Garrett Rank (Charles Cherney/Western Golf Association)

Courtesy Amateurgolf.com

The vast majority of the Western Amateur field was made up of collegians – incoming freshmen, current players and fresh graduates.

Then there’s Garrett Rank, a 31-year-old Canadian who competes in golf in the summer and referees NHL hockey in the winter. Rank is one of the most impressive mid-amateurs in the game, yet his legend grew this week at Point O’Woods Golf Club in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Rank outlasted the kids for a Western Amateur title – a win that's unheard of for a thirty-something in today’s amateur climate. In fact, he becomes the first mid-amateur to win this title since 1997.

The foreshadowing came from Rank’s own mouth on Friday evening, after playing his way to the semifinals.

“I’ve been playing a lot of really good golf the last three or four weeks,” he said.

RESULTS: WESTERN AMATEUR

Win - Garrett Rank Canada  72-67-70-65 = 274
Runner-Up - Daniel Wetterich Cincinnati, OH  66-68-69-68 = 271
Semifinals - CA Ricky Castillo Yorba Linda, CA  71-66-69-68 = 274
Semifinals - CA David Laskin Elk Grove, CA  68-66-74-66 = 274
Quarterfinals - GA Davis Thompson St. Simons, GA  67-68-65-67 = 267

View full results for Western Amateur

ABOUT THE WESTERN AMATEUR
Invitational event, known to many as the 'Masters of Amateur Golf.' Quite probably the hardest amateur tournament to win.

156 invited players come from across the globe to play one of the toughest formats in amateur golf. The tournament starts with 18 holes of stroke play on Tuesday and Wednesday after which the field is cut to the low 44 scores and ties. Thursday it's a long day of 36 holes of stroke play to determine the “Sweet Sixteen” who compete at Match Play on Friday and Saturday (two matches each day if you're going to the finals) to decide the champion.
View Complete Tournament Information

Richmond's Alex Zhang Is The 2019 Boys' 10-year Old Age Division Champion From the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships Held In Pinehurst, North Carolina - Image Courtesy Quilchena GC

By REEGAN PRICE, CJGA

PINEHURST, North Carolina — The 2019 U.S. Kids Golf World Championships wrapped up with a number of young Canadians placing in the top tier of the elite junior competition operated by U.S. Kids Golf.

The Top Canadian performances of the competition were by Aurora, Ontario’s Eddie Gu (Boys 9) and Richmond, BC’s Alex Zhang (Boys 10) who both took the top spot in their respective divisions at the conclusion of the 54-hole competition.

Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club Head Professional And Director of Golf, Ashley Zibrik, Happily Addressed Those On Hand For The Announcement Her Club Would Be Hosting The 2020 CP Women's Open - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club got rave reviews from PGA TOUR players and proved to be a stiff test when it played host to the Canadian Open back in 2005 and 2011. 

Ashley Zibrik, Shaughnessy’s new Head Professional and Director of Golf, expects more of the same when a collection of the world’s best female players gather at the classic Southwest Marine Drive layout late next summer.

Shaughnessy was officially announced as the site of the LPGA Tour’s 2020 CP Women’s Open on Thursday. The tournament will be played over the Labour Day weekend, Sept. 3-6.

Vancouver's Victoria Liu Rode Her Second Straight Round In The 60's To A 3-Shot Lead At The Halfway Mark Of The Canadian Junior Girls Championship - (Photo credit: Golf Canada)

BC Takes Inter-Provincial Team Title For The 3rd Time In 5 Years

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – YanJun (Victoria) Liu of Vancouver carded her second straight round in the 60s, opening a three-stroke lead at the 65th Canadian Junior Girls Championship held at Lethbridge Country Club.

Liu shot 3 under 69, moving herself to 10 under for the tournament. Her 65 yesterday tied the old course record at Lethbridge Country Club – the record was broken by Euna Hanof Coquitlam, BC only minutes earlier. Liu has only committed a single bogey through 36 holes.

“Today was a different round from yesterday,” said Liu. “Yesterday I had lots of birdie opportunities. Today was more of a regular day – lots of up-and-downs and some birdies too. I kept it real consistent today and made many great putts.”

