Summit Golf & Country Club’s Gabriel Mainella won the 102nd Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Championship Thursday at Otter Creek Golf Club.

Mainella came into the final round six strokes back of the lead after shooting 1-under-par 71 in each of the first three rounds.

However, after shooting 3-under-par 69 in the final round, Mainella finished with a total of 282-6-under-par and two stokes ahead of runner-up, Jager Pain of Station Creek Golf Club.

Along with his Ontario Junior Players Invitational title earlier in the year, Mainella can now add the Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Championship to his 2024 seasonal checklist.

With top three finishes in the 102nd Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Championship, Mainella, along with Pain and Isaiah Ibit (Camelot Golf & Country Club) have qualified to represent Ontario’s Interprovincial team at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Innisfail, AB.

For all final results, CLICK HERE.

The 102nd Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Championship heads to Otter Creek Golf Club July 8 – 11.

A field of Ontario’s top 144 junior male golfers will put their skills to the test for the Junior Championship Trophy.

Since 1923, the Ontario Junior Boys Championship has seen plenty of talent put on display.

Notable past champions include Mike Weir (1988), Gary Cowan (1956), David Morland IV (1986), Gerry Kesselring (1945, 1946, 1948), Stan Baluik (1954), Jon Mills (1996), Ashton McCulloch (2019) and so many more. 

Otter Creek Golf Club, which previously hosted the 2020 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship, features plenty of width off the tee, but also challenges players with angles into undulating greens.

The first two rounds will feature morning tee-offs starting at 8 a.m. and afternoon starts set for 1 p.m. from the first and 10th tees, followed by 7:30 a.m. tee-offs for rounds three and four after the 36-hole cut.

For first round pairings and start times, CLICK HERE.

FIELD NOTES

Team Ontario: All eight of Team Ontario’s male golfers will compete: Chase Jerome (Royal Ottawa Golf Club); Jordan Hwang (Emerald Hills Golf and Country Club); Ben Sheridan (Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club); Bode Stephen (Cataraqui Golf & Country Club); Dawson Lew (Players Club – Markham); Graydon Laughlin (Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club); Nathaniel Yoo (Meadowbrook Golf Club); Rylan Hall (Whistle Bear Golf Club).

Next Wave: Nine of the Next Wave program’s eleven male golfers will be in the field: Ben Julie (Sawmill Golf Course); Cole Thompson (Lookout Point Country Club); Matthew Simpson (Lambton Golf & Country Club); Aiden Pavey (Hidden Lake Golf Club); Bo Dong (Golf Canada Club – Ontario); Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club); Michael Vivone (Royal Ottawa Golf Club); Tristian Zhang (Summit Golf & Country Club); Josh Ye (Summit Golf & Country Club).

Team Canada: Four of Team Canada’s NextGen male golfers will also be at Otter Creek Golf Club: Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club); Isaiah Ibit (Camelot Golf & Country Club); Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club); Eric Zhao (Bayview Golf & Country Club).

Top Junior Golf Pathway Ranking Players: Dawson Lew, No. 1, U19, U17; Matthew Javier, No. 2, U19; Aidan Talent, No. 3, U19.

PLAYER NOTES

Of the 144 players in the field, notable names include:

The defending Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Champion, Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club), who also won the 2022 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Match Play Championship.

Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club), who is on a torrid streak this year, winning the Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Spring Classic and recently, the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship.

Last year’s Junior Boys Spring Classic Champion and Ontario NextGen Champion, Isaiah Ibit (Camelot Golf & Country Club), who also ranked first in last year’s U19 Boys’ Junior Golf Pathway Rankings.

Winner of the 2024 Ontario NextGen Championship, Jager Pain (Golf Canada Club – Ontario).

Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club), who won this year’s Ontario Junior Players Invitational.

QUOTES

Connor Doyle, Tournament Director: “The Ontario Junior Boys Championship has been one of the most highly anticipated events on the Golf Ontario calendar for more than 100 years now. Otter Creek will be an excellent test for our players and will provide us with another competitive and exciting championship.”

John Hall, Director of Golf – Otter Creek Golf Club: “Otter Creek Golf Club is a beautiful piece of property and a unique golf course for the players; we are excited to present it to them. The rolling slopes and angles on the greens mixed with the severity of the fescue will definitely test their accuracy, creativity and skill. The Ontario Junior Boys Championship is an event that has a prestigious history attached to it, and our staff is looking forward to welcoming all players, staff and volunteers for its 102nd edition.”

