Thursday, November 26, 2009

Steve Carroll Joins the RCGA in Newly Created Membership & Business Development Position

Former Canadian PGA Executive Director entrusted with engaging and collaborating with the Canadian golf industry to help build the RCGA’s Membership base and program.

Oakville, ON. (RCGA) – The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) announced today that Steve Carroll has been named the Association’s new Director of Membership and Business Development.
Carroll most recently served as Executive Director of the Canadian PGA, finishing his 22-year tenure with the CPGA on October 31, 2009. His deep roots in the Canadian golf industry, stellar record of success with the Canadian PGA and extensive contact base across provincial and national golf administration circles made him a perfect fit for the RCGA’s new role aimed at growing its membership base and enhancing the RCGA’s relationship with its customers and stakeholders across the country.

“This is a very exciting day for the RCGA and golf in Canada and we are delighted to have someone of Steve’s credibility and experiences in the Canadian golf industry join our team,” said Scott Simmons, RCGA Executive Director and CEO. ”Steve demonstrated tremendous leadership during his tenure with the CPGA and more recently as NAGA Chair and spokesperson for the recently announced Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study. He holds a valuable knowledge of the RCGA, Canadian PGA and other golf associations in Canada and has gained an incredible level of respect through his proven record of career success in senior executive positions. We are confident that Steve is the right person to engage the Canadian golf industry and help create and articulate a bold new vision for the future direction of our sport in Canada that will resonate and be proudly supported by the Canadian golf consumer.”

As Director of Membership and Business Development for Ontario and Atlantic Canada, Carroll will be responsible for the growth of membership programs and relationship management objectives. A key member of the RCGA’s Membership Team led by newly appointed Chief Operating Officer Peter Beresford, Carroll will assist with the development and execution of Golf Canada branded membership programs. In addition, Carroll will recruit, train and manage Golf Canada Ambassador volunteers and will be counted on to help increase the profile and awareness of Team Canada in Ontario and Eastern Canada.

“I have such deep respect for the leadership and vision of Scott Simmons and have developed such positive working relationships with many of the existing RCGA staff and Directors that this transition in my career feels like moving from one family to another,” said Carroll. “There are thousands of Canadians who make significant contributions to the industry and game in this country along with many thousands more in Canada who through their passion for the game have elevated Canada to the highest participation levels in the world. I welcome the challenge and look forward to working with the Board, staff, and all RCGA partners across the country to develop even more pride and support for the growth and development of our sport across Canada.”

Carroll joins the RCGA following a successful 22-year executive management career with the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association, including a 13-year stint as Executive Director of the Canadian PGA’s BC Zone and most recently five years as the Canadian PGA’s national Executive Director. During that time he and his teams have delivered enhanced member value, key reforms in strategic planning and governance areas and many new partnerships and improved profile for the Canadian PGA with corporate Canada, government agencies and golf associations in Canada and around the world.

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA’s mission is to grow participation in and passion for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, Rules of Golf and amateur status, handicapping and course rating, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum and CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships showcase the best in Canadian golf.

For further information on what the RCGA is doing to support golf in your community please visit http://www.rcga.org/

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Ben Boudreau Steals the Show at the Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship

Port St. Lucie, Florida (November 25, 2009) Ben Boudreau of Longueuil, QC stole the show at the Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship after he birdied the 18th hole in regulation and then birdied it again in a playoff to claim the Canadian PGA National Championship over first and second round leader Jeff Buder of Vancouver, BC.

Canadian PGA TV clips of the final putt and an interview with Boudreau are available at http://www.cpga.com/

“I was two shots back on the final hole but I thought if I could hit a big drive down the fairway I would have a chance to make a birdie and I just tried to do it all over again in the playoff,” said Boudreau, who now earns an exemption into the 2010 RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto. “Jeff and I had a wild fight all day long and I know he is a little disappointed but he played great golf all week and I’m just happy to be the last man standing.”

