By Jeff Sutherland

The golf marijuana survey conducted by Inside Golf and British Columbia Golf is now complete with 56 facilities and 5466 golfers responding.

L to R: Alison Murdoch, Denise Kieffer, Ginny Burkey, Susan Craven And Carrie Jacobson - Image Courtesy WSGA

Victoria, BC's Alison Murdoch just continues to add to her impressive career resume qualifying for the 2018 U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship at Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club in Vero Beach, Fla. on October 6-11.

An invitation is a simple yet powerful way to show someone they belong....

With a brand new school year just underway the time is perfect to introduce youngsters to the benefits of basic golf skills and the game's inherent 'physical literacy' along with the fun and enjoyment that can accompany learning about golf, 'a game for life' through the Playground To Fairway school golf program. 

Please find below an introductory letter for those in appropriate decision-making positions in BC's school system from British Columbia Golf's Manager of Golf Participation, Tyler McKay. We have also attached booking and confirmation forms for those who wish to take advantage of this great opportunity for their students.

Team BC From L-R: Al Jensen, John Gallacher And Doug Roxburgh Are The 2018 Inter-Provincial Senior Men's Champions - Image Credit Golf Canada

Courtesy Golf Canada

Bathurst, N.B. – The second round of the 2018 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship concluded Wednesday at Gowan Brae Golf and Country Club with Team British Columbia emerging as provincial team champions.

The trio of Doug Roxburgh (Vancouver), John Gallacher (Burnaby, B.C.) and Al Jensen (Nanaimo, B.C.) posted a combined second-round score of 2-over-146 to capture the Phil Farley Trophy with a total of 297 (+9). It was a close finish between Team British Columbia and Team Alberta, which was comprised of John Festival (Calgary), Brian Coston (Calgary) and Ken Griffith (Red Deer, Alta.).

The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) of BC is pleased to announce the 2018 BC Indigenous Provincial Golf Camp will be hosted by the Musqueam Indian Band, Musqueam, British Columbia Golf and with the support of the Province of BC.

The event will be held September 22, 2018 at the Musqueam Golf & Learning Academy located in Vancouver, BC.

Please note this is NOT a Team BC selection event for the NAIG (North American Indigenous Games), however, this event does provide opportunity for athletes to better prepare for the 2019 Team BC selection processes for 2020 North American Indigenous Games. Registration is open to eligible participants - No pre-qualification required.

The PNGA Senior & Super Senior Women’s Amateur Championship is coming to Vancouver's Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club on October 1-2, 2018. 

CHAMPIONSHIP DETAILS

Eligibility: Entries are open to female amateur golfers who: (a) are members in good standing of a PNGA member club; (b) are 50 years of age or older by October 1, 2018; and (c) have a USGA Handicap Index or Golf Canada Handicap Factor not exceeding 40.4 at the close of entry.

Format: 36-hole stroke play competition (Gross and Net). Competitors will be divided into four equal flights by course handicap. An A.M. shotgun start will be used each day.

Age Limit: Entrants must be 50 years of age or older by October 1, 2018

Sue Wooster (Photo: Claus Andersen)

Courtesy Golf Canada

FONTHILL, Ont. — Australian Sue Wooster successfully defended her Senior and Mid-Master titles on Thursday, becoming only the 8th player to win back-to-back champions in the final round of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championship at Lookout Point Country Club.

“I played pretty good today,” said the 56-year-old. “I got off to a rough start, so I was three over, so it felt hard to finish at that score so I’m really happy with my performance under pressure.”

Wooster had quite the up-and-down round, starting the day with a bogey on the first hole and a double bogey on the par-3 second hole. After closing out the front-nine with a birdie, Wooster remained steadier after the turn, matching two more bogeys with two birdies to finish with a one-stroke victory over second-round leader Mary Ann Hayward.

B.C. Bantam Boys Champion Billy Zhang Accepts The Winner's Trophy From British Columbia Golf's Len Fergie At Shannon Lake GC In Kelowna - Images Credit Susan White/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Billy Zhang figured he’d win and it turned out the 14-year-old from Coquitlam won big at the B.C. Bantam Boys Championship at Shannon Lake Golf Club in Kelowna. Zhang fired a one-over 70 in Wednesday’s second and final round of the 36-hole event and beat the field by eight shots.

