When its creation was first announced in 2014, the World Junior Girl Golf Championship was initially confirmed for a three-year run. This year’s edition at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa (where tournament rounds get underway today) extends that to four years.
Flagstick.com has learned that there will indeed be a 5th edition of the championship, and, like it has since the beginning, will take place at an Ontario-based golf club. Angus Glen GC (Markham) hosted the initial championship in 2014, Mississaugua G&CC was the site in 2016, while The Marshes has welcomed the event in 2015 and this year.
Multiple sources have confirmed the name of the course that will host the championship, but at the request of management we have chosen to keep that information private until the members of the club have been fully informed.
“It has been approved by the board of directors; we just need to be able to share that with the membership first,” one source conveyed.
The expected announcement of the host site could come later this week as the 2017 edition of the championship wraps up Friday with the 4th and final round.
We can share that it is a golf club that has hosted multiple national championships and various professional events.
We will pass on the name of the club and any other details at the earliest time possible.
The PGA TOUR announced the nominees for the Rookie of The Year for 2017 and among them was Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ontario.
Hughes, 26, graduated to the PGA TOUR from the Web.com Tour and quickly took advantage of the self-made opportunity.
In 31 events the Kent State University Graduate made 22 cuts and had two top-ten finishes. They included a victory at The RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia.
He ultimately finished 36th in the FedEx Cup points race.
Hughes is among 5 nominees for the award.
Leading the group is 23 year-old Xander Schauffele who recorded two victories during the 2016/2017 campaign. That included being the first rookie to ever win the TOUR Championship.
Also nominated were two other rookie winners – Wesley Bryan (RBC Heritage) and Grayson Murray (Barbacoa Championship), along with Patrick Cantlay who played just 13 events but made all 13 cuts.
Voting by the PGA TOUR players will close on October 2nd, after which the award winners will be announced.
How low some of the world’s best women’s golfers can go this week at the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open will be determined by the weather gods, Canadian world no. 12 Brooke Henderson says.
With the fairways of the newly bedded in Windross Farm course east of Auckland firm and a touch unforgiving during practice and the wind gusting, scoring has been tough. However, if the wind drops, the links-styled course could well allow some low numbers when the tournament begins on Thursday.
“I think it really depends on the weather conditions and the direction that the wind is blowing,” Henderson said today following her practice round.
“It’s not a golf course [style] that I generally play a lot of; it’s playing very firm, which is partly because it’s so new of a golf course.
“I think if the wind stays up like it is right now, it is gonna be a challenge for the girls. If the wind dies and the conditions are still suitable, then the scores might be very low. I’m excited for the challenge, and hopefully good things will happen.”
Fifth on the 2017 money list with $US1,161,833 in earnings, the Ontario native arrives in Auckland in solid form, having posted a fourth career Tour victory in June at the Meijer LPGA Classic and followed up with a second at the KPMG Women’s PGA .
“I had a banner year last year; everything just seemed to be going perfect for me, and then this year, starting the season off it was a little bit tougher for me.
“But I won in June and finishing second in the Major championship that I won the year previous (PGA Championship) was definitely a lot of confidence for me, and a lot of momentum.”
Henderson said she expected her good friend Lydia Ko (the player she defeated in a playoff to claim that first major title in 2016) to relish playing on home soil in New Zealand.
“Back home I was able to play the Canadian Women’s Open, in front of my hometown, and that was a lot of fun for me. So, I feel like it’s a great opportunity for her.
“She’s an amazing player and I feel like she maybe hasn’t had the season she was looking for this year. But I know good things are gonna continue to happen for her and she’s getting it back on track.”
The Pro-Am presented by RSM is on Wednesday with the tournament proper from Thursday until Sunday, with a cut to the best 70 players plus ties to play the weekend.
OTTAWA (Golf Canada/Golf Ontario)– The Republic of Korea were not fazed by the sweltering heat on Tuesday at The Marshes Golf Club, carding a score of 10 under to take the 18-hole lead at the fourth annual World Junior Girls Championship.
In temperatures upwards of 30 C, the Korean team recorded a score of 134 to build a one-stroke advantage over the American squad. The trio were paced by Seo-yun Kwon, who fired a 7-under-par 65 for a two-stroke cushion in the individual competition.
“For the first three or four holes I missed a couple birdie putts and that made me hot because I was angry,” said Kwon. “The turning point was a birdie on the sixth and at that point I didn’t even realize how warm it was.”
The 16-year-old thrived in the heat, recording five birdies and highlighting the day with an eagle on the par-5 14th.
“Right before you make a shot you imagine how it will go in your mind. During the practice round I tried to get on in three because it is a long hole,” said Kwon. “Today, my driver was so good that when I got to my ball, I realized I should try to reach with my three wood. My putter was also great today so the 14th went exactly how I imagined it would.”
The second-counting score for the Republic of Korea was registered by Yunji Jeong, who posted a 3-under-par 69 to sit tied for sixth. The Republic of Korea are no strangers to success at The Marshes Golf Club — they ran away with the competition when it was held at this same course in 2015, winning by a margin of 18 strokes.