Boudreau, Head Professional at Le Parcours Du Cerf, made four birdies and no bogies during his trip around the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida but it was his back-to-back birdies on the hardest hole on the golf course for the win that had everyone talking after the round.

“He had to putt first to save his par before I had a shot at my birdie on the last hole and when he missed it I said to myself this is it, just knock it in,” said Boudreau, who just got back from the final stage of Champions Tour Q-School where he finished tied for 72nd place.

Boudreau, who played in the 1994 Canadian Open at Glen Abbey, looked like he was going to run out of steam in his pursuit of Buder but after making great par saves on the 16th and 17th hole the dramatics for the 18th hole fell into place.

“I’m so excited to play in the Canadian Open next year at St. George’s,” said Boudreau, who’s scorecard was surprisingly vacant of any birdies on the par-5’s in the final round, rare considering he is one of the longest players in the field. “I don’t know how I did it but I didn’t think about it all day until the final putt dropped.”

Buder pegged it in one of the first groups in round one and lead the Championship for almost 54 straight holes but an errant tee shot into the left fairway bunker on the 18th hole led to a bogey and allowed Boudreau the chance to sneak in the birdie for the tie.

“I’m obviously a bit disappointed not to close it out but my hat is off to Ben after making birdie on the hardest hole on this entire golf course, not once but twice,” said Buder, Head Professional of Point Grey Golf & Country Club. “I had a fun week and I’ll be back next year to see if I can win this thing.”

2005 & 2006 Champion Danny King fired a 4-under par 68 to finish alone in 3rd place. If not for a double bogey on the ninth hole King would have joined the playoff with Boudreau and Buder.

Almost 90% of the 105 Canadian PGA Professionals that played in the Championship used SkyCaddie – Official Rangefinder of the Canadian PGA during the event, contributing to the fantastic pace of play throughout the week.

Boudreau wins $12, 000 for the victory and will also receive an exemption into the 2010 RBC Canadian Open to be held at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto, ON.

Owned and operated by the PGA of America, The PGA Golf Club is a public facility designed by Tom Fazio with rolling hills, majestic pine trees and challenging water hazards. The course has been selected for numerous awards including the 2004 “Best Places To Play” by Golf Digest. For more information, visit www.pgavillage.com

About Acushnet:
The Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra brands have a tradition of excellence that have always been predicated on providing golfers with quali! ty and performance superior golf equipment. The Canadian PGA Golf Professional has a tradition of excellence devoting their careers to helping golfers improve and enjoy the game. Together, Acushnet and the Canadian PGA Golf Professional share a successful relationship of providing the golfer with best in class products and services. For more information, visit www.titleist.com and http://www.footjoy.com/.

About CPGA:
Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 3,500 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit http://www.cpga.com/


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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Buder Still Leads but the Gap Tightens at the Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship

Port St. Lucie, Florida (November 24, 2009) Jeff Buder of Vancouver, BC followed up his scorching first round score of 64 with an even-par 72 on Tuesday to carry a three shot lead into the final round of the Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship over Ben Boudreau of Longueuil, QC and 2007 Champion Eric Landreville of Melocheville, QC.

Canadian PGA TV interviews and live scoring results can be found at http://www.cpga.com/

“It was little breezy out there today and the greens were a little bumpier because we played in the afternoon,” said Buder, who missed the 2008 version of this event because he was renovating his pro shop at Point Grey Golf & Country Club. “I just didn’t hit enough great shots today like I did yesterday but maybe I’m saving them up for the final round tomorrow.”

Buder, Head Professional at Point Grey Golf & Country Club, birdied his first hole of the day to increase his lead to five shots but followed it up with bogies on his 7th and 9th holes of the day before making one final birdie on the way back to the clubhouse at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

“Today was a funny day out there for me,” said Buder, who played collegiate golf at Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. “I seemed to get some interesting breaks including some putts that had old cups in the middle of my line but that’s just golf and something we all have to deal with.”

