BC's Megan Osland - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kelowna’s Megan Osland not only had to beat her opponents, she had to beat the heat to win the Oscar Williams Classic on the Women’s All Pro Tour. The 72-hole event was held in Anna, Tex., during what has been an epic heat wave in parts of the southern U.S.

“I would say most of the days it was between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius, plus the humidity,” Osland said over the phone. “I had a 7 a.m. tee time one day, so I got to the course just before 6 a,m. and I got out of the car and I just started sweating. At 6 a.m.! It was crazy. The heat was definitely a battle in itself.”

BC's Lauren Kim (R) Posed With LPGA Legend Betsy King Before The 2022 U.S. Women's Open At Pine Needles In North Carolina - Image Credit Kevin Kim

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Before she heads to the University of Texas to begin her collegiate golf career, Surrey’s Lauren Kim has a busy summer ahead of her.

Kim, who just graduated from Earl Marriott Secondary, has qualified to play in three major United States Golf Association events this summer.

In addition to the Women’s Amateur, Kim has also qualified to play in the U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Junior Girls Championships.

Playing golf from the appropriate set of tees is a great way to derive a lot more enjoyment from the game.

At the same time, how do we really know how to determine credibly what those tees should be for each of us?

If you are Canadian, it is definitely a bona fide 'Where were you when' moment. Depending on one's age you may recall Paul Henderson's winning goal for Canada against Russia in the final minute of the final game in what became known as the 'Summit Series' hockey tournament back in September of 1972.

Or Sidney Crosby's Golden Goal against the Americans in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Of course, there's Mike Weir's playoff victory over Len Mattiace to capture the 2003 Masters title, the only major ever won by a Canadian. And now this...Nick Taylor's improbable 72-foot bomb of a putt on the 4th playoff hole of the RBC Canadian Open to defeat England's Tommy Fleetwood and become the first Canadian in 69 years to win our National Professional Men's Golf Championship. 

Pat Fletcher was the last Canadian to win the event back in 1954 at Vancouver's Point Grey Golf & Country Club and Canadian golf fans had been reminded of that...every...year...since. No disrespect to Mr. Fletcher or his family, but Canada is definitely ready to talk about the newest 'last Canadian to win' our national open. Thank you, Nick Taylor.

There's so much to be said and enjoyed about that moment and indeed the entire tournament. But watching the PGA TOUR video of the broadcasting moment on CBS does a fine job of capturing the joy, celebration and relief of an entire country.

Oh...and a viral social media moment accidentally produced by Taylor's friend and fellow Canadian on Tour, Adam Hadwin, now eternally linked with Taylor's spectacular winning moment.

Image via Instagram Screenshot

BC's Adam Hadwin and his wife Jessica started a non-profit organization in May of 2020, The Hadwin Family Foundation following the successful IVF (In vitro fertilization) that produced their daughter Maddox. The two felt they could help assist other couples struggling to conceive a child and thus started the foundation and Maddy’s Miracle Grant. Canadian golf writer Adam Stanley has a wonderful story on how it all came to be and an update on where things are now. 

Written by Adam Stanley
@adam_stanley

Jessica Hadwin looked out a plane window in the spring of 2019 to see a unique double rainbow. There were two vertical strips of colour coming out of a collection of clouds, straight toward the ground – a bright splash through the darkness. She needed that. She wondered if it was a sign.

About a year later – nine months, to be exact – that double rainbow represented their baby girl Maddox. Their fighter. A glimpse of light after years of darkness.

A “Rainbow Baby” is a term for a child born to a family after experiencing previous child loss.

Click HERE to read full story. 

BC's Lauren Kim Warmed Up For Her U.S. Women's Open Start Next Month With Some Fine Play At Liberty National In New Jersey -  Photo Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Rose Zhang didn’t make a birdie Sunday as she made history by winning in her LPGA Tour debut. Surrey teen Lauren Kim had eight of them as she played the same Liberty National course from most of the same tees.

The inaugural Mizuho Americas Open featured 24 of the top players from the American Junior Golf Association, who competed in their own tourney opposite the LPGA field. In the final two rounds, one AJGA player played with two LPGA players.

Kim was one of four B.C. juniors invited to the event, along with Luna Lu of Burnaby and Michelle Liu and Vanessa Zhang, both of Vancouver.

Women’s Golf Day encourages women to explore various options in their community including local facilities, lessons, leagues and other ways to get involved in golf.

Women's Golf Day 'Week' kicks off today, May 30th and runs until Tuesday, June 6th.

Introducing women and girls to golf and celebrating existing players by joining them together irrespective of gender, race, religion, language, ethnicity, or location is all a part of Women's Golf Day initiatives. 

Click HERE to learn more. 

There's No Looking Back Now As Coquitlam's AJ Ewart Is Turning Pro - Golf Canada Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Call it a slightly disappointing ending to a brilliant collegiate career. Coquitlam’s A.J. Ewart and his Barry University Bucs were knocked out in the semi-finals of the NCAA Division II championship tourney at Avalon Lakes Golf Club in Warren, Ohio.

Ewart, of course, was hoping to end his career with an NCAA Championship, but can reflect on a remarkable four years at the Miami-area school where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications with a sport management minor.

Sonja Tang Led The UBC Women T'Birds With Her T4 Finish - Image Courtesy UBC/Bushnell Athletics

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

For a while, it looked like it might be close. Turns out, it wasn’t. The University of B.C. women’s golf team rebounded nicely after a second-round hiccup and repeated as NAIA champions with a resounding 29-stroke victory at the TPC Deere Run in Silvas, Ill.