“I was pretty confident I could win,” Zhang said. “I know almost everyone who came to the tournament. I was a bit nervous before my round, but after hitting my tee shot off No. 1 I felt pretty confident. Throughout the front nine things were still pretty tight, but I just played the best I could and outplayed the rest of the field.”

The Bantam championship is open to players aged 14 and under. Chaewon Baek of Langley captured the Bantam Girls Championship.

Through the efforts of the WE ARE GOLF  Women’s Task Force and the LPGA Women’s Network, we are excited to announce the launch of the #inviteHER campaign. The nation-wide campaign is aimed at encouraging golfers to invite women in their lives to join them in playing golf.

The launch took place on Wednesday, August 29 beginning with announcements and appearances on Matt Adams’ Fairways of Life program on Sirius XM, and the Golf Channel’s Morning Drive, followed by a special introductory class for women at Topgolf in Hillsboro, Oregon later in the day.

Chaewon Baek Of Langley Leads The Girls Division Of The B.C. Bantam Championship At Shannon Lake GC In Kelowna - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The B.C. Bantam Boys Championship was looking a little like the Coquitlam Open after Tuesday’s first round at Shannon Lake Golf Club in Kelowna. The top three scores were recorded by Coquitlam residents.

Billy Zhang led the way, shooting a two-over 71 that gave him a two-shot lead over Luke Quanson. Fellow Coquitlam resident Ethan Posthumus was alone in third after opening with a five-over 74.

B.C. Golf Hall of Fame Member Sandy Harper Lost In A Playoff For The Canadian Mid-Master Title To Todd Fanning Of Winnipeg At The Venerable Victoria Golf Club - Images Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- It wasn’t like Sandy Harper didn’t have his chances. So when Todd Fanning holed his bunker shot for eagle on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff, Harper wasn’t feeling like he was robbed of the Canadian Mid-Master Championship for players 40 and over.

Hey, at age 61 -- soon to be 62 -- Harper was happy just to have had the opportunity to compete for the championship. “If somebody told me I was going to be in a playoff for the Canadian Mid-Master I’d be more than happy,” said the longtime Nanaimo resident. “It doesn’t hurt to lose to an eagle.”

Thirty-five-year-old Joseph Deraney, A Father Of Three, Came From Behind To Beat Local Favourites Kevin Carrigan And Saare Adams. He Is Flanked By Golf Canada Officials David Atkinson (L) And Dale Jackson (R) - Images Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- Joseph Deraney hails from Kentucky and just like some of those great thoroughbred race horses bred in his native state, he's pretty good down the stretch.

The 35-year-old father of three hung around just behind the leaders for three days at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and then galloped past everyone to the finish line Friday afternoon.

On a day when the rest of the field was having trouble making birdies, Deraney closed with a nearly flawless five-under par 65 at Victoria Golf Club to win by three lengths -- I mean shots.

Saare Adams Of The Host Victoria Golf Club Has The 54-Hole Lead In The Canadian Men's Mid-Amateur Championship - Image Credit Golf Canada

• Nanaimo, BC's Sandy Harper Shoots Low Round To Tie Todd Fanning In Mid-Master Division

Courtesy Golf Canada

VICTORIA, B.C. – While cold weather conditions at Victoria Golf Club made for a tougher day Saare Adams carded a third-round 69 on Thursday to edge out Garrett Rank for the lead heading into the final day of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Adams battled it out on his home course, where he happens to also be the tournament chair, playing an up and down round with four bogeys and five birdies. The local golfer was one of only four golfers to score in the red during the third round.

“It was a good round. A little shaky start, butchered the first hole after a good drive and then made another bogey and kind of got into the groove, played better and found my putter,” said the 34-year-old. “I’ve got a good home course advantage. It was a little breezier today, so I think lots of the guys kind of struggled.”