Buder is rooming with close friend and defending champion Kyle German of Surrey, BC and is actually staying in the exact same room that German did last year when he won this National Championship.

“The champion gets to pick the biggest room so we gave Kyle the big suite and I’m down in the basement hoping to get the same luck that he had last year in the final round,” stated Buder.

2007 Champion Eric Landreville of Melocheville, QC made six birdies en route to a second round 70 to sit at 5-under par for the Championship.

“I played some sloppy golf today with too many little mistakes around the green,” said Landreville, who played in the 2008 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey thanks to the winning exemption. “I’m excited for tomorrow, I really like this golf course and I know I can make up some ground if I can just minimize the mistakes.”

Boudreau moved up the leaderboard in a hurry after a blistering front nine score of 5-under par 31 that included five birdies on the opening side. Boudreau kept it steady on the back nine until the 18th hole where he made a double bogey after hitting his tee shot into the hazard just off the fairway to close with a 3-under par 69.

The low round of the day belonged to Geoff Kehler of Selkirk, MB who fired a second round 7-under par 65 that included six birdies, an eagle and two bogies. Kehler now sits at 2-under par for the Championship.

The turnaround of the day belonged to Jeff Chambers of Swift Current, SK who fired a scorching 6-under par 66 in round two to rebound after his opening round score of 83. Chambers, Head Professional at Elmwood Golf & Country Club and a rookie in this event, commented that going back to the basics is what caused the seventeen shot difference for him.

“I’ve always been known for having a tiny pause at the top of my backswing and for some reason I just forgot about it in the first round,” stated Chambers, who’s wife Carrie caddied for him in the second round. “I put that pause back in today and the game seemed a whole lot easier when I did.”

Scott Allred of Calgary started the round in second place but stumbled to a 5-over par 77 in round two to sit in a tie for 18th heading into the final round tomorrow.

The Ontario Team stormed back in the second round to secure the InterZone Competition by one shot over Team Quebec and two shots over Team BC. Ontario’s winning score of 426 (-6) were a combination of scores from Ken Tarling (70), Danny King (72), Bruce Rogerson (73) & Ian Doig (74).

The $5000, 36-hole InterZone competition consists of teams of four players representing one of the nine Zones of the Canadian PGA. The team score is made up of the best three scores each day for the first two rounds at the CPC.

The CPC purse is $85,000 and the Champion will also receive an exemption into the 2010 RBC Canadian Open to be held at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto, ON.

Owned and operated by the PGA of America, The PGA Golf Club is a public facility designed by Tom Fazio with rolling hills, majestic pine trees and challenging water hazards. The course has been selected for numerous awards including the 2004 “Best Places To Play” by Golf Digest. For more information, visit http://www.pgavillage.com/

About Acushnet:
The Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra brands have a tradition of excellence that have always been predicated on providing golfers with qualit! y and performance superior golf equipment. The Canadian PGA Golf Professional has a tradition of excellence devoting their careers to helping golfers improve and enjoy the game. Together, Acushnet and the Canadian PGA Golf Professional share a successful relationship of providing the golfer with best in class products and services. For more information, visit http://www.titleist.com/ and http://www.footjoy.com/.

About CPGA:
Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 3,500 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit http://www.cpga.com/
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Monday, November 23, 2009

Jeff Buder Goes Low to Lead the Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship

Port St. Lucie, Florida (November 23, 2009) Jeff Buder of Vancouver, BC fired a 8-under par 64 in the first round of the 2009 Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship to open a four shot lead over Scott Allred of Calgary.
Canadian PGA TV interviews and live scoring available at http://www.cpga.com/ .
Buder, Head Professional at Point Grey Golf & Country Club, enjoyed a stress free tour around the Wanamaker Golf Course at PGA Golf Club recording eight birdies and eleven pars and he only missed one green in regulation.
“I’ve had this date circled on the calendar for two years since I couldn’t come down at play last year,” said Buder, referring to his absence last year due to renovations in his pro shop. “I absolutely love coming down here and I seem to get off to some great starts so hopefully I can keep it going this time.”
Buder pegged it early in the third group of the day and cruised around the opening nine at 3-under par before knocking in birdies on 10, 11, 12, 14 & 16 on the back nine to end up in the Canadian PGA scoring tent with a smile on his face.
“I was actually a little nervous on the first few holes as I haven’t played a competitive round in about three months but I rolled in about a 90 foot putt on the 4th hole that I thought might be a good sign for the day and that seemed to calm me down a bit,” said Buder, who has enjoyed success over the last few years at the PGA Golf Club, finishing in a tie for 4th in 2005 and a tie for 5th in 2006.
Buder’s round of 64 was two shots off the course record that was set only a few weeks ago at the PGA Tour’s First Stage of Qualifying School by Canadian Tour player Hugo Leon.
Allred, Head Professional at Elbow Springs Golf Club, fired the same score in the first round as he did a year ago in the opening round. Last year he was the overnight leader, this year he sits four shots back.
“I hit the ball so well out there today, as good as I’ve hit it in a long time,” said Allred, who finished tied for 9th place in 2008 at this event. “I had a chance to roll in some more putts to get even closer to Buder but I’ll take it after day one.”
2005 & 2006 Champion Danny King, Head Teaching Professional at Magna Golf Club and 2007 Champion Eric Landreville of Club De Golf Belle Vue sit in a tie for 3rd place after opening rounds of 3-under par 69.
Defending Champion Kyle German of Surrey, BC opened with a 1-over par 73 largely due to a shaky putter.
“I was surprised that my putter was shaky today as usually it’s my bread and butter,” stated German, who spoke to his fellow competitors at Sunday night’s Canadian PGA Awards Show about the thrill of being the National Club Professional Champion and playing in the RBC Canadian Open. “I can’t believe how different the course is playing this year with completely opposite conditions than last year and I think I may have given my pal Jeff Buder too many tips in the practice rounds.”

German is currently writing a daily blog after his rounds at the Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship over at http://http://www.golfnewsnow.ca/
The British Columbia team leads the InterZone Competition by one shot with a score of 210 (-6). Team Ontario trails by a single shot and Team Quebec sits two shots back from the lead. The B.C. team is made up of Buder (64), Darryl Stubbs (72) , Scott Dickson (74) & Ross Mantell (76) . The Ontario team consists of King (69), Ian Doig (71), Ken Tarling (71) & Bruce Rogerson (73). Team Quebec consists of Landreville (69), Eric Laporte (71), Daniel Talbot (72) Marc Girouard (72).
The $5000, 36-hole InterZone competition consists of teams of four players representing one of the nine Zones of the Canadian PGA. The team score is made up of the best three scores each day for the first two rounds at the CPC.
The 2009 Titleist & FootJoy Canadian Club Professional Championship was kicked off last night with the Canadian PGA Awards Show. Plaques were presented to the 2008 Canadian PGA National Award Winners: Mike Kelly – Jack McLaughlin Junior Teacher of the Year, Tim Moore – Merchandiser of the Year, Rob Anderson – DELL Teacher Professional of the Year and Bill Wogden – Club Professional of the Year.
The CPC purse is $85,000 and the Champion will also receive an exemption into the 2010 RBC Canadian Open to be held at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Toronto, ON.
Owned and operated by the PGA of America, The PGA Golf Club is a public facility designed by Tom Fazio with rolling hills, majestic pine trees and challenging water hazards. The course has been selected for numerous awards including the 2004 “Best Places To Play” by Golf Digest. For more information, visit www.pgavillage.com
About Acushnet:
The Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra brands have a tradition of excellence that have always been predicated on providing golfers with qualit! y and performance superior golf equipment. The Canadian PGA Golf Professional has a tradition of excellence devoting their careers to helping golfers improve and enjoy the game. Together, Acushnet and the Canadian PGA Golf Professional share a successful relationship of providing the golfer with best in class products and services. For more information, visit http://www.titleist.com/ and http://www.footjoy.com/.
About CPGA:

Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 3,500 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit http://www.cpga.com/
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Friday, November 20, 2009

RCGA Names Golfers to 2010 Team Canada

11 athletes selected to represent Team Canada; Under-22 Development Team welcomes six players

Oakville, Ont. (RCGA) – The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) announced today the names of the athletes who have been selected to join Team Canada’s 2010 golf team.
In all, 11 players comprise Team Canada including five on the men’s side and six on the women’s. Team Canada welcomes back six returning players, a trio of Development Team members graduating to the amateur ranks, one athlete returning after a year hiatus and the addition of a single rookie.

Coming off a stellar 2009 campaign, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., will anchor the 2010 edition of the men’s Team Canada squad. The 21-year old was solidified as one of the world’s most predominant amateur golfers in 2009. After finishing first at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Roslyn, WA, Taylor went on to capture the Low Amateur Medal at the U.S. Open held at Bethpage State Park - Black Course after finishing tied for 36th.

Taylor also captured the Sahalee Players Championship, was a member of Canada’s champion Four Nations Cup team, was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and managed a tied for third at the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship.

The University of Washington Husky also enjoyed great success on the NCAA circuit with three individual victories (Hawai’i-Hilo Intercollegiate, Oregon Duck Invitational, and U.S. Intercollegiate) and a tie for medalist honours at the CordeValle Collegiate. He also finished second at the NCAA Regional Championship and the Pac-10 Championship, tied for ninth at the NCAA Championship and was named Pac-10 Player of the Year as well as a semi-finalist for the prestigious Ben Hogan Award.

Taylor was also ranked No. 1 on the Royal and Ancient’s (R&A) World Amateur Golf Ranking for 21 weeks.

Returning Team Canada member and Bright’s Grove, Ont. native, Matt Hill, also catapulted himself to international notoriety with an outstanding 2009 golf season. The 21-year old North Carolina State sophomore rewrote collegiate golf’s record books with eight individual NCAA wins, including six in a row.
He became only the second Canadian to win the NCAA Individual Championship and the first since Tiger Woods to win his regional championship, conference (ACC) championship and the NCAA individual title. For his efforts, Hill was awarded with the Jack Nicklaus award as the NCAA’s top golfer.

Hill was also a member of Canada’s winning Four Nations Cup team, won the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship, tied for third at the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship and made the cut at the PGA TOUR’s AT&T National (T70).

Hill also enjoyed notoriety on the R&A’s World Amateur Golf Rankings, spending consecutive weeks ranked as the No. 2 player.

Eugene Wong, 19, of North Vancouver, B.C. returns to Team Canada fresh off a solid 2009 season. Wong’s accomplishments in 2009 include making it to second round of match play at the British Amateur Championship, a tie for 10th at the Canadian amateur and a tie for 19th at the Sahalee Players Championship.

Collegiately, as a member of the University of Oregon Ducks, Wong tied for ninth at the Pac-10 Championship and tied for fifth at the West Regional Championship.
Wong, who was a member of Team Canada’s Developmental Team in 2007, also captured victory as part of Canada’s winning Four Nations Cup contingent.

New to Team Canada for 2010 is 22-year old, two-time Canadian Amateur Champion (2008, 2009) Cam Burke of New Hamburg, Ont. In 2009, the Eastern Michigan Eagle became just the fourth person to win back-to-back Canadian Amateur titles, rounding out his 2009 season with a third place finish at the Ontario Amateur Championship.

Mitch Sutton, 18, of London, Ont., a two-time Canadian Junior Champion (2008, 2009) graduates from Canada’s Developmental Team to join Team Canada after a standout season.

In addition to successfully defending his Canadian Junior title, Sutton finished second at the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship, tied for eighth at the Ontario Men's Amateur Championship, won the Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship as well as the Ontario Men's Better-Ball Championship. Sutton also joins Team Canada teammate Matt Hill this fall as a member of the N.C. State Wolfpack golf team.