“The course looks very friendly to Korean players, even though the shape and grass type are different,” added Kwon. “However, the shot has to be accurate because the fairways are narrow, including the landing zones, and there is bush on either side and those conditions are very similar to in Korea.”
Holding second place is America’s Gina Kim, who went 5 under on the back nine, including an eagle of her own on the 14th — one of two on the day. Third place is currently occupied by a trio of competitors at 4 under par: Hana Ryskova (Czech Republic), Alessia Nobilio (Italy) and Erica Shepherd (USA).
Emily Zhu, Canada’s youngest competitor from Richmond Hill, Ont., led both Canadian squads with an even-par 72 to sit T23 overall. The 13-year-old’s round was a positive note in what was otherwise a difficult opener for the host nation.
“I don’t think that it was the start that we wanted but the girls all played better than what they scored. I trust in the fact that they are hitting the ball well and that they are going to get better every day, that is our goal,” said Ann Carroll, coach of Canada One. “It is a 72-hole tournament and we will just focus on getting better every day. We’ll make today the high round and focus on trying to improve on the little things that make a big difference.”
With a total of 3-over 147, Canada Two comprised of Zhu, Euna Han (Coquitlam, B.C.) and Alyssa DiMarcantonio (Maple, Ont.) are tied for 15th place.
The second round will begin at 8 a.m. with no cut for the tournament.
Additional information from the competition can be found here.
The Ottawa Valley Golf Association completed their 2017 competitive tournament schedule on Tuesday at the Greyhawk Golf Club in Cumberland, Ontario.
Eight winners were crowned in the association’s annual Tournament of Champions.
On the Women’s side of the draw Erik Godwin of Carleton Golf & Yacht Club got the better of Carla Jensen of the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club to earn the A Class title. Tops in the B division went to Laurel Ofrichuk of the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club while Sylvie Brunet of Mont Ste-Marie claimed C honours. The top Senior woman was Louise Hotte of Rivermead with a sparkling 72 on the club’s Talon course.
The men competed on the Predator course and it was Kurtis Barkley of Cedar Glen Golf Club who topped the A Class field with a score of 69. The men’s B winner was Mark Sullivan of Rideau View Golf Club while C honours were earned by Les Siminoski of Prescott Golf Club. John Hunt of the Stonebridge won the Senior Men’s title after a pitched battle with Ken Clark of the host club. Hunt nipped Clark by just one stroke with a score of 66.
Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who competed in OVGA events in 2017.
“The Queen City” It’s a grand title and one befitting a North Carolina with all the dignity of the Royal Family member it was named after. But Charlotte, well, it’s way more than that.
A demur as its name indicates Charlotte is a charmer for a number of reasons, beyond manners alone. Although, you’ll hear the words “sir” and “mam” on a regular basis.
The largest city in the state of North Carolina (almost 900,000 core residents and 2.2 million in the metro area), is about as diverse as they come. And as much as they love their heritage, having been settled back in 1755, you’ll find this is one of the most progressive urban areas as a major banking and industry hub. While many residents are well-established, it is still a youthful city with young adults driving changes in the culture.
Progressive is also how the city sees and positions itself. In the 1980’s the town made a concerted effort to change the references to the city core to “Uptown”, believing “downtown” had a negative connotation. It has taken root and so has an attitude that Charlotte is always “on the way up.”
A minor change, yes, but a resounding one.
On a recent visit, it was proven to me just that it is not just talk, good things are happening in Charlotte. Things that make it even more attractive as a golf travel location.
Sure, there was the glitz of the 2017 PGA Championship going on at the Quail Hollow Club but that was not all that got my attention. As an aside to the major championship there was great golf, accommodations, restaurants, and attractions to be found.
Home Base
Whether you choose to hang your hat in the city centre (Hampton Inn), the outer edges (Ballantyne Resort), or more distance suburbs like Rock Hill, SC (Hilton Garden Inn), there are plenty of places to suit your budget and needs.
The Hampton sits just a few feet from the main convention centre as well as the NASCAR Hall of Fame, opened less than a decade ago and an important attraction with the city being the home of stock car racing.
It puts you within blocks of the EpiCenter, a multi-story restaurant and night club complex, or the more than 200 restaurants that populate the city core.
Further afield, The Ballantyne, a Luxury Collection hotel, is a four-star affair where more than forty PGA TOUR players chose to stay during this year’s PGA Championship. And it was not for location alone. (Although Upton and the airport are less than 30 km away).
The Ballantyne is an exquisite hotel where service is paramount and the staff deliver on the details. On top of well-appointed rooms, they feature a large spa, great outdoor spaces, the Dana Rader Golf School, and their own golf course often voted the best of the publicly accessible facilities in the city.
More Golf
For those in the know, it’s hard to mention the city of Charlotte and NOT mention golf. With more than 80 golf courses, including more than 50 available to the public, there are hardly any limits on what you can access in this heart of North Carolina, and slightly into nearby South Carolina. And if you have some connections or ask nicely, you might even find yourself on some private fairways.
