS). SSSS is a program that targets female athletes currently participating in the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) and introduces them to golf at sanctioned hockey tournaments across Ontario.

The program, which will begin in October, aims to visit 20 tournaments across the province during the 2014/15 female hockey season and will expose more than 6300 girls to the game of golf.

The program represents a partnership between the GAO and the OWHA that is made possible by the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund.  The partnership between the two complementary sports will provide opportunities for these girls and their teammates to participate in sport all year round.

“She Swings She Scores” targets girls currently participating in hockey and introduces them to golf by bringing golf directly to them.  It also provides opportunities for these girls and their teammates to learn the sport together,” said Steve Carroll, GAO Executive Director. “She Swings She Scores” is a great example of introducing the game of golf to girls and will help engage them with all of the benefits golf has to offer.”

SSSS has strategically aligned itself with Golf Canada’s CN Future Links Girls’ Club program to help introduce more girls to the sport of golf.  Girls’ Club has similar goals to SSSS in that it encourages girls to experience all of the benefits of sport in a fun and engaging “girls only” setting. In addition to learning golf skills, the program promotes building self-esteem through a sport they can enjoy for life.

“We are thrilled to partner with GAO on this outstanding initiative that showcases the exceptional opportunities for girls to excel as athletes and to grow as people through participation in two great sports”, said Fran Rider, President, Ontario Women’s Hockey Association.

The GAO is also pleased to announce that they have partnered with three-time Olympic Hockey Gold Medalist Gillian Apps as the ambassador of the program. “I’m really excited to be involved with She Swings She Scores. This great initiative provides a fun environment for girls to get outside and be active. As an Olympic hockey player, I truly believe it’s important for youth to play different sports. Golf is a great way to challenge yourself and acquire new skills that will help make you a better all around athlete,” said Apps.

Follow along with SSSS by liking them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/sheswingsshescores and on Twitter at @GAO_SSSS