Jace Minni Is The 2018 BC Juvenile Boys Champion - Image Credit Ron Tate/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

He wasn’t quite swinging golf clubs before he learned how to walk, but it was close. Golf runs in the family for Jace Minni, the new B.C. Juvenile Boys Champion. His dad Scott is a four-time PGA of BC Champion and noted instructor. His mom Mellodee is the current Women’s Club Champion at Beach Grove´Golf Club in Tsawwassen and his older sister Amanda plays collegiate golf for Oregon State University.

So it’s safe to say Jace caught the golf bug early. “Yeah, I was right into the game from when I was born holding clubs,” the 16-year-old said after beating Vernon’s Ryan Vest in a playoff Thursday at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club in Kelowna.

Victoria's Akari Hayashi Added The B.C. Juvenile Girls Title To Her B.C. Bantam Win 2 Years Ago With This Victory At Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Akari Hayashi is only 15, but that is apparently old enough to be in a slump. The Victoria teen wasn’t happy with her game as she headed to Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club for the B.C. Juvenile Girls  Championship. Hayashi hadn’t played to her considerable potential in 2018 and hoped that might change in Kelowna. She got her wish.

The Mount Douglas Secondary School student came from behind Thursday to win the Juvenile Girls title. “I have been struggling quite a bit this past year and I am very happy to show what I am capable of at the Juvenile tournament and once again win another B.C. championship,” a happy Hayashi said after her round. “I am so excited about this win.”

Ryan Vest, Shown Here In An Event From The Maple Leaf Junior Tour In Whistler Last Year, Is The 36-hole Leader In The B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship - Photo Submitted

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Vernon’s Ryan Vest shot the day’s best score, a three-under par 69 that moved him into the lead heading into Thursday’s final round of the B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club in Kelowna.

Vest, who plays out of the Predator Ridge Golf Resort, had six birdies and three bogeys on his card in Wednesday’s second round. He stands at three-under par through 36 holes and has a one-shot lead on Jace Minni of Delta.

Emma Yang (Pictured) Of Langley Leads The Girls’ Race With Surrey’s Kyle Chang Leading The Boys Division In The B.C. Juvenile Boys & Girls Championships At Kelowna's Gallagher’s Canyon - File Image

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Club played tough for nearly everyone in Tuesday’s opening round of the B.C. Juvenile Boys & Girls Championships. The Kelowna course yielded only two sub-par rounds on the first day of the 54-hole championship for players 16 years old and younger. 

Kyle Changof Surrey was the only player to really have his way with Gallagher’s, as he opened with a four-under 68 that gave him a three-shot lead heading into Wednesday’s second round. Chang, who plays out of Meadow Gardens Golf Club, had six birdies and two bogeys in his round. Cooper Humphries of Kelowna had the only other round below par. Humphries, who plays out of Okanagan Golf Club, opened with a one-under 71.

Golf Canada, the governing body for the sport in our country, is looking for interested applicants for volunteer positions for 2019 with the deadline coming up soon on September 14, 2018.

They are seeking to engage a more diverse volunteer workforce, and will be looking for opportunities to do so in 2019.

Golf Canada’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy is part of the information letter/package in Golf Canada President Leslie Dunning's letter below along with how to apply.

They are also seeking to expand their Duty Roster volunteers through the Provincial Golf Associations and other referrals.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The PGA TOUR’s regular season ends with this week’s Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., where Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor needs a big finish to retain his exempt status for next year.

Taylor enters the Wyndham at No. 129 on the FedEx Cup points list. He must move inside the top 125 to remain fully exempt for the 2018-19 season that begins this fall. Taylor currently has 340 FedEx Cup points. Tyron Van Aswegen currently sits at No. 125 with 364 points. Martin Piller, presently No. 124, has 371 points, and Seamus Power, at No. 123, has 377 points.

Taylor must finish no worse than 32nd this week -- which would be worth 25 points -- just to pass Aswegen. But in reality he likely needs a top-20 finish to have a chance of cracking the top 125. A 20th-place finish is worth 45 points, which would move Taylor to 395 points.