Richmond, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Jisoo Keel of Coquitlam, B.C., a member of Team Canada, carded a final round even-par 72 to capture the season-opening event on the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Tour at Richmond Country Club in Richmond, B.C.

Keel converted three birdies on her last five holes of the day, including a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to seal the victory with a two-day total of 1-under 143. Keel, 16, bested Vancouver’s So Yeon Park and Renee Skidmore of Everett, Wash. by a single stroke for the win as the pair finished at even-par 144.

With the victory, Keel earned an exemption into the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open which will be held at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C. from August 20-26. She also took home top amateur honors as well.

“It’s an absolute victory for me because the CN Canadian Women’s Open is right in my hometown this year. It’s just 10 minutes from my high school,” Keel said. “I am so happy to be able to play. I am so honored to play in my hometown in front of friends and family.”

Keel, who plays out of The Vancouver Golf Club, is excited for the opportunity to compete on a course she is already very familiar with.

“It’s one of the best courses I’ve ever played on. Conditions are always great,” Keel said. “I’m really grateful toward the staff and the committee members for letting me play and practice there. I think it’s a huge advantage for me.”

Park and Skidmore, both of whom are professionals, each collected $8,498.18, sharing the first and second place winners’ cheques.

Team Canada’s Augusta James of Bath, Ont. finished tied for fourth at 1-over 145 alongside Calgary’s Nicole Zhang, also an amateur.

Team Canada’s Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., earned a tie for seventh at 2-over 146, while Team Canada graduates Sara Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que. and USGA Women’s Open Qualifier Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. tied for 11th at 3-over 147.

Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., last season’s Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year Award winner on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour, tied for 19th at 5-over 149.

The next CN Canadian Women’s Tour stop takes place June 11-13 at Club de golf Beloeil in Beloeil, Que., while the final Tour event is scheduled for June 25-27 at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara, Ont. Both events feature a $60,000 (CAD) purse, with $10,000 (CAD) awarded to the winner, along with an exemption into the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open.

Players competing on the Tour also earn points towards the CN Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit. The player with the most points at the end of the season earns the Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year Award. The top three players on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour season-ending Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into Stage 2 of LPGA Qualifying School. All entry fees will be paid for Stage 2 and, if applicable, Stage 3 (up to a value of $4,000 each).

In addition, the top two competitors on the season-ending Order of Merit not otherwise exempt also earn entry into the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open.

More information about the CN Canadian Women’s Tour, including a full listing of competitors and post-round results is available on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour website at www.cncanadianwomenstour.com.

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Parksville, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Anna Kim of Toronto and Zach Anderson of Nanaimo, B.C. captured their respective Junior Girls and Junior Boys division titles at the CN Future Links Pacific Championship at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C.

In the Junior Girls division, Kim, 18, a member of Team Canada, carded an exceptional 6-under par 66 to pull her ahead of first and second round leader Naomi Ko, 14, of Victoria, B.C. Kim, who won the 2011 CN Future Links Atlantic and Quebec Championships, played a bogey-free round that included six birdies, giving her a three-shot victory with a three-day tally of even-par 216 (76-74-66).

With this win, Kim earns a spot at the 2012 Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Championship, which will run July 30 – August 3 at River Spirit Golf Club in Calgary. In addition, she receives an exemption into a 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Tour event.

Ko led by a single shot going into Sunday, but she faced an up-and-down final round that included five birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey, leaving her at 3-over par 219 (74-72-73) for the tournament.

Kim’s Team Canada teammates rounded out the top five finishers, with Brooke Henderson, 14, of Smiths Falls, Ont. finishing alone in third at 7-over par (223) thanks to three birdies on the back nine. Brogan McKinnon, 17, of Mississauga finished T4 at 12-over par alongside Taylor Kim, 17, of Surrey, B.C., who also placed T4 at the 2011 CN Future Links Pacific Championship.

In the Junior Boys division, Anderson, 15, posted a final round of 2-over par 74 that included four birdies, pulling him ahead of second round leader Jared Du Toit, 16, of Kimberley, B.C., and giving him a three-day tally of 6-over par 222 (74-74-74). A co-leader after the first round, Anderson sat two shots behind Du Toit going into the final day of competition, but a double bogey on No. 18 left Du Toit in a five-way tie for second place with a total of 7-over par 223 (74-72-77).