On the women’s side, Team Canada will have one of the strongest teams in years with a lineup of seasoned experience and exuberant youth. The 2010 women’s team includes Sara Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que., Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont., Maude-Aimée LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Sue Kim of Langley, B.C., Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. and Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont. All six players enjoyed tremendous success in 2009.

Rejoining the National Team program after a year hiatus is Sara Maude Juneau. Juneau, 22, is a junior at the University of Louisville, where she finished last season ranked second on the team with a 74.5 stroke average and had one top 10 finish and two top 20 finishes. She was also named an All-BIG EAST selection for the second consecutive season, finished third in the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and qualified for her third U.S. Amateur after winning her qualifier, where she advanced to the first round of match play.

Sherlock, 22, joins Team Canada for a fourth season. Last year she finished third at the Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur Championship and second at the Ontario Women's Amateur. As a member of the University of Denver golf team, she finished eighth at the East Regional Championship and tied for 11th as an individual at the NCAA Championships.

In 2009, LeBlanc, who plays for the Purdue Boilermakers golf team, amassed a fourth place individual finish at the Women’s Central Regional Championship in addition to a tie for seventh at the Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur Championship and a win at the Quebec Ladies Amateur Championship. LeBlanc, now 20, returns for a third year with Team Canada. She also spent a year with Team Canada’s Developmental Team in 2006.

Kim, a freshman at the University of Denver, continued to build upon her successes from 2008. Last summer, the 18-year old tallied a tie for fourth at the Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Championship, a second place finish at the Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur Championship, a fourth place finish at the CN Future Links Pacific Championship and a third place finish at the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship.

Kirby is coming off of one of the most impressive amateur years in Canadian history. In 2008, the 18-year old claimed a slew of titles across Canada including the Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Championship, the Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur Championship, the Ontario Women' s Amateur Championship, the Ontario Junior Girls Championship, the 2009 CN Future Links Pacific Championship and the Toronto Star Women's Amateur Championship. This fall, she also joins the University of Alabama Crimson Tide golf team as a freshman.

Vandermade, 19, is a sophomore at the University of Texas. Her summer included a sixth place finish at the Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur Championship and a third place finish at the Ontario Women's Amateur Championship. She also made it to the round of 32 at the British Amateur Championship.
As part of Team Canada, the RCGA also named a 22-and-under Development Team which features three male and three female athletes. One additional male Development Team member will be named to join the team by March 31, 2010. The Development Team is designed to help facilitate the continued development for Canada’s top young players.

“We are proud, excited and privileged to welcome each of these athletes to Team Canada for 2010,” said Jeff Thompson, the RCGA’s Chief Sport Development Officer. “2009 was a monumental year for Canada’s most promising young golfers and we look to build upon those results for the upcoming season.”
The 2010 coaching team will consist of Master Canadian PGA Professional Henry Brunton who is returning as the men’s coach and newly appointed Derek Ingram as the women’s coach. Robert Ratcliffe will also return as women's assistant coach.

Team Canada is designed to offer athletes a year-round environment which incorporates state of the art coaching and sport science expertise. The intent of this aggressive program is to aid Canada’s top up and coming amateur players in all areas of their development to produce the best golfers in the world.

The program encompasses fitness, sports psychology, nutrition, technique development and exposure to international competition. Leaders in the field of sport science are an integral aspect of building and executing the program from the perspective of mental management, strength and conditioning as well as planning and periodization.

The RCGA’s Player Development programs have helped to foster the development of many Canadian players including; Jon Mills, Alena Sharp, David Hearn; Brad Fritsch, Chris Baryla, Richard Scott, James Lepp, Jessica Shepley and Cindy Pasechnik.