FAST FACTS

Championship Venue: Otter Creek Golf Club

Championship Dates: July 8 – 11

Field: 144 players

Format: 72-hole, stroke play, (36 Hole Cut – Low 60 & Ties)

Leaderboard Link: 24′ Ontario Junior (U19) Boys’ Championship Event :: Tournament Results (golfgenius.com)

Fun Fact: Otter Creek Golf Course is one of four mid-western Ontario golf courses designed by renowned Canadian golf course architect, Dick Kirkpatrick.

Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X

The Ontario Junior U19 Girls Championship heads to the Beverly Golf & Country Club July 8 – 11. 

Starting off with a field of the top 90 Junior Girls in Ontario, this is Beverly Golf & Country Club’s second time hosting, the first being in 1963 when Nancy Stoddart of (Uplands Golf & Country Club) took home the championship. 

Of these players participating in this championship, seven are Team Ontario Members. 

Included in the seven are: Nobelle Park (RattleSnake Golf and Country Club), Kaprice Park (RattleSnake Golf and Country Club), Alexa Ouellet (Weston Golf & Country Club), Aryn Matthews (BigWin Island Golf Club), Bridget Yu (Golf Canada- Club Ontario), Shelby Hardwick (Summit Golf & Country Club), Wendy Li (Summit Golf & Country Club) 

The first two rounds will see 7:30 a.m. start times until the 36-hole cut midway thru the championship. 

For first round pairings and start times, CLICK HERE. 

FIELD NOTES 

Nobelle Park has claimed two wins so far in 2024: the Junior Girls Spring Classic and the Ontario Women’s Amateur. She is currently the top ranked player in the field according to the World Amateur Golf Rankings coming in at No. 193. 

Joline Truong (Trafalgar Golf & Country Club) finished runner up last year and Aryn Matthews (BigWin Island Golf Club) finished third at the 2023 Ontario Junior Girls U19 Championship.  

PLAYER NOTES 

Julia Alexander- Carew (Credit Valley Golf & Country Club) won this year’s Champion of Champions, came in T3 at the 2024 Ontario Women’s Amateur, and was awarded second at the Women’s Canadian University/ College Championship. 

Avery Nordman (Canadian Golf & Country Club) qualified for the USGA Junior Girls Championship.  

Nobelle Park (1), Julia Alexander-Carew (T3), Grace Anderson (5), Ella Zanatta (T6), Kaprice Park (T6), and Bridget Yu (T6) all finished in the top 10 at this year’s Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship.  

QUOTES 

“This tournament will showcase the exceptional talents of the top junior girls from across the province. Beverly Golf & Country Club has provided us with excellent conditions for our players to test their abilities against each other.”- Tournament Director Mason Cowan 

FAST FACTS 

Championship Venue: Beverly Golf & Country Club 

Dates: July 8-11 

Field: 90 Players 

Format: 72 Hole Stroke Play, 36 Hole Cut- Low 42 & Ties 

Leaderboard Link: 24’ Ontario Junior U19 Girls Championship Event: Championship Information (golfgenius.com) 

Fun Fact: Three RattleSnake Point Golf Club members competing in this event: Nobelle Park, Kaprice Park, Grace Anderson, all came in the top 10 at last week’s Women’s Amateur Championship held at West Haven Golf Club. 

Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook, X. 

Golf Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Team Canada women’s golf athletes nominated to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The two athletes are:

Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.)
Alena Sharp (Hamilton, Ont.)

The two athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their standing on the Official World Golf Rankings at the close of the Olympic qualification period following the completion of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday, June 23, 2024.  At the close of the Paris 2024 women’s qualification period, Henderson sits 14th on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking and Sharp is 292nd.

The two-year Olympic qualification period for women’s golf saw the athletes earn their spot on Team Canada through their respective results on the LPGA Tour and other women’s global golf competitions. Paris 2024 will mark the third Olympic appearance for both Henderson and Sharp, who competed together at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.  