Team Canada member and 2010 CN Future Links Pacific Championship winner Adam Svensson, 18, of Surrey, B.C. sits with Du Toit in T2, alongside Team Canada teammate and 2011 CN Future Links Pacific runner-up  Kevin Kwon, 17, of Pitt Meadows, B.C., Emmett Oh, 17, of Calgary, and 2011 Western Canada Summer Games gold medalist Mark Valliere, 17, of Courtenay, B.C.

With this victory, Anderson earns an exemption into the 2012 Canadian Junior Boys Championship which will be contested July 30 – August 3 at Osprey Ridge Golf Club in Bridgewater, N.S. The top five other finishers in the Junior Boys division- Kevin Kwon, Emmett Oh, Mark Valliere, Adam Svensson, and Jared Du Toit- will also earn this exemption.

Results for the event can be found here.

Richmond, B.C. (Golf Canada) – A stellar field of Canadian and international female golf professionals, as well as top female amateurs, will open the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Tour season at Richmond Country Club in Richmond, B.C., from May 14-16.

The winner will earn the season’s first Tour exemption into the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open, August 20-26 at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C.

A number of LPGA Tour players headline the field at Richmond Country Club, including Jessica Shepley of Oakville, Ont., the reigning two-time Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year Award winner. LPGA Tour rookie and CN Canadian Women’s Tour event winner Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C. is also in the field, alongside Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., two-time CN Canadian Women’s Tour event winner Ashli Bunch of Morristown, Tenn., Lisa Ferrero of Lodi, Calif. and LPGA Tour rookie Melissa ’Mo’ Martin of Altadena, Calif.

Team Canada graduates Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que. and Sue Kim of Langley, B.C., are amongst a talented group of Symetra Tour players taking to the Robert Muir Graves design that also features Ashley Sholer of Hamilton, Ont., Danielle Mills of Pointe-Claire, Que., Melissa Mabanta of Langley, B.C., Amy Eneroth of Colbert, Wash., and CN Canadian Women’s Tour event winner Candace Schepperle of Birmingham, Ala.

“We’re excited to get the Tour season underway at Richmond Country Club,” said Tournament Director Cam Crawford. “The talent and depth of the field competing in Richmond speaks to how competitive the CN Canadian Women’s Tour has become in recent years, and we expect another great season of golf as players vie for exemptions into Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship.”

A total of 18 amateurs are slated to compete for the season-opening CN Canadian Women’s Tour title, including former Canadian University/College Championship winner and reigning B.C. Women’s Amateur and B.C. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C., Ally Shin of Coquitlam, B.C., Kyla Inaba of Kelowna, B.C., and Sydney MacDonald of Calgary.

Coquitlam, B.C. native Jisoo Keel is one of seven Team Canada players in the field. Keel, a member of Team Canada’s National Squad, won last season’s CN Canadian Women’s Tour Top Amateur of the Year Award as well as the 2012 Canadian Juvenile championship.

The total season prize money for the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Tour is $180,000 (CDN). Each 36-hole championship purse is $60,000, with each champion being awarded a $10,000 winners’ cheque as well as up to three special invitations to compete in Symetra Tour tournaments in 2012.

In addition, the top two players on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour season-ending Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into Stage 2 of LPGA Qualifying School. All entry fees will be paid for Stage 2 and, if applicable, Stage 3 (up to a value of $4,000 each).

The first round will tee-off on split tees (Nos. 1 and 10) beginning at 8:00 a.m. PST on Tuesday, May 15.

Spectators are admitted free to the tournament and live scoring will be available online at www.cncanadianwomenstour.com.

Following the season opener at Richmond Country Club, the Tour will head to Club de golf Beloeil from June 11-13 in Beloeil, Que. The final event takes places June 25-27 at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara, Ont., following which a total of five CN Canadian Women’s Tour exemptions into the 2012 CN Canadian Women’s Open will be awarded.

Federal Way, Wash. (PNGA)– In the current May issue of Pacific Northwest Golfer magazine, the par-4 16^th hole at Whistler Golf Club in Whistler, B.C. is recognized as one of the “Great Holes of the Northwest,” one of just four holes selected each year by the Northwest’s largest and longest-running golf publication.

With four sets of tees stretching from 332 yards from the forward tees to 460 yards from the tournament tees, this is one of the great old-fashioned par-4s in all of British Columbia. The longest par-4 on the back nine, there is water all along the left side but a wide fairway provides several angles into the large green. This hole is the last great hurdle on a gracious course.