On a recent pass through, said connection found our group on the tumbling property of the Gaston Country Club, the home of PGA TOUR player Harold Varner III. The course typifies many you will find in this region in that it has a lot more elevation that you might expect. As a result, tee boxes often present pleasing panoramas, and you see a witness another common thread in this mid-American weather zone – premium turf conditions.
Springfield Country Club (Photo: Scott MacLeod)
At a peak rate around $60 on weekend, the Springfield Country Club in Fort Mill (SC) welcomes visitors and provides full value for the price.
Even before stepping on the golf course our group was impressed with the service and amenities at Springfield. The vast practice area features a golf school run by Canadian Marc Lapointe and the staff made all feel welcome with plenty of direction and an eager-to-please attitude.
From the first fairway that tumbled downward we were treated to a layout that was engaging in overall design, demanding a variety of shots and keeping our interest right until the head. Like Gaston, large elevation changes marked the course and fairways and greens were flawless. It’s a difficult course for those who hit the ball out of position often but better players will appreciate the strategy needed to play it well.
Charlotte proved it can be a true golf destination and it would take years to complete a full circuit of their golf properties, restaurants, and other attractions.
All the more reason to make a few return trips, and for Canadians traveling north or south, it also makes a convenient stopover where you can have some fun along the length of your journey.
Experience golf’s true spirit nestled among the towering pines and flowing fairways. Become part of the game’s legendary history and play your greatest shots at The Home of American Golf.
40 legendary golf courses in one destination. The Home of American Golf. Make plans to visit today. www.homeofgolf.com
OTTAWA (Golf Canada/Golf Ontario) – The Republic of Korea successfully battled the heat once again at The Marshes Golf Club, carding a 6-under 138 on Wednesday to extend their team lead through two rounds of the World Junior Girls Championship.
On the strength of Hae-Ran Ryu’s 4-under 68, the Koreans have built up a seven-stroke team advantage. The trio’s second-counting score was posted by the individual leader, Seo-yun Kwon, who maintained her first-round lead after carding five birdies on the day to move to 9 under for the tournament — good for a four-stroke cushion.
Chasing Kwon for the individual title are five competitors deadlocked in second place at 6 under par: Esther Henseleit (Germany), Alessia Nobilio (Italy), Linn Grant (Sweden), Hana Ryskova (Czech Republic) and Annabel Wilson (Ireland).
Wilson carded the low-round of the day with a six-birdie, 5-under-par effort.
“Everything was going well today, it was a stress-free round of golf,” said Wilson, who played in the inaugural World Junior Girls Championship in 2014. “My putter was hot today which was the biggest difference from yesterday. I hit one more green yesterday but I took five less shots today so it really was all because of the putter.”
The Korean squad are looking to mirror their success from the 2015 championship — also hosted at The Marshes — where they recorded an 18-stroke team victory. They are currently trailed by the Americans at 9 under and Germans at 7 under.
Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que., posted four birdies on the day to lead all Canadians at even-par for the tournament (74-70).
“I had a good start, I was hitting the ball well but my long putts were the key,” said the 16-year-old Dao. “I was 3 under after the front nine, which was a great start for me.”
Playing for Canada on home soil was not lost on the reigning Quebec Women’s Amateur champion.
“It’s an honour for me to play for Canada at this tournament,” added Dao. “I know that the scores will be low because it is the best in the world competing but it doesn’t change how I approach my game. It is just great to compare my game with theirs.”
The second round was delayed from 2:45 p.m. to 4:03 p.m. due to lightning.
The third round of tournament play will begin at 8 a.m Thursday.
Brooke Henderson is in the hunt for her second LPGA win of the season. This time on the other side of the world.
The World’s 12th ranked player took a share of the lead after the first round of the McKayson New Zealand Women’s Open while most of those on her home country were fast asleep.
The 20 year-old turned in a very tidy 65 (-7) over the new Windross Farm Golf Course located 35 minutes south of Auckland. Her day included eight birdies and just one bogey and put her in a share of the lead with Jodi Ewart Shadoff.
It was a welcome beginning to the week for Henderson who finished in a tie for 58th in her most recent appearance, at the Evian Championship.
“I got off to a great start,” Henderson shared with a smile. “I was 2-under through three holes. I had one bogey on the day but was able to bounce back with five birdies in my last 10 holes. It was a great start for me and exactly what I was looking for to get on top of the leaderboard early.”
With an early tee time and calm conditions Henderson made the best of the day, one where 49 players turned in under par scores, but none better than hers.
She realized that it was best to get her work in early as rain and increasing winds are predicted for the rest of the week in Auckland.
“If the winds pick up it is going to be a completely different golf course. I was fortunate this morning that the winds were calm and the greens were holding more than the last few days, and I knew I could take advantage. To shoot minus seven on a golf course that didn’t think completely suited my game is really exciting. My fast start really set-up my round and gave me a lot of momentum and a lot of confidence.”