The following athletes have been selected to golf’s 2010 Team Canada

Team Canada – Women
Sara Maude Juneau, Fossambault, Que.
Jennifer Kirby, Paris, Ont.
Sue Kim, Langley, B.C.
Maude-Aimée LeBlanc, Windsor, Que.
Stephanie Sherlock, Barrie, Ont.
Nicole Vandermade, Brantford, Ont.

Team Canada – Men
Cam Burke, New Hamburg, Ont.
Matt Hill, Bright’s Grove, Ont.
Mitch Sutton, London, Ont.
Nick Taylor, Abbotsford, B.C.
Eugene Wong, North Vancouver, B.C.
The following athletes have been selected to the 2010 Team Canada - Development Team (22-and-under):

Women’s Development Team
Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Toronto, Ont.
Anne Catherine Tanguay, Quebec City, Que.
Christine Wong, Richmond, B.C.

Men’s Development Team
Albin Choi, Toronto, Ont.
Corey Conners, Listowel, Ont.
Richard Jung, Toronto, Ont.
TBD (March 31, 2010)

ABOUT THE RCGA NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM
The RCGA National Team Program incorporates advanced coaching, sport science expertise, training camps and world-class competition. The RCGA allocates over $1 million of its resources annually to the National Team program, encompassing strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, biomechanics and technique development. Players who are selected to the National Amateur and National Developmental Teams represent Canada at six to 10 internationally-sanctioned golf competitions throughout the year. The intent of this comprehensive program is to aid Canada’s top up-and-coming amateur players in all areas of their development, helping Canada produce the best golfers in the world.
Team Canada, the pinnacle of the RCGA’s High Performance Program, provides access to world class resources including coaching, nutrition, sport science, mental management, equipment, elite competitive opportunities and builds on the support that team members have received in their development years from their family, member clubs, personal coaches, university programs and provincial golf associations.
The RCGA’s High Performance Program and Team Canada are proudly sponsored by Titleist, Foot-Joy and Under Armour.

For more information about Team Canada or to make a donation towards the development of Canada’s future golf stars, please visit www.rcga.org/teamcanada.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

'Movember' and the Canadian PGA

In the beginning - Movember

Movember is a term coined by some Australian Men in 1999 referencing the terms Moustache and November. Movember is a fundraiser created to raise awareness and funds for Men's health issues in particular prostate Cancer. Since 2004 the Movember Foundation charity has... click here to read the full blog

Monday, November 16, 2009

Ames Ends Canada's PGA Tour Shutout

Canadian Stephen Ames Breaks the Shutout on the PGA Tour

It took until the final day of the final round of the final Official PGA Tour event of the 2009 season for Canadian Stephen Ames to break a two year winless drought on the PGA Tour for Canada. Ames did it in dramatic fashion, closing with a 8 under par...read more

Monday, November 9, 2009

RCGA Names Derek Ingram as Women’s Head Golf Coach for Team Canada

Manitoba native and former Men’s Assistant Coach takes on senior role with RCGA National Amateur Golf Team coaching staff

Oakville, Ont. (RCGA) – The Royal Canadian Golf Association announced today that Derek Ingram of Winnipeg has been named Head Coach of the Women’s National Amateur Golf Team.

Prior to being named Women’s Head Coach, Ingram formerly served the past five years as Men’s Assistant Coach for Team Canada. Ingram, a seven-time winner of the Manitoba PGA Teacher of the Year Award, has been involved with the RCGA’s High Performance Program for the past nine years.

“Derek has been a valuable member of our Team Canada coaching staff over the past nine years and we are pleased to have him take on the role of Head Coach for the Women’s National Amateur Golf Team,” said Jeff Thompson, Chief Sport Development Officer with the RCGA. “Through his passion and contagious enthusiasm, he has proven himself to be a world-caliber coach and gifted teacher with a tremendous ability to both educate and motivate high performance athletes.”

Ingram takes over the role of Team Canada Women’s Golf Head Coach from Dean Spriddle who stepped down from the position last week.