During this past winter, Whistler Golf Club completely overhauled all 18 of its greens, installing Bent grass to replace the original greens that were built 29 years ago when the course first opened. “We’re excited to provide (new) putting surfaces for the 2012 season,” said the club’s Director of Golf, Alan Kristmanson. “Bent grass has a much stronger resistance to snow and ice damage, and with the incredible amount of snowfall we receive in Whistler this species of grass will help us achieve summer conditions much quicker.” The renovation project at Whistler Golf Club began last fall with the growth of new grass from seed. Snow removal began in February and in April all 18 greens were stripped and replaced with the new grass. The course is scheduled to open for the season on May 18, weather permitting.

The Whistler Golf Club was designed in 1983 by the Arnold Palmer Design Company, and was Arnold Palmer’s first Canadian design. For more information, visit www.whistlergolf.com.

With a direct-mailed circulation of 123,000 households, the Golfer magazine has been the voice of golf in the Northwest for 17 years. It is the only Northwest golf publication with a verifiable demographic of its readership. The Golfer is all about golf, and dedicated to golfers. It is the official magazine of the British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, Washington State and Pacific Northwest Golf Associations, as well as the Pacific Northwest Section PGA.

Visit www.thepnga.org for more information on the Golfer.

To complete the Survey, please CLICK HERE

Last months survey winner was Sukhdave Hayer.

Wong had an impressive year with eight top-5 finishes, including a convincing title at the Alister MacKenzie Invitational where he fired rounds of 65-63-67 total 195 for a record setting win.

The 2008 BC Amateur and BC Junior champion will now set his sights high at the NCAA Regionals taking place at the University of Michigan Golf Course in Ann Arbor May 17-19 2012. The low five teams at each Regional will go on to play in the NCAA Championships taking place at the storied Riviera Country Club May 29- June 3 2012.

Victoria, B.C.(May 4 2012)- After the final individual match play competition at the 7th annual Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) Cup, Oregon Golf Association (OGA) captured its third title in a row and its fifth overall.

Coming into the day, Oregon was comforted with a 2.5-point lead from its stellar play on day one. Close on their heels was British Columbia Golf, followed by Idaho Golf Association (3.5 points back) and the Washington State Golf Association (4 points back).

Much like day one, the weather proved to be a difficult factor to contend with for the 12-player team from British Columbia. With rain continuing to trounce the players and a bitter wind that demanded precise shot selection, the weather was an unrelenting impact on play all day.

Getting things rolling was Brent Wilson, of Victoria, who got on the board early with a decisive 4&3 victory over WSGA member Dana Christianson of Tacoma. “I played steady golf all day today” stated Wilson. “I didn’t make a ton of birdies but I was able to hit it close to the hole the whole day and put pressure on him”.

Bryan Scott, of Victoria, put another point on the board with an impressive birdie on 18 to close out his match 1UP over WSGA member Chris Bae, of Isaaquah. The back-and-forth battle saw great play from both players and had Scott impressed at his own performance.

“Today I played some great golf. I started off pretty good out of the gate and after about six holes, that’s where the match began to sea-saw. I was able to close him out on 18 with a good birdie” mentioned Scott.

Unable to hang on to his lead was Ben Griffin, of Victoria, who halved his match, thanks in large part to an excellent approach shot and putt on the final hole by WSGA member Stephen Lee, of Everett, which brought the match to all-square.

The trend of finishing matches on the last hole seemed to spread through the British Columbia Golf team like wild fire, as Gudmund Lindbjerg, of Port Moody, came back on the final hole to halve his match with OGA member Denny Taylor, of Gladstone, with a two-putt par.

Alison Quinlan, of Victoria, made an impressive charge on the back nine, coming from three down with three to play, to halve her match with IGA member Abby Black, of Eagle. Quinlan, a former University of Victoria golfer, relished the pressure she put on herself down the stretch.

“The six-foot par putt I had on 18 looked pretty straight to me. I really like the pressure so I basically had to just hit it on line” mentioned Quinlan. “I have really been working on my routine and not getting down when I am not playing so well. I was able to do that today and get half point for my team”.

Penny Baziuk, of North Saanich, was all square coming into her final hole, ultimately winning the match 1UP as a result of a steady par over IGA member Shawna Ianson, of Boise. Baziuk, a last minute replacement for a withdrawn Jackie Little, had a great time representing British Columbia at the competition and thoroughly enjoyed her competition over the two days.

“My competitor and I had a great match today. I was never more than one up or one down the whole day. It took me until 18 to win the match” stated Baziuk. “This is my second time playing in the PNGA Cup and I really enjoyed it”.