The Thunderbirds did what they were expected to do, which often isn’t as easy as it sounds. They entered the tournament ranked No. 1, but after a poor second round trailed Keiser University by one shot.

BC's Tanelle Bolt Uses A Swing-Assist Cart At Langara GC In Vancouver - BC Golf Photo

BY REBECCA BLISSETT/Writer for Rick Hansen Foundation

For Anthony Brummet, like many of the 1 in 5 Canadians with a disability, his medical condition wasn’t something he had planned for. Anthony, or Tony as he is called, developed a health issue in his senior years that affects his legs to the point he can no longer stand.

British Columbia Will Go For Six Straight At The North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches Championship In Corvallis, Oregon

This international competition, created by Washington Junior Golf Association (WJGA) founder, Joan Teats in 1987, has featured a rotation of sites in recent years between the competing golf associations comprising British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

The 2023 edition of the North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches is being held at Trysting Tree GC in Corvallis, Oregon and will see the contest taking on a slightly different look as Team BC goes for their 6th consecutive victory in the event.

With Idaho not competing this year, Oregon and Washington have combined to form one team (6 girls each), which will take on 5-time defending champion British Columbia who will be bringing 12 players to the event, creating a 'Canada vs U.S.A.' approach to this year's competition.

L-R: Lauren Kim, Michelle Liu & Luna Lu Finished As The Top 3 In The 2020 BC Women's Amateur. They Will Be Joined By Vanessa Zhang (Far Right) In The Upcoming Mizuho Americas Open

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Four B.C. junior golfers will be playing alongside some of the biggest stars on the LPGA Tour at the upcoming Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey.

Burnaby’s Luna Lu, Lauren Kim of Surrey and Michelle Liu and Vanessa Zhang, both of Vancouver, are among 24 American Junior Golf Association players who have qualified to play in the inaugural event, which goes June 1-4.

The UBC T'Birds Are 2023 NAIA Champions - Photo Credit Dan O'Connor (UBC T'Birds Communications)

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

For just the second time in program history, the University of B.C. men’s golf team has captured the NAIA national championship. The T-Birds surprised even their coach by winning the 72-hole tournament at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, Ariz.

“To be honest it’s a big surprise and it’s a big upset,” said longtime UBC coach Chris Macdonald. “We were the 12th-ranked team coming in, so a lot of things had to go right.”

Lauren Kim (L) And Gabriela Ruffels Were The Two Qualifiers For The U.S. Women's Open At VGC - Image Courtesy Golf Canada/Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Lauren Kim’s one and only visit to California’s Monterey Peninsula occurred a few years ago when she and her family were driving home from a junior golf tournament in the San Diego area.

Kim, all of 11 or 12 years old at the time, vividly remembers what a beautiful spot it was. “We went to all of the golf courses in the area and picked up every scorecard,” she says. “And then we went to the beach and dipped our toes in the water.

“I bought one of those bouncy balls that had a big Pebble Beach logo on it. And it had golf ball dimples on it. I thought this is really cool, I want that.” She also decided right there and then that she’d one day play Pebble Beach.

On Monday, that dream became a reality. Kim will not only play Pebble Beach, she’ll play it in this summer’s U.S. Women’s Open.

SFU Red Leafs Men's Golf Team - Image Courtesy SFU/Sonoma State Athletics

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The solid play of senior Aidan Goodfellow (Centre In Team Photo Shown) and a pair of clutch 18th-hole birdies by Michael Crisologo and Jordan Bean helped the Simon Fraser University men’s golf team earn a spot in the NCAA Division II national championship tourney for the first time since 2015.

The Red Leafs tied for fourth at the West/South Central regional tourney in Rohnert Park, Calif., where the top five teams earned spots in the national championship tourney.

It was a nail-biter of a final round as only seven strokes separated the top nine teams.

By Craig Dolch, Special to the PGA of America

This article from Craig Dolch has some wonderful insight from former 5-time PGA TOUR winner Ken Green as he gains more and more admiration for those whose main goal is to compete, regardless of the compromised physical situation they may be faced with.

It's Time to Celebrate! Women's Golf Day Celebrations begin May 30 and run through June 6th! You can participate in a number of ways! Don't miss your chance to be a part of the fun!

There are lots of ways to get involved - starting May 30th.

NextGen Pacific Champions Amy Seung Hyun Lee & Jerry Li - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The NextGen Championships put on by Golf Canada each year are what you might call 'junior majors'. Amy Seung Hyun Lee now has won two of them.

Lee, a 15-year-old Langley resident, captured the NextGen Pacific Championship at Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club.

She went wire-to-wire and won by five shots against an elite field of B.C. juniors.

The Last BC Team To Win The Lamey Cup Was In 2014 - PNGA Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was cool, rainy and windy at last year’s PNGA Lamey Cup, but John Robertson enjoyed every minute of what was his debut in the annual Ryder Cup-style competition featuring teams from the British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Idaho golf associations.

Robertson loved the competitive side of the event, but also remembers the great camaraderie between the teams.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 25, 2023

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada will merge into a singular Tour to form PGA TOUR Americas, which will begin play in February 2024, the PGA TOUR announced today.

PGA TOUR Americas will consist of 16 events contested across Latin America, Canada and the United States from February through September. The top 10 finishers on the season-long points list will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the following season.