image credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

Written by Leslie Dunning/Courtesy Golf Canada & CSCM

The Invictus Games, held in Toronto in September 2017, included a golf event hosted by St. George’s Golf Club where spectators were treated to outstanding performances by the athletes. Those of us fortunate enough to attend the event could not help but imagine the opportunities of engaging more people with disabilities in golf.

“This was the most memorable and inspirational event we have been a part of,” said Jason Clarke, CCM, who was general manager at St. George’s during the Games.

Ilirian Zalli Tunes Up For The Vancouver Golf Tour’s Flagship Event Aug. 19-21 At McCleery, Langara & Fraserview - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

These are still the early days of Ilirian Zalli’s professional career, but the former B.C. Junior Boys champion is already making quite the impression on the Vancouver Golf Tour.

The 20-year-old David Thompson Secondary graduate has quickly recorded four VGT wins, including two earlier this month. Now he has his sights set on winning the VGT’s flagship event, the Vancouver Open.

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf and intrepid BCG reporter

Never has the U.S. Open been closer to home for British Columbians, but that only intensifies the pressure for us media types covering the event.

Having covered six U.S. Opens for Inside Golf, the 2015 version, at Chambers Bay, presented a variety of unique challenges.

While the course was a manageable 4-hour drive away from Vancouver, securing suitable accommodation close to Tacoma proved quite challenging.

By Dave Shedloski/Golf Digest

Tour players recall the feeling of playing at Agusta National for the first time...

by Bryan Outram

If there has been a major championship in recent history that’s taken as much heat for the condition of its greens, this writer certainly can’t remember it.

It’s not uncommon practice for the USGA to have its championship layouts become progressively harder and faster as a tournament goes along, but it appears in this case they’ve taken the firming of the greens to a new, and not very popular, level.

When Victoria's Jim Rutledge Tees It Up At Bear Mountain Next Month In The Pacific Links Championship It Will Be Like A Home Game - Image Courtesy PGA of Canada

by Gino Cutri/ British Columbia Golf

There’s nothing quite like putting your head down on your own pillow after a long day’s work, and that’s exactly what Jim Rutledge will get to experience next month when he competes in the PGA tour Champions Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.

The star studded tournament will run from September 23rd-25th at Victoria’s Bear Mountain Golf Resort. As a professional Rutledge has never left a stone unturned competing for many years on the Canadian, Web.com, Asian, European, and PGA TOUR. But he knows there is nothing like being back at home.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jake Lane grew up in the northern B.C. community of Charlie Lake and caught the golf bug playing Lake Point Golf & Country Club.

Like all kids, Lane dreamed big. During those countless summertime rounds at Lake Point, when the sun didn’t set until late into the evening, Lane would imagine maybe becoming good enough to play professional golf and one day competing in a tournament he watched on television every year.

The RBC Canadian Open was a major in his eyes and now Lane is going to play in it.

Jared du Toit (Photo/Golf Canada Archive)

Josh Whalen moves from No. 11 up to No. 9 in the Canadian rankings after picking up 28 spots in the world rankings. The junior from Napanee, Ont., finished tied for 20th at the Aggie Invitational that included an opening-round 69 which had him tied for first place after the first day. It was his second Top-20 result of the season.

The only other player in the Top-10 to move up in the world rankings this past week was Alastair Tidcombe, who finished tied for 16th at the Azalea Invitational.

Jared du Toit, who carries the No. 1 ranking in Canada for the second straight week, finished tied for 17th at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational. It was his seventh Top-20 finish of the season.

Two-Time B.C. Junior Girls Champion Jessica Wallace Is Stepping Away From Professional Golf And Hopes To Become A Certified Public Accountant - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was Jessica Wallace’s best year on the Symetra Tour and it will also be her last. Wallace, the two-time B.C. Junior Girls champion from Langley who has spent the past four and half years chasing her professional golfing dream, has decided to step away from the game she loves.

“It’s something that has been in the back of my mind for a couple of years,” says Wallace. “I have always been someone who has had a backup plan in my head even through I had my primary goal. I have always been thinking what would I like to do outside of golf.”

Victoria's Jim Rutledge Picked Up His Fourth PGA Seniors' Championship Of Canada Title In Mississauga Last Week - Image Courtesy PGA of Canada

Chris Fry/ PGA of Canada

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — Jim Rutledge cruised to win his fourth Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf since 2010 at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club.

The 55-year-old Victoria, B.C., native put together rounds of 64-71-69 for a three-day total of 9-under-par. His 54-hole score was three shots better than David Wettflaufer and Ken Tarling, who both fired 6-under-par 65 final rounds.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Since winning his seventh PGA Seniors Championship of Canada last summer, Jim Rutledge has spent a lot more time working on the golf course than playing the game he loves.

A frozen left shoulder sidelined Rutledge for the better part of ninth months. He did not play a single round from late last summer until May of this year.