British Columbia Golf was able to tally three more full points from wins by Christina Proteau, of Port Alberni, over IGA member Kareen Markle, of Meridian (2&1), Kevin Carrigan, of Victoria, over WGSA member Mike Haack, of Bellevue (2&1) and Stephen Watson, of Nanoose Bay, over OGA member Mark Bowler, of Portland (5&4). Watson finished the week 2-0-1, stretching his career PNGA Cup record to 4-0-2.

Unfortunately, there was too much ground to catch up on the ultimate champions Oregon Golf Association, who captured 7.5 points on day two, matching British Columbia Golf and leading them to a 2.5 point margin difference for a gratifying victory.

The overall feelings on the four-association competition were overwhelmingly positive.

“I have gotten to know everyone on the team and it has been an absolute privilege to represent British Columbia at this competition” stated Scott.

“I loved it. I had a great time and the format is really cool. It really was a great tournament” echoed Quinlan, who was partnered with 2011 BC Women’s Amateur/Mid-Amateur Champion, Christina Proteau for the day one four-ball and foursome matches.

British Columbia Golf would like to thank the PNGA staff for their hard work over the course of the 2-day competition and Gorge Vale Golf Club for being a gracious host site.

For more information on the PNGA and its competitions, click here

Day Two Single Match Results:

Mid-Amateur Men
Brent Wilson (BC Golf) def. Dana Christianson (WSGA)    4&3
Bill Winter (OGA) def. Stephen Hartnett (IGA)    4&3
Scott Hval (OGA) def. Dan Pickens (IGA)    2&1
Bryan Scott (BC Golf) def. Chris Bae (WSGA)    1UP
Stephen Lee (WSGA) vs. Ben Griffin (BC Golf)    AS
Eric Fiskum (OGA) def. Darren Kuhn (IGA)    3&2
Kevin Carrigan (BC Golf) def. Mike Haack (WSGA)    2&1
Eric Peterson (IGA) def. Tim O’Neal (OGA)    2&1

Master-40 Men
Dave Lydell (OGA) def. Sandy Harper (BC Golf)    4&2
Stephen Watson (BC Golf) def. Mark Bowler (OGA)    5&4
Todd Points (IGA) def. Alex Stamey (WSGA)    1UP
Tom Brandes (WSGA) def. Bob Wheeler (IGA)    4&2

Senior Men
Pat O’Donnell (OGA) def. Tony Hatchwell (BC Golf) 8&7
Larry Daniels (WSGA) def. Gordon Barry (IGA)    5&4
Gudmund Lindbjerg (BC Golf) vs. Denny Taylor (OGA)    AS
Kent Brown (WSGA) def. Norris Dancer (IGA)    2&1

Mid-Amateur Women
Alison Quinlan (BC Golf) vs. Abby Black (IGA)    AS
Jillian Carlile (OGA) def. Shawn Farmer (WSGA)    5&4
Brie Stone (OGA) def. Leslie Folsom (WSGA)    6&5
Christina Proteau (BC Golf) def. Kareen Markle (IGA)    2&1

Senior Women
Lisa Smego (WSGA) def. Loree McKay (OGA)    4&3
Ginny Burkey (WSGA) def. Terri Frohnmayer (OGA)    2UP
Sheryl Scott (IGA) def. Alison Murdoch (BC Golf) 2UP
Penny Baziuk (BC Golf) def. Shawna Ianson (IGA)    1UP

Single Totals

BC Golf- 7.5          OGA- 7.5           WSGA- 5.5         IGA- 3.5

Championship Totals

BC Golf- 13.5        OGA- 16            WSGA- 10          IGA- 8.5

For photos, please click here

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ROUND 1 RECAP:

Oregon Golf Association Leads After Day 1 of PNGA Cup

British Columbia Golf 2.5 Points Back of Lead

Victoria, B.C. (May 3 2012)- After day one of the 7th annual Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) Cup matches at Gorge Vale Golf Club in Victoria, the defending 2011 champions Oregon Golf Association team leads the competition.

Fighting through grueling conditions, Oregon is heading into the final day of the competition with a close 2.5 point margin lead over British Columbia Golf, 3.5 point lead over Idaho Golf Association and a 4 point lead over Washington State Golf Association.

After the morning four-ball matches, which saw players battle through the cold, rain and wind, all four teams were neck-and-neck with Oregon leading by a small .5 point margin. After a quick turnaround and a light meal, players took to the course to continue to competition for the afternoon foursome matches.