Henderson and Shadoff will carry a one stroke lead into round two over Belen Mozo and Amy Boulden.
Four other Canadians are in the field. Maude-Aimee Leblanc is next best after Henderson in a share of 20th after an opening 70 (-2).
Alena Sharp is tied for 50th at even par, one inside the projected cut line.
Lorie Kane posted a 74 (+2) while Jennifer Ha struggled to a 78 (+6).
The governing body for the municipality of Oakville has struck down the latest ClubLink plan to make the Glen Abbey golf course disappear.
After the golf course owner filed an application on Monday outlining a desire to “demolish or remove” the eighteen hole Jack Nicklaus designed golf course in favour of development of various residential and commercial properties, the plan was rejected unanimously by Oakville Town Council during their Tuesday meeting. The proposed redevelopment of the Glen Abbey Golf Course includes a total of 3,222 units, 5,429 m2 of office commercial, 5,841 m2 of retail commercial space, and 546 m2 community amenity uses, parks and open space and natural heritage system.
“The town’s Livable Oakville Official Plan sets out the vision for our community to preserve the stability of residential neighbourhoods and identify specific areas where growth should occur,” Mayor Burton noted. “ClubLink’s proposal did not adhere to our official plan, nor did it conserve the golf course, which is subject to a Notice of Intention to Designate as a significant cultural heritage landscape issued by Council under s. 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.”
Under ClubLink’s plan some of the historic buildings are set to remain. The RayDor Estate office building is included in that. It was designated a Heritage site under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1993.
ClubLink had applied to the town for an official plan amendment, a zoning by-law amendment and approval of a plan of subdivision to redevelop the golf course property into 3222 residential units and mixed commercial and retail uses, as well as a dedication of the club’s valley lands as natural heritage. Council’s decision refuses the official plan and zoning amendments required for the development to proceed. Pursuant to a Planning Act requirement, the application for the approval of a plan of subdivision must still come back to Planning and Development Council on November 6, 2017 for decision.
Town Planning staff had recommended refusal of the application to Council. According to Mark Simeoni, the town’s director of Planning, “The town’s cultural heritage landscape study identified the Glen Abbey property as a significant cultural heritage landscape that should be conserved. The town-wide urban structure review identified where and how the town should grow, and Glen Abbey was not identified as a potential site for future growth. These conclusions are so significant that staff must recommend that the applications not proceed.”
The Town of Oakville intends to produce a draft plan for Glen Abbey by December 19, 2017.
This Cultural Heritage Landscape Conservation Plan, according to Council documents, will:
be based on the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
address the heritage attributes identified for the property in the NOID
consider applicable official plan policies and zoning regulations for the property
be prepared by a team including Town staff and other retained qualified persons
consider the property as a whole and address all heritage values and attributes of the property
identify operational and maintenance requirements
guide the review of changes to the property that may or may not affect its cultural heritage value and heritage attributes, whether and the extent to which the change will require heritage approval from the Town, and use of practical timelines
provide guidance on technical studies that may be required (e.g. Heritage Impact Assessments, archaeological assessments)
consider the input from the property owner and interested persons or organizations
With a huge financial stake in the matter you can expect that the latest hurdle will not deter ClubLink in their efforts to execute their plans. How the Town Council reacts and accepts them remains to be seen.
The Heritage Oakville Advisory Committee indicates that after a draft plan for Glen Abbey is completed there will be a period of public review and further consultation.
The target for the final plan is January 31, 2018.
The Glen Abbey Golf Club is set to host the RBC Canadian Open for the 30th time on July 23-29, 2018.
The TP Collection of putters from TaylorMade continues to grow. The company has added six more models as part of the TP Red line.
The six mallets arrive at retail on the heels of growing demand on TOUR, according to the company. Staff players like Jason Day, Justin Rose, and Sergio Garcia have put them into play.
The collection consists on five new variations of the Ardmore model and a version of the Chaska design.
As with all TP putters, they utilize milled 204 stainless steel in the heads but each has a “Tour Red” finish that is distinctive and also contrasts sharply with the sightline for greater visual effect.
The new models are:
Ardmore: A face-balanced mallet designed with dual sightlines for a linear stroke and easy alignment.
Ardmore CTR: A centre-shafted, face-balanced mallet designed to emphasize perfectly centred alignment.
Ardmore 2 (“L” Neck): A progressive mallet designed with single top, double cavity sightlines and 27° toe hang for a flowing stroke and enhanced alignment.
Ardmore 2 (double bend): A progressive, face-balanced mallet featuring single top, double cavity sightlines for a straight back, straight through stroke and enhanced alignment.
Ardmore 3: A progressive mid-size mallet incorporating 40° toe hang for a flowing stroke and simple alignment.
Chaska: A larger, face-balanced, semi-rounded mallet with a three top sightlines to encourage a confident stroke.
Each putter in the TP Red Collection has a head weight of 355g, a 3.5° loft, 70° of lie angle and comes available in 34” & 35’’ lengths. Each model in the collection also features interchangeable sole weights to enable the adjustment of mass for optimal performance.