Henderson was Canada’s top golfer in the sport’s return to the Olympic Games after 112 years, finishing in a tie for seventh at Rio 2016. She then finished tied for 29th at Tokyo 2020. A 13-time winner on the LPGA Tour, including two major titles, Henderson is Canada’s winningest professional golfer of all time. She currently sits fifth on the LPGA Tour’s Race to the CME Globe Rankings, with five top-10 finishes in 14 LPGA Tour starts in 2024. A graduate of Golf Canada’s national team program, Henderson is the only Canadian female athlete to win Canada’s national Junior (2012), Amateur (2013) and National Open Championships (2018 CPKC Women’s Open). 

“Any time you can go and represent your country it’s a very proud moment,” said Henderson. “To be able to wear the Maple Leaf and go to Paris is really exciting for me.”

Sharp, a long-time LPGA Tour member, is no stranger to international competition. She earned a bronze medal for Team Canada at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games in Chile. The 43-year old has 16 career top-10 finishes and has made the cut in three of four events played this year on the LPGA Tour. Sharp made 14 cuts in 14 starts on the Epson Tour in 2023 with five top-10 results, including a win at the Champions Fore Change Invitational. She also won the ORORO PGA of Canada Women’s Championship in 2023.

“Reaching the Olympics for a third time was a huge goal of mine coming into this year and I am extremely proud to have achieved it,” said Sharp. “Representing Canada is the highest honour I’ve had in my career.”

Henderson and Sharp will look to become the first Canadian women to win an Olympic golf medal. Canada’s best Olympic finish in women’s golf was Henderson’s tie for seventh at Rio 2016.

Golf Canada’s Director of High Performance Emily Phoenix believes the Olympic and international experience of the athletes will be an asset to the women’s team in Paris.

“Both Brooke and Alena are heading into their third Olympic golf competition and that experience and familiarity is sure to prove beneficial for the athletes,” said Phoenix, who will serve as the Stollery Family Olympic Women’s Team Lead in Paris. “Brooke is a fierce competitor who has proven capable of bringing her best performances to the biggest stage while Alena heads to Paris with a great momentum in returning to the form on the LPGA Tour and earning a bronze medal for Canada at last year’s Pan Am Games golf competition.”

The women’s golf tournament at Paris 2024 will take place August 7 – 10 (Days 12 – 15) at Le Golf National.

“Congratulations to the two Canadian golfers selected to represent Canada in Paris. They will be competing in their third Olympic Games, and their remarkable skills will be crucial assets on the prestigious Golf National course,” said Bruny Surin, Team Canada’s Paris 2024 Chef de Mission. “They are ready to chip away obstacles and represent our country with pride and excellence. Swing strong and play with all your heart!”

Team Canada’s women’s golf team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games also includes the following caddies and support staff:

Caddies & Support Staff
Emily Phoenix (Calgary, Alta.) – Stollery Family Olympic Women’s Team Lead
Brittany Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.) – Caddie for Brooke Henderson
Sarah Bowman (Somerset, Penn., USA) – Caddie for Alena Sharp

Nick Taylor and Corey Conners were the two male golfers announced to the Paris 2024 Canadian Olympic Team last week.

Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.

The latest Team Canada Paris 2024 roster can be found here.

Matthew Javier of Scarboro Golf & Country Club captured the 102nd Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship at St. Catharines Golf and Country Club.

Javier entered the final round atop the leaderboard by one stroke and maintained that lead in dominating fashion, shooting a 6-under-par 65 to finish five strokes ahead of runner-up, Justin Matthews (TPC Toronto), who shot 5-under-par 66 in the final round.

In total, Javier, who is part of Team Canada’s – Next Gen program, shot 269 – 15-under-par in the four rounds.

Along with his 2022 & 2023 Ontario (U17) Juvenile Boys Championship wins and this year’s Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Spring Classic victory, Javier can add an Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship to his spectacular resume.  

For finishing top three in the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship, Javier, along with Matthews and Michael Weber (Burlington Golf & Country Club), will represent Ontario at the 119th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship August 5 – 8 at Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon, SK.

Matthews, a Team Ontario alumni, shot 9-under-par 62 in the second round, which tied a St. Catharines Golf and Country Club record for the lowest scoring round in club history.

For final results, CLICK HERE.

Nobelle Park of RattleSnake Point Golf Club added to her accolades this week at the 109th Women’s Amateur Championship held at West Haven Golf Course.  