BC's Michelle Liu Becomes The Youngest Player Ever To Earn Exemption Into The CP Women’s Open By Finishing As Low Canadian In The Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship -  (Credit: Justin Naro/ Golf Canada)

RED DEER, Alta – Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, Calif., shot 4 under 68, overcoming a four-stroke deficit to capture the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship held at Red Deer Golf & Country Club on Friday.

Michelle Liu of Vancouver finished as the low Canadian of the tournament, becoming the youngest player ever to earn an exemption to the CP Women’s Open. Liu carded a final round of 2 over, finishing at 1 over on the tournament in a tie for 12th.

Liu will be aged 12 years, nine months and six days when the 2019 CP Women’s Open tees off on August 22 at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.

EDMONTON, ALBERTA – JULY 23, 2019 – The 47th annual Junior America’s Cup is set to take flight this week at Blackhawk Golf Club in Edmonton, Alberta.

A field of 72 players from 18 teams representing 12 U.S. States, two Canadian Provinces (Alberta, British Columbia) and Mexico will take to the course at 7:30 am MT on Tuesday in what will be the third time the international competition has been hosted in the province of Alberta.

BC's Chris Crisologo (Inset Left) And Tristan Mandur (Inset Right) Have Each Qualified For Next Month's Prestigious U.S. Amateur

Richmond’s Chris Crisologo has played his way into next month’s United States Amateur Championship. Crisologo earned one of two available spots at a 36-hole qualifier at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Palouse, Wash. Crisologo fired rounds of 72 and 67 to finish one-under par for the day. That was six shots behind medalist Joe Highsmith of Lakewood, Wash.

The 119th playing of the U.S. Amateur goes Aug. 11-18 at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Crisologo, a member of Canada’s National Amateur Team and the 2018 B.C. Amateur champion, will be joined in the U.S. Amateur field by fellow British Columbian Tristan Mandur of North Cowichan.

The 2019 Canadian Amputee and Disabled National Open (CADNO) will be held in Okotoks, Alberta at the River’s Edge Golf Club August 13 – 16, 2019. The event will be a 54-hole tournament open to all amputees and people with qualifying disabilities.

The National Junior Golf Development Centre (NJGDC) initiative was established to recognize facilities that offer a first-class experience for children aged 5-18. NJGDC support and run nationally endorsed programs, having trained and certified PGA of Canada golf coaches, they are also linked to schools in their surrounding communities.

All facilities meet the minimum national standards for the delivery of junior golf programs, coaching, and instruction. All of the parties involved are dedicated and committed to making these locations state-of-the-art facilities that offer a welcoming atmosphere for juniors of all levels.

(Canadian Golf Hall of Fame)

Courtesy Golf Canada

It is with great sadness that Golf Canada, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Museum as well as the entire golf community mourns the loss of Margaret (Sutcliffe) Todd, who passed away July 15, 2019 at the age of 101.

Born May 31, 1918 in Montreal, Todd was a pioneer in Canadian women’s golf. A natural at the game, she won three British Columbia Amateur titles, two Canadian Women’s Senior titles and played on a host of teams, including Canada’s first international team to Great Britain. She also won the Victoria Golf Club championship an astonishing 14 times.

Courtesy Colin Weston/ModGolf

In Larry Gilhuly’s opinion, the three biggest issues facing the game of golf are pace of play, player enjoyment and economic sustainability. Larry believes he has the solution for all three: “The answer for all of these, in my opinion, are properly placed forward tees.”

This week host Colin Weston speaks with Larry Gilhuly, who is an Agronomist with The United States Golf Association and a passionate advocate of the TEE IT FORWARD program.

Image Courtesy Golf Canada Communications

AURORA, Ont. – Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP), is proud to announce that the second annual CP Women’s Leadership Summit will take place Tuesday, August 20 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North in Richmond Hill, Ont. as part of the weeklong excitement of the 2019 CP Women’s Open (CPWO).