Similar to the original TP Collection, each new model utilizes a new milling process along with TaylorMade’s proprietary Pure Roll insert to deliver optimal forward roll with a desired firm feel.
Each putter features the 6061 aluminum Pure Roll insert which combines 45° grooves with a softer polymer between the grooves to promote better forward roll and reduce skidding across varying surfaces.
Availability and Pricing
The TP Red Collection will be available on September 29th. Each putter in the collection comes equipped stock with a Super Stroke Pistol GTR 1.0 grip at an MSRP of $279.99 CAD.
OTTAWA (Golf Canada/Golf Ontario)– The playing conditions tightened up on moving day in the World Junior Girls Championship, with high winds bringing temperatures down 20C from the opening two rounds at The Marshes Golf Club.
Republic of Korea’s Seo-yun Kwon carded a 2-under 70 to keep the individual lead for the third consecutive day. She heads into tomorrow’s final round at 11 under for the tournament with a two-stroke advantage over Italy’s Alessia Nobilio.
“My mindset heading into tomorrow will be pretty much the same as what I have done in the past three rounds,” said the 16-year-old Kwon. “I won’t worry about what the other players are doing because I always set a certain goal for myself. So tomorrow I will do that and play for my goal.”
Nobilio carded one of two low-round 68s on the day, moving her into sole possession of second place. The 15-year-old caught fire with five-straight birdies before giving strokes back with a bogey on 13, and a double-bogey on the par-4 18th.
“I think I played perfectly until the last hole,” said Nobilio, the 41st ranked female in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. “I made five birdies in a row and my irons were always two meters from the pin, so that was my strength today. If I do my best I know that I can play good golf. I just need to concentrate until the last hole and everything will be fine.”
Nobilio’s efforts also helped lift the Italian team into a share of third place at 7 under, giving the trio a chance at what would be their first team medal at the World Junior Girls Championship. Caterina Don, who is currently tied for 26th, took home the individual bronze medal for the Italians in 2016.
“This is an important tournament for Italy,” added Nobilio. “Playing in a world championship and representing my country is just a dream for me.”
Spain carded a team-low 139 (-5) to move into second place at 10 under par, eight back of the leading Korean trio. The Koreans will look to collect their second World Junior Girls title at The Marshes – they captured the 2015 tournament here by a commanding 18 strokes.
Leading the Canadians in the field with a share of 26th at 4 over is Céleste Dao from Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que.
The final round of tournament play will see players tee off at 8 a.m. on Friday.
The secret to longer, more powerful shots is in how you move your body, not how far your arms swing above or around your head. And when it comes to your body movement, if you can increase your “X Factor” you can really maximize your distance.
Way back in 1957 Ben Hogan wrote that “A golfer’s power is originated and generated by the movements of the body and is then transferred to his arms and then to his hands. It multiplies itself enormously with every transfer, like a chain action in physics.” Even in 1957, without the use of biofeedback tools, scientific data, 3D motion capture and a thorough understanding of kinematic sequence, Hogan figured it out on the practice tee. The real secret to more power and more distance starts with great body movement.
I use this simple broomstick demo to help my students understand proper body movement in golf. From above you can see how I turn my shoulders more than 90 degrees while turning my hips about half that far. The bigger the difference between shoulder turn and hip turn, the more stored up energy at the top of your backswing.
In golf, your body should wind and unwind like a powerful spring. The idea is to coil and release like a torqueing engine. Haven’t you always wondered how pros make the swing look so easy? It looks as if they’re barely moving or swinging that fast but the ball explodes off their club face and flies hundreds of yards. Well, the secret is in properly winding and unwinding the body in sequence.
Unfortunately, most golfers never really get the body motion right. Every day I watch golfers trying to hit the ball farther by moving around too much. The understandable instinct is to try harder and to somehow create size to develop club head speed. But, as the old adage goes, you have to “work smarter, not harder”. If you can learn to move your body more efficiently and in the proper sequence your swing will be more balanced and consistent and look a lot more rhythmic. And the secret to that motion involves your “X Factor”.
If you can maintain your X Factor number through impact, you’ll gain club head speed and distance on every shot. Your hips should stay well ahead of your shoulders through impact. Here my shoulders are square to the ball and my hips are a least 40 degrees open.
I first read about X Factor in 1992. The basic concept is to build torque in your backswing by turning your upper body against a resisting lower body. The idea is to turn against a flexed back leg. As an example, if your shoulders turn 90 degrees and your hips only turn 45 degrees against that flexed leg, then your X Factor is 45 (shoulder turn – hip turn = X Factor). So, if a golfer can increase X Factor with flexibility and strength they get more stored up energy, resulting in more club head speed and distance, especially if they can maintain the difference between shoulder turn and hip turn into their downswing.
