Golf Canada – Senior division champion earns exemption into 2017 U.S. Women’s Senior

LITTLE RAPIDS, N.L. – 115 golfers ranging from 25-74 years of age will descend on Humber Valley Resort from Aug. 21-24 for the 47th playing of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Am and Senior Championship. 

Four individual trophies are up for grabs at the 54-hole tournament in Little Rapids, N.L.

Competitors over 25 will vie for the Mid-Amateur title, players over 40 will be eligible to compete in the Mid-Master competition and those over 50 will play for the Senior championship. Finally, those 60-and-over will compete for the Super Senior title over the tournament’s first 36 holes.

Humber Valley Resort – designed by renowned Canadian golf course architect Doug Carrick – features incredible views of the nearby Humber River and several holes run adjacent to the beautiful Deer Lake, with 105 uniquely designed bunkers dotting the course’s tranquil landscape.

“Our course is renowned for its stunning and challenging layout,” said Humber Valley’s general manager Gary Oke. “It’s in great condition and we’re thrilled to share our course with these talented women.” 

“Humber Valley Resort boasts a beautiful layout and we are very excited for the competition to get underway,” added tournament director Adam Cinel. “The field is in for a tough, yet fair test, here this week in Little Rapids.”

In 2016 at Wolf Creek Golf Course in Ponoka, Alta., Judith Kyrinis (Thornhill, Ont.) took home three of the four trophies winning the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Senior titles at 2 under par after a final round 4-under-par 68. Holly Horwood (Vancouver, B.C.) won the Super Senior division at 7 over par.

Kyrinis is back this year looking to become the first repeat champion in the Senior division since Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member Mary Ann Hayward won back-to-back titles in 2010-2011. 

In addition to the four individual competitions, an inter-provincial team competition will take place during the first two rounds.

In 2016, the Ontario team of Kyrinis, Ivy Steinberg (Stouffville, Ont.), and Hayward (St. Thomas, Ont.) won the team competition with a two-day score of 12-over-par 300. 

After 36 holes, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties from the senior division. Further to that, all Mid-Amateurs and Mid-Masters postings a 36-hole score which is equal to the last player(s) to qualify for the final round, will make the cut. A minimum of 10 Mid-Amateurs (Age 25-39) and five Mid-Masters (Age 40-49) will make the cut.

A tie for the championship will be decided by a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following conclusion of play.

The senior division winner receives an exemption into the 2017 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur being contested at Waverley Country Club in Portland, Oreg., from Sept. 9-14.

Click here to learn more about the Canadian Women’s Mid-Am and Senior Championship. 

NOTABLES

Hélène Chartrand, Pincourt, Que.
The 60-year-old won the 2014 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship and was the runner-up in 2016. Chartrand was second at the 2017 Quebec Mid-Amateur Championship and third at the 2017 Quebec Women’s Senior Amateur Championship.

Mary Ann Hayward, St. Thomas, Ont.
The 57-year-old Canadian Golf Hall of Famer is a three-time winner of this event (2010-11, 2013). Hayward finished T10 at this event in 2016. She reached the round-of-32 at the 2016 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. Hayward won the 2017 Quebec Mid-Amateur Championship was the runner up at the 2017 Ontario Women’s Senior Championship. She’s a four-time Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion (1993, 1996, 1999, 2004).

Judith Kyrinis, Thornhill, Ont.
The 53-year-old defending champion won her first Canadian Women’s Senior title in 2016. Kyrinis was the medallist after two rounds of stroke play at the 2016 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and reached the quarterfinals in match play. She reached the round-of-64 at the 2016 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur. She was T22 at the 2017 Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur.

Jackie Little, Procter, B.C.
The 59-year-old won this event back-to-back in 2008-2009 and was tied for sixth last year. Little was third at the 2017 B.C. Senior Women’s Championship. 

Alison Murdoch, Victoria, B.C
The 67-year-old Canadian Golf Hall of Famer has won this event four times, most recently in 2007. She was seventh at the 2017 B.C. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. Murdoch is a four-time Irish Senior Women’s Open Champion and won the 2007 Senior Ladies’ British Amateur.

Terrill Samuel, Etobicoke, Ont.
The 56-year-old is a two-time champion at this event, most recently winning in 2015. She finished third in 2016 at this event. She was third at the 2017 Ontario Women’s Senior Championship and 24th at the 2017 Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship.

FAST FACTS

Five Canadian Golf Hall of Famers have won the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship: Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Alison Murdoch, Marilyn O’Connor, and Margaret Todd. 

Streit (1985, 1987-88, 1993), Borthwick (1994-1995, 1999-2000) and Murdoch (2002, 2004-05, 2007) are tied for the most Canadian Women’s Senior Championship victories with four each.

Nancy Fitzgerald has the most consecutive Canadian Women’s Senior Championships wins – winning three straight titles from 1996-1998.

The last non-Canadian to win was American Ginny Burkey in 2006. 

The senior division winner receives an exemption into the 2017 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur at Waverley Country Club in Portland, Ore., from Sept. 9-14.

COURSE FACTS

Par 72, 

5,755 yards, slope 132

Architect: Doug Carrick

The course has 105 bunkers, 49 on the front nine and 56 on the back nine

Humber Valley has Creeping Bentgrass greens and tees, Dwarf Kentucky fairways and fescue rough

Named ScoreGolf’s best new course in 2007

Click here for more information on the Canadian Women’s Mid-Am and Senior Championship. 

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GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 20 championships nation-wide which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific, Sport Canada, Acura, Titleist and FootJoy. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions.

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For more information:

Tyler Costigan
Manager, Corporate Communications & Social Media
Golf Canada
(t) 1-800-263-0009 x 315
(c) 416-300-4860
(e) tcostigan@golfcanada.ca

Austin Stanton
Assistant, Communications & Public Relations
Golf Canada
(t) 1-800-263-0009 x 317
(c) 613-219-8814
(e) astanton@golfcanada.ca