Park, who turned 14 earlier this year, led throughout the championship, eventually finishing the four-round event at nine-under-par, one shot clear of Shauna Liu of Golf Canada Champions Club. Celina Yeo and Julia Alexandra-Carew finished T3 at six-under for the championship.

The win is Park’s third Golf Ontario title of the season. Her first came in March at the Ontario Junior Players’ Invitational, while her second came at the Junior Girls Spring Classic in May at Wooden Sticks.

For all results, CLICK HERE. 

Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X

Alexandra Taylor of Cherry Hill Club captured the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Wednesday at West Haven Golf and Country Club.  

After battling Judith Kyrinis of The Thornhill Club all the way through to the last putt the true test came after, as Taylor gained momentum nearly holing out from her approach shot.  

Heading into the final round, Taylor pulled ahead and defeated Kyrinis in a 1 hole playoff win.  

Taylor has plenty of experience competing at high-level championships and competitions. In her journey as an NCAA golfer, Taylor achieved a 3-time All-Conference golfer at Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Her team participated in the NCAA DII National Championship in three out of her four years. In her Junior career, she competed at the Niagara Junior Tour, the Ontario Summer Games team and Golf Ontario and Canada Championships. 

Taylor can now add winning the 2024 Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship to her list of accomplishments. 

As for the Women’s Amateur status, it is currently still in play and will begin the final round on Thursday to see who will be crowned the 2024 Women’s Amateur Champion.  

Nobelle Park of Rattlesnake Point Golf Club, Julia Alexander-Carew of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club and Ella Zanatta of Hamilton Golf and Country Club sit at the top going into the final round. 

For all results, CLICK HERE. 

Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X

The 102nd Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship heads to St. Catharines Golf and Country Club June 24 – 27.

A field of the top 156 amateur golfers in the province will be put to the test and compete for the Gary Cowan Trophy.

As one of Golf Ontario’s biggest events in the calendar year for more than a century, the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship has been the springboard to many players’ journeys to impressive playing careers.

Notable past winners include Mike Weir (1990, 1992), Corey Conners (2010), Gerry Kesselring (1949, 1951-53) and Gary Cowan, who holds the Golf Ontario record for most wins in this championship with nine.

The first two rounds will see 7:30 a.m. start times until the 36-hole-cut midway through the championship.

For first round pairings and start times, CLICK HERE.

FIELD NOTES

Team Ontario: Four current Team Ontario members in Jordan Hwang (Emerald Hills Golf and Country Club), Dawson Lew (Players Club – Markham) and Nathanial Yoo (Meadowbrook Golf Club) are in the field, as well as former members in Zach Smith (Brampton Golf Club) and Justin Matthews (Bigwin Island Golf Club).

Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club), this year’s Ontario Junior Players Invitational Champion, will be the lone representative of the 2024 Next Wave program.

Team Canada’s NextGen squad will see four of its players in the field: Ben MacLean (Cherry Hill Club); Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club); Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club); Eric Zhao (Bayview Golf & Country Club).

Men’s Amateur Order of Merit Rankings: Charles Fitzsimmons, No. 1, Men’s Amateur, Men’s Mid-Amateur; Max Corcoran, No. 3, Men’s Amateur; Andrew Nagel, No. 4, Men’s Amateur, No. 2, Men’s Mid-Amateur.

Top Junior Golf Pathway Ranking Players: Aidan Talent, No. 1, U19; Gabriel Mainella, No. 2, U19, No. 1, U17; Dawson Lew, No. 3, U19, No. 2, U17.

PLAYER NOTES

The 156-player field is made up of:

The defending 101st Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship, Cameron Pero (Picton Golf & Country Club).

Josh DiCarlo (Pointe West Golf Club), who recently won the 2024 Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship.

Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club), two-time winner of the Ontario (U17) Juvenile Boys Championship (2022 & 2023) and this year’s Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Spring Classic champion.

Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club) last year’s Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Champion and the 2022 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Match Play Champion.

The 2022 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Spring Classic Champion & 2022 NextGen Ontario Champion, Ben MacLean (Cherry Hill Club).

The 2021 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Champion and 2023 Golf Quebec Men’s Amateur Champion, James Newton (Royal Ottawa Golf Club).

Max Corcoran (Loch March Golf & Country Club), the 2023 Golf Quebec Junior (U19) Boys Champion.