The CP Women’s Leadership Summit will bring together like-minded businesswomen from across the country for a day of networking, empowerment and philanthropy. The Summit will also raise awareness for the CP Women’s Open, with attendees receiving access to the tournament during the week.

Delta's Mary Parsons Is The Defending B.C. Women's Amateur Champion - BC Golf Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When Mary Parsons tees it up in the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship July 9-12 at Nanaimo Golf Club, the Delta resident will be doing more than defending the title she won last year. Parsons will also be preparing for what figures to be the biggest event of her young golfing life.

The 20-year-old, who just completed her sophomore year at Indiana University, will represent Canada later this summer at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. And yes, that has her more than a little excited.

Canada's Christopher Vandette Had A Fine Tournament At The TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup Finishing Third Individually - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

Courtesy Golf Canada

TOYOTA CITY, Japan – Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que., fired a 3-under-par 68 in the final round to finish third in the individual boys division at the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup. Canada finished sixth in the team competition.

Vandette’s score of 68 was his third round in the 60s during the week. A bogey on the par-4 13th was the lone blemish on the 17-year-old’s scorecard. His score of 63 on Thursday was tied for the lowest round of the competition, helping him finish five shots back of winner Samuel Simpson of South Africa.

Friday, June, 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Don't miss the opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the cultural diversity of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples by participating in the many activities happening across Canada!

As part of the celebrations British Columbia Golf is hosting a Future Links golf booth among the many other activities taking place at The Musqueam Cultural Pavilion, 4000 Musqueam Ave. in Vancouver.

Langley Resident James Allebby Shot A Four-Under Par 67 To Win The RBC Canadian Open Monday Qualifier At Heron Point Golf Links - Image Courtesy Chuck Russell/Mackenzie Tour

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

James Allenby has waited a long time to play in his first PGA TOUR event and now that he has finally achieved that goal the Langley native hopes to make the most out of it. “It is a massive opportunity that I am going to try and take advantage of by just playing my game,” Allenby said after winning the Monday qualifier for this week’s RBC Canadian Open.

If Allenby does play his game, he should be just fine. The 34-year-old has been on quite the roll of late on both the Vancouver Golf Tour and PGA Tour Canada-Mackenzie Tour circuit.

Image Credit Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

An emotional roller-coaster of a week ended on a high Friday for coach Chris Macdonald and his University of B.C. Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams. Both teams staged dramatic final-round comebacks to win the Canadian University/College Championships at Firerock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. 

The Thunderbird women edged Laval by just one shot in the 72-hole competition. The UBC men needed a playoff to beat Western Ontario. It was the fourth straight Canadian University Championship for the UBC women, who capped an incredible year with Friday’s win. Two weeks ago, they won the NAIA National Championship tourney in Oklahoma and with Friday’s victory they end their season with 10 wins.

Delta, BC's Mary Parsons Is Joining The Canadian Pan American Games Golf Squad For The Pan Am Games In Lima, Peru This August - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

For Immediate Release

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced the four athletes on Canada’s golf team nominated to compete at the Lima 2019 Pan American Games.

The Canadian athletes nominated by Golf Canada for the Pan Am golf competition—which runs August 8-11, 2019 at the Country Club Villa—were determined based on an assessment of world rankings and head-to-head results among those with a declared intent to compete.

On the women’s side, 20-year-old Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que. has accepted selection to the Pan Am golf team and will be joined by Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C.

The PGA TOUR and its affiliated Tours boasts a large roster of players from Canada as members. Here is the recap from this past week’s action and their performances.

UBC Women's Golf Senior Avril Li Led The Way For The T-Birds With A 3-under 69 In The Final Round - BC Golf File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The day did not start quite the way Avril Li or Kate Johnston had hoped, but it sure ended well. Li and Johnston, the No. 1 and 2 players for the UBC Women’s Golf Team, both double-bogeyed the opening hole in Friday’s final round of the NAIA National Championship tourney at Lincoln Park Golf Club in Oklahoma City.

Johnston followed up with a bogey on the second hole and you could almost see UBC’s slim lead slipping away. But UBC’s two top guns recovered beautifully and led the Thunderbirds to a five-shot win over Keiser University of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.