“I am thrilled with the opportunity to take on an increased coaching role with Team Canada,” said Ingram, a two time recipient of the Canadian PGA Teacher of the Year Award. “Dean (Spriddle) is a great coach and has been an excellent colleague and friend so I wish him the very best of success in his coaching journey and family life. We have some tremendously talented young golfers involved with the National Amateur Team Program and while Dean has left some big shoes to fill, I am excited about building on the team’s previous success and helping to develop world class athletes.”

Besides Ingram, Team Canada’s coaching staff includes Men’s Head Coach Henry Brunton as well as Women’s Assistant Coach Robert Ratcliffe. RCGA Chief Sport Development Officer, Jeff Thompson ,will continue to oversee the program working closely with Doug Roxburgh, the RCGA’s Director of High Performance as well as the sports science team of Dr. Penny Werthner, Dr. Greg Wells and Greg Redman. The search to fill the position of Men’s Assistant Coach will begin immediately.

ABOUT DEREK INGRAM
Derek Ingram is one of Canada’s top golf coaches. He is a two time recipient of the Canadian PGA Teacher of the Year Award (2003 & 2007) and a seven time winner of the Manitoba PGA Teacher of the Year Award. Derek has been selected as one of the top 10 coaches in Canada by the National Post, Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, and a Top 50 Teacher in North America by Golf Range Magazine.

For the past nine years, he has coached Canada’s National Teams over 10 times internationally and co-authored two books on improving your golf mental skills. Derek is a very skilled player as well, competing on the Canadian Tour for two years and winning the Manitoba PGA Player of the Year Award in 2003 and 2008. Derek is always engaging in higher education and has a thirst for acquiring knowledge that will help his students.

ABOUT THE RCGA NATIONAL TEAM PROGRAM
The RCGA National Team Program incorporates advanced coaching, sport science expertise, training camps and world-class competition. The RCGA allocates over $1 million of its resources annually to the National Team program, encompassing strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, biomechanics and technique development. Players who are selected to the National Amateur and National Developmental Teams represent Canada at six to 10 internationally-sanctioned golf competitions throughout the year. The intent of this comprehensive program is to aid Canada’s top up-and-coming amateur players in all areas of their development, helping Canada produce the best golfers in the world.

Team Canada, the pinnacle of the RCGA’s High Performance Program, provides access to world class resources including coaching, nutrition, sport science, mental management, equipment, and elite competitive opportunities and builds on the support that team members have received in their development years from their family, member clubs, personal coaches, university programs and provincial golf associations.

The RCGA’s High Performance Program and Team Canada are proudly sponsored by Titleist, Foot-Joy and Under Armour.

For more information about Team Canada or to make a donation towards the development of Canada’s future golf stars, please visit www.rcga.org.

ABOUT THE ROYAL CANADIAN GOLF ASSOCIATION
The Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) is the governing body of golf in Canada, representing 377,000 members at 1,600 clubs across the country. Recognized by Sport Canada as the National Sports Organization (NSO) for golf in this country, the RCGA’s mission is to grow participation in and passion for the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. The RCGA conducts programs and services to help shape the future of golf in Canada. High performance athlete development, CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, turfgrass and environmental research, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, Rules of Golf and amateur status, handicapping and course rating are only some of the initiatives the association leads for golf in Canada. In addition, the RCGA conducts Canada’s most prestigious golf championships. The RBC Canadian Open and CN Canadian Women’s Open attract the best professional golfers in the world, while regional junior and national amateur championships showcase the best in Canadian golf.

For further information on what the RCGA is doing to support golf in your community please visit www.rcga.org.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Monday, November 2, 2009

Jeff Ciecko on Social Media

Jeff Ciecko, CK Golf Solutions, will be speaking on social media at the upcoming National Golf Course Owners Association Conference and Trade Show. The session is titled 'Social Medaia, What is it and how can I use it for my business?'. Jeff's session will be on Wednesday November 11th from 4:30 to 5:45 PM.

The Conference is at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver, B.C. View the full conference program here!