He did, however, still rise early five days a week and head to Uplands Golf Club to work with superintendent Brian Youell and the rest of the grounds crew at the highly regarded Victoria layout.

Northview Golf Academy's John Shin Holds The William Thompson Trophy As The 2017 PGA of BC Champion After Prevailing In A Playoff At Capilano GC - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

AUGUST 25, 2017 - WEST VANCOUVER, BC (PGA of British Columbia) - John Shin endured in a thrilling finish Friday to capture the TaylorMade & adidas Golf PGA of BC Championship presented by Axis Insurance Managers.

After carding a 4-under-par round of 68 to reach 3-under for the 36-hole championship, Shin went on to defeat Brady Stead on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to secure the title at Capilano Golf & Country Club.

Jordan Spieth Casually Hangs Onto His Newest Piece Of Hardware The U.S. Open Trophy After Winning The 2015 Championship At Chambers Bay - Image Credit Bryan Outram

by Alfie Lau

Jordan Spieth is now halfway to the Grand Slam.

 Juli Inkster Was The Wire-to-Wire Winner In The Second Annual Suquamish Clearwater Legends Cup At White Horse GC In Kingston, WA - Photo credit: Rick Sharp

SEATTLE, June 8, 2019 – Californian Juli Inkster was a wire-to-wire winner at the second annual Suquamish Clearwater Legends Cup presented by Boeing.

The LPGA and World Golf Hall of Fame member posted a final-round score of 7-under 66 to finish at 15-under 131 at White Horse Golf Club.

Inkster played two bogey-free rounds and added final-round birdies on hole Nos. 16 and 18 to win by four strokes over runner-up Michele Redman of Minnesota. Redman recorded a final-round score of 66 for a two-day total of 11-under 134.

Justin Shin From Maple Ridge Is The Latest Canadian To Play His Way Into The Final Round Of Web.com Tour Q-School - Image Credit (Golf Canada/Graig Abel)

Courtesy Golf Canada

Maple Ridge, B.C., product Justin Shin finished 9th on the PGA Tour China’s Order of Merit to become the latest Canadian to earn a spot in Web.com Tour’s third and final stage of qualifying in December.

The former Team Canada Amateur Squad member finished with a share of ninth this past weekend at PGA Tour China’s Buick Open, bringing his season earnings total to $362,118 through 13 events.

Ariya Jutanugarn Picked Up Her Fifth Win Of The LPGA Season In The CP Women's Canadian Open At Priddis Greens - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)

Courtesy Golf Canada

CALGARY – Ariya Jutanugarn ran away with the CP Women’s Open at chilly Priddis Greens for her LPGA Tour-leading fifth victory of the year – all in the last 10 events.

Nine days after withdrawing from the Rio Olympics because of a left knee injury, the 20-year-old Thai player made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 6-under 66 and a four-stroke victory.

Karishma Thiagaraj, A Native Of India, Has Played Well On The Vancouver Golf Tour, Including An Eight-Under 64 In Her Pro Debut At Morgan Creek - Image Courtesy VGT/Mike West

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The seeds of Karishma Thiagaraj’s golf game were sown in southern India, where as an 11-year-old she began to accompany her dad to the course and quickly fell in love with the sport.

It took root in Virginia in her teenage years after her parents moved the family to the United States. Thiagaraj now hopes it can fully blossom as she begins a professional career in the Vancouver area.

Trail Native And Former Burnaby Mountain Assistant Kate Weir Is The New Head Pro At Rivershore, A Robert Trent Jones Sr. Layout In Kamloops - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Ask Kate Weir how she got started playing golf and the new head pro at Rivershore Golf Links will tell you that she really didn’t have a choice. 

Her parents golfed and they were determined their daughter would, too, so Weir accompanied them to Rossland-Trail Country Club (now called Birchbank Golf Course). 

It wasn’t exactly love at first swing.

Image Courtesy Facebook

Kelowna’s Megan Osland won the 36-hole U.S Women’s Open Sectional Qualifier held at the Bradenton Country Club in Florida, Monday, May 6th shooting 3-under par 68 in the first round and 1-under par 70 in the second to finish 4-under in the one day tournament.

This secured her a spot in the 2019 U.S Women’s Open Golf Tournament to be held at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina May 30-June 2.

Kelowna's John Mlikotic Is One of 15 British Columbians Who Will Tee It Up This Week In The Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Q-School At Courtenay's Crown Isle Resort - Image Courtesy VGT

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The goal is to treat it like any other golf tournament, which of course is easier said than done. After all, Q-School is not any other tournament. Play badly here and you don’t move on and play the next week. You don’t play at all.

John Mlikotic knows this, but hopes he can keep those thoughts out of his head when he tees it up in Tuesday’s first round of the fifth and final Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada qualifying school at Crown Isle Resort in Courtenay.