The longest hitters in today’s game, like Dustin Johnson, not only develop incredible X Factor in their backswing, they also maintain it through impact. The difference between Dustin Johnson’s shoulder turn and hip turn at the top of his backswing is incredibly over 60 degrees and he maintains that X Factor number all the way through impact. To put that in perspective, most golfers we test in our 3D Motion Capture Studio have an X Factor around 30-35 degrees at the top of their backswing and that number almost always drops significantly through impact. Golfers generally turn their hips too much in their backswing, suffer from a lack flexibility and lose energy because of an out of sequence downswing.
While I realize that Dustin Johnson’s X Factor numbers are unattainable for almost all of us, understanding the concept of X Factor and coil in your swing can certainly make you a stronger, more consistent player. Pay more attention to how you coil and unwind your body and you can find better rhythm and lots of extra yards.
OTTAWA (Golf Canada/Golf Ontario) – Few could have predicted the wild finish that took place on Friday for the World Junior Girls Championship at The Marshes Golf Club.
In thrilling fashion, the Spanish team fired a collective 4-under par (140) to erase an eight-stroke deficit, forcing a playoff with the Korean squad. As light rain began to fall, both teams headed back to the par-4 18th in pairs to conduct the first playoff in World Junior Girls Championship history.
The Spaniards kept their foot on the gas, with two of the first three team members making birdie on the hole to put the trio at 2 under. The Korean team was then forced to hole out for eagle to continue the match, but their approach missed the green to the right.
“If I would not have made that putt, my teammates might not have been as motivated as they were,” said Elena Arias, the first Spanish team member to birdie the playoff. “I just hit the putt like the other times I had played the hole. It just looked so clear to me and went in but I was so nervous.”
Dimana Viudes followed in the second playoff group, capping her 3-under bogey-free round with a birdie of her own.
“It is like Elena said, her putt really gave me confidence because knowing that we already had a birdie was a great start,” said Viudes, who finished in fourth place individually. “I was very nervous but at the same time calm as well. I was just lucky enough to pull off the shot.”
The win marks the first World Junior Girls Championship medal for Team Spain, which is something not lost on the team’s coach.
“This is a dream come true. To beat a strong team like Korea is something else,” said Nacho Gervas, Team Spain coach. “They are so strong that at times you feel like you are playing for second place. I told them (Spain) they had the game to do well today and if we played our game you never know what can happen.”
Republic of Korea’s Seo-yun Kwon, the 54-hole individual leader, headed into the final round with a two-stroke advantage over Italy’s Alessia Nobilio. Kwon had built a clear advantage on the day before running into trouble on the par-5 14th with a triple-bogey.
Nobilio took advantage of Kwon’s mishap by making birdie on the 14th to briefly hold a one-stroke lead, until giving a stroke back on the next hole. The pair took scores of 9 under to the last hole, forcing another playoff to be commenced after the team event was decided.
With Korea losing the team event, Kwon was determined to come out on top. The 16-year-old missed the green on her approach but went up-and-down for par, beating out Nobilio who slipped with a bogey.
“At first I was angry with myself because I was leading by a few strokes and made one mistake,” said Kwon. “Even though I won the individual medal, I am a little disappointed in myself because if I had done a little more, we could have won the team championship so it is bitter sweet. This is my first win at an international tournament so right now I am so happy.”
Rounding out the team medallists was the trio from Sweden, who finished the tournament at 9 under par, five strokes shy of Spain and Korea. Spain’s Blanca Fernández took home the individual bronze medal, posting a final-round 71 to close the tournament at 7 under par.
Céleste Dao from Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que., finished as the low Canadian with a share of 24th place at 6 over for the tournament.
In 2018, the World Junior Girls Championship will return to the Ottawa area at Camelot Golf and Country Club next September.
Photo Gallery – All Images by Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada
It’s been such a success in Ottawa that the World Junior Girls Golf Championship will return to the National Capital Region once again in 2018.
As a follow-up to the story we posted yesterday we can now share that 5th edition of the World Junior Girls Golf Championship will be played at the Camelot Golf Club in Cumberland, Ontario. It was confirmed publicly by Golf Canada this evening.
This will mark the third time the event has been played in the capital, with The Marshes Golf Club having played host in 2015 and 2017.
The Board of Directors at Camelot made their final decision to host the event just recently and the club’s members were informed on Friday afternoon, just as this year’s tournament was wrapping up across town.
Most recently the club hosted the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Golf Championship and has also been the site of many other top events in their 26 year history, including the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and the Monday Qualifying for this year’s CP Women’s Open.
Their General Manager, Greg Richardson, was on-site at The Marshes Golf Club this week gathering information about the hosting duties and expressed how proud they will be to welcome some of the best young players in the world.
The World Junior Girls Golf Championship is a collaborative effort by a number of associations, most notably Golf Canada and Golf Ontario. When Golf Ontario Executive Director Mike Kelly was on-site Monday at The Marshes, he shared with Flagstick.com how welcoming the Ottawa has been for this event and that they are looking forward to returning.