The afternoon matches offered somewhat of a reprieve from the poor weather, which allowed Oregon’s stellar play to extend their lead to a comfortable but by no means run-away differential going into tomorrow’s matches.

Play will resume on Friday morning 8:00am with individual matches. Each member of the four association teams will be playing in the hopes of earning extremely critical points in the hunt for the PNGA Cup.

Morning Four-Ball Match Results

Mid-Amateur Men
Darren Kuhn/Dan Pickens (IGA) def. Ben Griffin/Brent Wilson (BC Golf) 2&1
Mike Haack/ Stephen Lee (WSGA) def. Scott Hval/Bill Winter (OGA) 1 up
Kevin Carrigan/Bryan Scott (BC Golf) def. Stephen Hartnett/ Eric Peterson (IGA) 4&3
Eric Fiskum/Tim O’Neal (OGA) vs. Chris Bae/Dana Christianson (WSGA) AS

Master-40 Men
Sandy Harper/Stephen Watson (BC Golf) vs. Tom Brandes/Alex Stamey (WSGA) AS
Mark Bowler/David Lydell (OGA) def. Todd Points/Bob Wheeler (IGA) 2&1

Senior Men
Kent Brown/Larry Daniels (WSGA) vs. Gudmund Lindbjerg/Tony Hatchwell (BC Golf) AS
Patrick O’Donnell/Denny Taylor (OGA) def. Gordon Barry/Norris Dancer (IGA) 4&3

Mid-Amateur Women
Christina Proteau/Alison Quinlan (BC Golf) def. Jillian Carlile/Brie Stone (OGA) 4&2
Abby Black/Kareen Markle (IGA) def. Shawn Farmer/Leslie Folsom (WSGA) 2&1

Senior Women
Terri Frohnmayer/Loree McKay (OGA) def. Penny Baziuk/Alison Murdoch (BC Golf) 3&2
Shawna Ianson/Sheryl Scott (IGA) def. Ginny Burkey/Lisa Smego (WSGA) 3&2

Team Totals after Four-Ball

BC Golf- 3 OGA- 3.5 WSGA-2.5 IGA-3

Afternoon Foursome Match Results

Mid-Amateur Men
Tim O’Neal/Bill Winter (OGA) def. Ben Griffin/Brent Wilson (BC Golf) 2up
Eric Fiskum/ Scott Hval (OGA) def. Kevin Carrigan/Bryan Scott (BC Golf) 5&3
Stephen Hartnett/Eric Peterson (IGA) def. Chris Bae/Dana Christianson (WSGA) 2&1
Darren Kuhn/Dan Pickens (IGA) def. Mike Haack/Stephen Lee (WSGA) 1up

Master-40 Men
Sandy Harper/Stephen Watson (BC Golf) def. Todd Points/Bob Wheeler (IGA) 3&2
Tom Brandes/Alex Stamey (WSGA) def. Mark Bowler/Dave Lydell (OGA) 4&3

Senior Men
Pat O’Donnell/Denny Taylor (OGA) def. Kent Brown/Larry Daniels (WSGA) 3&2
Gudmund Lindbjerg/Tony Hatchwell (BC Golf) def. Gordon Barry/Norris Dancer (IGA) 4&3

Mid-Am Women
Jillian Carlile/Brie Stone (OGA) def. Abby Black/Kareen Markle(IGA) 3&2
Christina Proteau/Alison Quinlan (BC Golf) def. Shawn Farmer/Leslie Folsom 2&1

Senior Women
Terri Frohnmayer/Loree McKay (OGA) def. Shawna Ianson/Sheryl Scott (IGA) 4&3
Ginny Burkey/Lisa Smego (WSGA) def. Alison Murdoch/Penny Baziuk (BC Golf) 3&2

Team Totals after Foursome:

BC Golf – 3 OGA – 5 WSGA – 2 IGA – 2

Day 1 Totals:

BC Golf – 6 OGA – 8.5 WSGA – 4.5 IGA – 5

On Tuesday May 1 2012, Bill was joined by Kris Jonasson, Executive Director of British Columbia Golf and Brad Ziemer,  Vancouver Sun Sports Writer to kick-off his 18-course Challenge that will see him play in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California.

The Challenge is bookended by Richmond Country Club on May 1 and the Stanford University GC in Palo Alto, California on May 25. Bill will also be playing at the University GC in Vancouver on May 2 before moving across the border to continue his Challenge.