The 2022 Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Champion, Oscar Feschuk (Weston Golf & Country Club).

Andreas Diogenous (Whistle Bear Golf Club) former Peewee (U13), Bantam (U15) and Juvenile (U17) Champion.

Nolan Piazza (Cherry Hill Club), two-time Ontario Junior (U19) Boys Champion (2018 & 2020).

The 2023 Ontario Men’s Match Play Champion, Justin Matthews (Bigwin Island Golf Club), who recently competed in the RBC Canadian Open.

Charles Fitzsimmons (Summit Golf & Country Club), two-time winner of the Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship (2021 & 2022) and winner of the 2019 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Garret Rank (Westmount Golf & Country Club), who won the 2018 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship and the Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur twice (2015 & 2018).

Phillip Arci (The Pulpit Club), the 2023 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year and winner of the 2024 Men’s Amateur Division of The National Golf Club of Canada Invitational.

The winner of last year’s Ontario Senior Men’s Championship, Adam Creighton (Cherry Hill Club).

The 2024 Men’s Champion of Champions winner, Kyle Gordon (Coppinwood Golf Club).

Winner of the 2022 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, David Lang (Donalda Club).

Ryan Tsang (Cedar Brae Golf Club), the 2020 Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion.

Ontario Golf Hall of Famer, Dave Bunker (Cherry Hill Club), who is a four-time winner of the Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship (2007, 2010, 2014, 2021). He also won the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship in 2008 and the 2020 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship.

QUOTES

Rob Watson, Tournament Director: “The Ontario Men’s Amateur is annually one of the most exciting championships on the Golf Ontario calendar because of the large and competitive field we see in this event. This year should be no different as the field is as strong as it has ever been with 156 of Ontario’s best male Amateur golfers.”

Ryan Finn, Chief Sport Officer: “Golf Ontario is thrilled to celebrate St. Catharines G&CC’s 125th anniversary by crowning Ontario’s top male amateur golfer. This year’s champion will have bested an elite field and will join an exclusive group of past champions. We look forward to a competitive and exciting championship.”

Cameron Thin, Head Golf Professional, St. Catharines Golf and Country Club: “As a part of our 125th anniversary, the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club is proud to be hosting this year’s Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship and our membership is looking forward to showcasing our wonderful golf course to the best players in the province, along with the spectators enjoying the golf.  With a large and highly competitive field, I feel that this is a great opportunity for the competitors to experience the unique architecture of the course; the challenges it presents to players; and believe that it will identify a worthy champion.”

FAST FACTS

Championship Venue: St. Catharines Golf and Country Club

Championship Dates: June 24 – 27

Field: 156 players

Format: 72-hole Stroke Play (36-hole-cut – low 60 & ties)

Leaderboard Link: 24′ Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship Event :: Tournament Results (golfgenius.com)

Fun Fact: Gary Cowan holds the Golf Ontario record for the most Ontario Men’s Amateur Championships with nine (1964, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1981 & 1984).

Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X

The 109^th Ontario Women’s Amateur & Mid- Amateur heads to West Haven Golf and Country Club, June 24-27. 

With nearly 100 players in the field, this is West Haven’s first time hosting a provincial championship.

Both the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship and the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship are two of Ontario’s top provincial championships and have been the pinnacle of women’s golf in the province. Many players have kick-started their journey to professional golf through both of these championships

The first two rounds will see 8:30am start times until the 36-hole cut midway thru the championship. 

For first round pairings and start times CLICK HERE. 

FIELD NOTES 

Team Ontario: Six current Team Ontario Members in Kaprice Park (RattleSnake Golf and Country Club), Nobelle Park (RattleSnake Golf and Country Club), Alexa Ouellet (Weston Golf & Country Club), Aryn Matthews (BigWin Island Golf Club), Bridget Yu (Golf Canada- Club Ontario), Shelby Hardwich (Summit Golf & Country Club).

Golf Canada Next Gen Member Shauna Liu is in the field. 

Top Junior Golf Pathway Rankings: Nobelle Park, No. 1, U19, U17; Kaprice Park, No. 2, U19, U17; Angela Cai, No. 3, U19, U17.

Nobelle Park is the top world ranked player in the field, coming in at 182nd overall. 