“It’s our nation’s capital. It’s such a great spot for this event,” said Kelly. “It’s a great community that has always attracted top world events, this is no different. You see from the number of volunteers here and the number of coaches involved (in the affiliated coaching summit). This tournament is embraced and that is just a part of the golf DNA here in Ottawa. It’s a unique city in Canada and we’re pretty lucky to be able to come here.”
The final date for the 2018 World Junior Girls Golf Championship is yet to be announced but once again it is expected to occur in late September.
Saturday is moving day on Tour and Brooke Henderson stuck to the script.
Tied for 2nd, but trailing leader Belen Mozo by five shots through 36 holes at the Mckayson New Zealand Women’s Open, the Canadian put her head down and got to work.
The result was a round of just 67 strokes (-5) for Henderson over the Windross Farm Golf Course near Auckland, putting her just one shot back of Mozo (71 in round 3) with eighteen holes left on the schedule.
In her third round Henderson was bogey-free (as she was in round 2) and now sits at -14, total. It was boosted by a late day surge that saw her make three birdies on the back nine. She was also credited with another on the 15th hole at one point, giving her three on a row, but that was soon corrected to a par.
“I am extremely happy with my 5-under especially with no bogies on the card because it was really tough conditions, with the wind really picking up especially on our back nine,” said Henderson.
“I am excited to be in the spot I am in right now and hopefully I can go out tomorrow and make a lot more birdies and see what happens.
“My chipping was probably the key today. I got up-and-down a bunch of times especially early in the round that kept me in it.”
Sharp Moves
The only other Canadian to make the cut, Alena Sharp, also had a sparkling third round. Her 66 (-6) boosted her into a share of 31st place.
Both players will be in for a stern test on Sunday for the final round, as will the entire field. Forecasted strong winds and rains have prompted tournament officials to move up tee times. This will allow them to have a better chance to get the event completed on time in the event of delays.
It could potentially also make the conclusion a very tumultuous one.
To keep an eye on the leaderboard follow the link below.
Windross Farms Golf Course lived up to the first part of its name this week, but even turbulent weather could not prevent Brooke Henderson from winning her 5th time on the LPGA TOUR.
With unsettled weather, marked by rain, high winds, and lightning, affecting the play over the final two rounds, an extra day was required to complete all 72 holes of the Mackayson New Zealand Women’s Open.
That was just fine for Canada’s Brooke Henderson who trailed by a stroke after 54 holes and watched as overight leader Belen Mozo waned in the final stanza. Henderson kept steady in the trying conditions, completing a final round of 70, to earn her second LPGA title of 2017. It is her first victory as a 20 year-old. At times during the day wind gusts reached 60 km/hr with temoeratures hovering in the low teens.
With a final tally of -17 (65-70-67-69) the Smiths Falls product won the title by five strokes over Jin Yan of China. She capped the day with birdie on the last hole.
The young pro looked comfortable despite the tough conditions and she admitted her mindset helped her to the win.
“I knew it was going to be an extremely tough day,” she commented before being awarded the trophy and the winner’s cheque. “the wind was really howling out there, with rain at times, and you know, I was just trying to keep it at minus seventeen as long as I could. I made a couple bogies but made a few birdies and I played some of the best golf that I have in a really long time,” she continued, noting she plans to return to the event in 2018.
Commenting on the fact this is her first LPGA TOUR win outside the United States, Henderson brought a chuckle from the crowd when she noted the condtions the event was played under over the closing rounds.
“I feel like I’m ready for the British Open now too after the last couple days that we played, but I’m super excited to get it (a win) away from North America and hopefuly more in the future.”
The victory should lift Henderson to 4th place in the Race To CME Globe, up from 7th.
She earns (USD) $195,000 for the win, raising her 2017 TOUR winnings to $1,368,465. Her 6th top ten finish of the season also boosts official career earnings over the $3,000,000 mark to $3,181,547.
Canada’s Alena Sharp also had a strong week. She earned a share of 13th place with rounds of 72-73-66-70 (-7).
The trend of inner cavity long irons continues with the latest release from Miura. The company has revealed the ICL-601 driving.
Offered in three models: #2 (18 degrees), #3 (20 degrees) and #4 (23 degrees) that are intended to integrate with any set of Miura iron. The 4-iron will be released immediately while the #2 and #3 will follow shortly.
“The inner cavity design is not new for Miura,” says Hoyt McGarity, President of Miura Golf. “It was first introduced with the hugely popular IC-2003. Modern technological advances have allowed us to improve on the original design. This is accomplished by integrating a 455 Carpenter Steel face (as found in our PP-9005 G) and the use of the variable weighting system found in the Hayate woods.”
Shinei Miura has optimized the center of gravity by use of the variable weighting system, particularly addressing the mishits typically associated with a long iron. A top line which instills confidence is paired with a sole design which delivers solid turf interaction, no matter the lie.
Easy Match To Your Irons
The 23° ICL-601 includes an 8-gram weight, matching its weight to a standard 4-iron’s. This allows the club to be assembled with the same shaft as your iron set or to be fitted with an optimum-performing shaft. As with other forged irons, the lie and loft angles are adjustable – enabling golfers to fit the club seamlessly into their set. Of course, we recommend these adjustments be done by an authorized Miura dealer. All ICL-601 irons have a weight port.