To help support Bill and other Parkinson’s Disease sufferers, please click here.

British Columbia Golf would like to wish Bill all the best in his personal fundraising initiative.

Richmond, BC (British Columbia Golf)– British Columbia Golf and Special Olympics BC are pleased to announce a relationship between the two organizations that will help grow the game of golf in British Columbia.

The exploratory relationship has been gradually growing in an effort to broaden the reach of golf in the province. Golf is a new and fast-growing addition to the slate of year-round sport programs offered by Special Olympics BC (SOBC).

In Langley on July 11 to 14, 2013, golf will be an event at the Special Olympics BC Summer Games for the second time. British Columbia is also the host province for the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, in which golf will be making its debut at the National Games level.

When asked about the relationship, Debbie Pyne, Managing Director of Player Development with British Columbia Golf, could not have been more excited.

“I am truly pleased to be given the chance to work with Special Olympics BC,” stated Pyne. “It is extremely important for British Columbia Golf to fulfill its mandate of bringing golf to everyone, including Special Olympics athletes.”

Equally excited about the relationship is Shawn Fevens, SOBC Manager of Sport and Youth Development.

“We’re grateful to have this growing relationship with British Columbia Golf,” Fevens said. “Our programming is constantly evolving and I believe we both have great assets that we can offer each other.”

The relationship has been built around the concept of both organizations having the opportunity to broaden their individual expertise with the help of one another. British Columbia Golf has an excellent understanding of technical golf coach training but has less experience coaching individuals with intellectual disabilities. SOBC, on the other hand, has extensive programs for athletes with intellectual disabilities, but fewer resources specific to golf.

“With golf being added to our programming, Special Olympics BC wanted to provide the SOBC programs and coaches around the province with more support and training resources. The high-quality opportunities provided by British Columbia Golf are really strengthening the SOBC programs, helping them develop a strong foundation on which we will continue to build,” Fevens said. “Having a relationship with the source of golf training in this province is an incredible asset, and we’re so excited about the opportunities that British Columbia Golf is opening up for SOBC coaches and programs.”

“We understood from a fundamental level that if we shared our expertise effectively, this relationship could be extremely beneficial for golf in B.C.,” Pyne said. “Both British Columbia Golf and Special Olympics BC are great at the programs they already run. Marrying our two skill sets to further progress golf as a ‘Sport for All’ in this province is our ultimate goal and I am looking forward to what the future holds in store.”

In the most recent example of the benefits of this relationship, a coach from Special Olympics BC attended the BC Golf Regional Camp at Highland Pacific GC in Victoria, B.C., on April 29. At this camp, the Special Olympics BC coach was briefed by Jody Jackson, LPGA Class ‘A’ Professional and a contracted Provincial golf coach with British Columbia Golf.

Following this release, a three-part series showcasing the progress of the relationship will take place using the following schedule:

Part 1: Coaching (May 22nd)
Part 2: Programming/Developmental Stream (June 12th)
Part 3: Competitive Stream (July 3rd)

Please check www.specialolympics.bc.ca for more information about Special Olympics BC and check back to British Columbia Golf for future access to the three-part series.

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ABOUT BRITISH COLUMBIA GOLF

British Columbia Golf – a member-based organization governed by the British Columbia Golf Association (BCGA) – is the governing body of amateur golf in British Columbia and functions for the benefit of all golfers in the province. British Columbia Golf fosters and promotes the sport of golf, preserves the traditions and history of the game and provides a leadership role for the sport in British Columbia. Through its affiliation with Golf Canada, British Columbia Golf is also involved in National golf affairs. Follow us on Twitter @bc_golfer and Facebook /BritishColumbiaGolf

ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS BC

Special Olympics BC is dedicated to providing individuals with intellectual disabilities opportunities to enrich their lives and celebrate personal achievement through positive sport experiences. In 55 communities around the province, we provide year-round training and competitive opportunities in 18 different sports to more than 3,900 athletes of all ages and abilities, thanks to the dedicated efforts of over 2,900 volunteers. For more information, please visit www.specialolympics.bc.ca. Find us on Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/specialolympicsbc / @sobcsociety.

For more information:

Christopher McGrath
Manager, Communications and Marketing
British Columbia Golf
Chris.McGrath@bcga.org
604.279.2580 x.133

Megan Grittani-Livingston
Manager, Communications
Special Olympics BC
megan@specialolympics.bc.ca
604.737.3077