PLAYER NOTES 

Mary- Ann Hayward (St.Thomas Golf & Country Club)– Ontario Golf Hall of Fame 2023, won the 2023 Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Stroke Play. 

Judith Kyrinis (The Thornhill Club), Ontario Golf Hall of Fame 2023, won the 2023 Canadian Women’s Mid- Amateur Championship, Semi-Finalist at the 23’ Ontario Women’s Match Play Finals, and finalist at the 23’ Women’s Match Play Championship. 

Celina Yeo of Londono, just finished second in AJGA Rolex Girls Championship.

Kaprice Park hot off a second- place finish at last week’s Women’s Match Play at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club. 

Hailey Hendershott 2024 Mountain East Conference Player of the Year.

QUOTES 

John Lawrence, Tournament Director: “We are excited to have one of our flagship championships back in London. The support from West Haven and the local community has been tremendous. The experience for the players, facility and volunteers will be exceptional and we are looking forward to crowning a champion in this the 109th playing of Ontario oldest amateur championship.” 

FAST FACTS 

Championship Venue: West Haven Golf & Country Club 

Dates: June 24, 2024- June 27, 2024 

Field: 96 Players 

Format: 72 Hole Stroke Play, 36 Hole Cut. Amateur- Low 54 & Ties. Mid- Amateur- Top 15 & Ties. 

Leaderboard Link: 24′ Ontario Women’s Amateur & Mid-Amateur Championship Event :: Championship Information (golfgenius.com) 

Fun Fact: Marlene Stewart Streit, who the trophy is named after, is an Ontario Golf Hall of Famer and has won this award a record of 11 times (1951, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976, and 1977).

Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook, X.  

With the sixth annual Ontario Adaptive Championship is right around the corner, Golf Ontario welcomed members of Special Olympics Ontario to share their life experiences and lead a professional development session around adaptive golf.

Nine Special Olympics Ontario athletes visited Wyndance Golf Club in Uxbridge to present what Special Olympics Ontario does, how they support athletes with intellectual disabilities and showed our staff how to support athletes with intellectual disabilities to create a welcoming and inclusive sporting environment.

“This was a great opportunity for our team on our learning journey in an adaptive golf space and having Special (Olympics Ontario) here today was to help us learn and understand what the experience is for them on the golf course,” said Golf Ontario CEO Kyle McFarlane.

The day started with an opening presentation from Special Olympics Ontario’s Director of Sports, Johnny Byrne. He took Golf Ontario staff through Special Olympics Ontario’s competition structures and how Special Olympics Ontario uses sport to create opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

He also alluded to Special Olympics Ontario’s mission of building the lives Ontarians with intellectual disabilities through sport, vision of creating disability-inclusive environments across the province and values of empowerment, excellence, respect, diversity and inclusion.

“I think what we got out of today was seeing just the great connection and how both Golf Ontario and special Olympics Ontario have the same bigger picture goals,” Byrne said.

We were then introduced to the eight Special Olympics Ontario athletes in attendance, which included 2015 World Games Gold Medalist, Tess Trojan, accompanied by her caddie and father, Mike Trojan.

“Special Olympics has really changed my life,” she said. “I’ve learned that we’re all friends first and not just competing against one another.”

Along with Trojan, the remaining seven athletes of Special Olympics Ontario, along with their caddies and coaches, were:

Natasha Stasiuk; Mike DiRaddo; Luke Cooney; Catherine Partlow; Ryan Colpitts; JJ Scorcia; Krystian Pushka.

Later in the day, Golf Ontario staff got the chance to play an eight-hole round of golf accompanied by a different athlete on each hole. The day brought about many smiles, conversations and capped off a wonderful day of learning for all.

“Exciting for our team to get out there, have connections, build those relationships, but more importantly, to have conversations and use this as an opportunity to learn and understand what it means to be a Special Olympian and a Special Olympics golfer,” McFarlane said.

Getting outside, playing golf and making connections was beneficiary for both Golf Ontario and Special Olympics Ontario.

“The universal language that we always fall back to when we’re trying to explain Special Olympics to people is just get out and play, and that’s what today was about,” said Byrne.

For more information on the upcoming Ontario Adaptive Championship at Weston Golf & Country Club July 15 – 16, CLICK HERE.

To support the growth of adaptive golf opportunities in Ontario, consider donating to the Golf For All Fund.