At address, the sole shape lets the clubhead sit in a way that gives golfers confidence not usually found when hitting a long iron. The clubhead’s inner cavity allows for a wider sole and lower center of gravity. With a larger sweet spot comes more forgiveness, high launch, and controlled spin rates that will benefit golfers of all skill levels.
“The ICL gives Miura traditionalists the opportunity to add technology to their game, while maintaining the quality and feel of a Miura forged club,” says Jason Rutkoski, Miura Golf vice president. “The ICL is a remarkable new product that will benefit golfers from all demographics, by seamlessly fitting their existing set or adding a club to fit that one shot/hole per round.”
(Hilton Head Island, South Carolina) – White sand beaches, crashing waves, four star resorts, and endless fairways. It may sound like Hawaii but it’s a lot closer than you think, especially for golf travellers residing on the east coast of North America.
You can find all this, and a lot more, in a little piece of paradise along the coast of South Carolina.
Hilton Head Island is a low country favourite for travellers from all over the world. More than two million of them come here annually. And for good reason.
Located some twenty miles from Savannah, Georgia, this barrier island is visually stunning. Nearly twenty kilometers of white sand beaches surround it, making a delightful playground for all.
The popularity of the island led to the development of many resorts and accompanying golf courses. Now more than 30 courses dot the island, many located in the gated communities that have sprung up to cover some 70 percent of the land space. But these communities are not simply for home owners, they also contain hotel properties, resorts, and accessible golf courses.
Sea Pines Resort
Each year, since 1969, the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage Classic has brought Hilton Head into the living rooms of the world. The Harbour Town Golf Links at Sea Pines Resort has been the host of the tournament for nearly fifty years, but it is not the only course at this world-class resort. It is also home to the Pete Dye –designed Heron Point Golf Course and the recently renovated Ocean Course, now known as Atlantic Dunes.
Harbour Town is the major architectural gem within the lot. Its design made the world familiar with the work of Pete Dye, as well as his wife Alice who was largely responsible for the 13th hole.
The tightly tree-lined course emphasizes strategy over brute distance and the concluding holes are among the most memorable in the game.
The Heron Point and Atlantic Dunes courses are no slouches in their own right and perfectly complement the grandeur of Harbour Town.
Accommodation options at Sea Pines are vast and include the Inn and Resort, Vacation Homes, and Villas.
Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort
Not far from the Sea Pines Resort is another resort and golf option that has been pleasing visitors for years – the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort
Comfort and luxury are hallmarks at the Omni where the 323 suites are some of the largest on the island. With their built-in kitchenette areas, they make for comfortable spaces to enjoy for week-long visits.
You’ll need that time just to enjoy all the amenities including a variety of restaurants to suit different tastes. That includes HH Prime, where steak is their speciality.
The resort is also home to the Ocean Tides Spa and many family oriented activities like biking, kayaking, and more.
Those staying at the Omni will have the opportunity to enjoy the affiliated Palmetto Dunes Golf Club.
The trio of layouts at Palmetto Dunes is astounding.
It begins with the highly underrated Arthur Hills Golf Course, includes a George Fazio course often listed high among national rankings, and caps off with a Robert Trent Jones course renowned within the Southeast United States.
Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa
Wander off the beach and into a nest of Palmetto trees to find the 412-room Westin Hilton Head Island Resort. Before you can make your way into the beautifully appointed space you will also need to get by their three outdoor pools and vast recreation areas.
This family friendly resort features large rooms, activities, and amenities for the entire family. That includes the golfer(s) with the 54-hole Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club at the ready.
The three courses – Barony, Planter’s Row, and Robber’s Row were crafted by three well-known architects George Cobb, Pete Dye, and William Byrd and each matured nicely to become integral to their island settings. Rates are reasonable and a multiple round package gives you a chance to explore all three layouts.
250 Restaurants
After wandering the fairways, those building up an appetite will easily find refuge in Hilton Head. Affluent permanent residents, along with an ample number of seasonal visitors, has created the demand for dining establishments and their variety seems endless.
Whether you want a quick bite at a chain establishment, a casual experience, or fine dining, you will find it all.
Hilton Head truly is a haven within the Lowcountry. Outdoor living and activities dominate while endless amenities are always at hand. It’s an intoxicating mix and a key reason why people return here again and again.
Earlier this year Ottawa’s Andrew Jensen posted a Vlog (see it here) about the cost of playing professional golf on the mini-tours. It has been the most successful video on his YouTube Channel to date so he is back to give you more insight on the subject.
Did he make money in 2017? How much did it cost him to play?
Check out his latest Vlog for the answers and be sure to Subscribe.
Whether you choose to hang your hat in the city centre (Hampton Inn), the outer edges (Ballantyne Resort), or more distance suburbs like Rock Hill, SC (Hilton Garden Inn), there are plenty of places to suit your budget and needs.
