The Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic Championship kicks off at FireRock Golf Club this Victoria Day long weekend in London.
The 60-player championship showcases the province’s rising junior girls’ golf talent, with seven featured players from Team Ontario and two featured players from Next Wave. As the young athletes take the course, they each seek to take home the Randolf Jay Millage Ttrophy at the end of the weekend.
Taking place over 54-hole, FireRock Golf Golf Club hosts the Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic Championship for the second year.
FIELD NOTES
Among the 60-players in the 2024 Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic, seven are Team Ontario members, while two are Next Wave players.
Team Ontario Players: There are seven members of Team Ontario taking part. They are: Aryn Matthews (Big Win Island Golf Club); Nobelle Park (Rattlesnake Golf Club); Kaprice Park (Rattlesnake Golf Club); Shelby Hardwick (The Summit Golf & Country Club) ; Angela Cai (Heron Point Golf Links); Wendy Li (Cedar Brae Golf Club) and Bridget Yu (Golf Canada Club).
Next Wave: Two athletes who are part of Golf Ontario’s Nexgt Wave development prrogram will be participating: Sierra Kowalyshyn (Sawmill Golf Course) and Kirsten Lee (Brampton Golf Club)
Youngest Player: Riviera Lindholm (St. Georges Golf & Country Club) 11- years- old
PLAYER NOTES
Michelle Xing, a standout on Team Canada, has claimed titles such as the 2024 NextGen Ontario Champions (which was played last week at FireRock), the 2022 Ontario Junior Girls Match Play Championship and the 2022 Ontario Bantam U15 Championship.
Nobelle Park, an exceptional Team Ontario member, clinched victory at the 2024 Ontario Junior Players Invitational.
Aryn Matthews, another Team Ontario member, has made her mark with a runner-up finish at this year’s Ontario Junior Players Invitational and a third-place finish at the 2024 NextGen Ontario Championship.
QUOTES
Connor Doyle, Tournament Director: “The Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic will be one to watch this weekend. The highly competitive field will feature many of the top junior girls in Ontario including members of Team Ontario and Team Canada. FireRock Golf Club will serve as a great test for the players this weekend and we should be in for an excellent three days of golf.”
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue : FireRock Golf Club, Komoka, Ont.
Championship Date: May 19-21
Field: Sixty-players
Leaderboard Link: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/10230944137356560471
Fun Fact: At 16-years-old, Brooke Henderson won the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at FireRock Golf Club.
Format: 54-holes, stroke play. A cut will come after 36-holes to the low 40 players.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
The 2024 Ontario Junior Boys Spring Classic heads to Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge from May 19-21.
The 60-player field features Ontario’s top male junior golfers, all of whom looking to capture the Randolf Jay Millage Trophy.
The 54-hole championship begins Sunday at 12 p.m. with a cut coming after 36-holes.
For first round pairings, CLICK HERE.
FIELD NOTES
Team Ontario: Of the eight male Team Ontario members, six of them are in the field at Wooden Sticks. They are: Ben Sheridan (Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club); Bode Stephen (Cataraqui Golf & Country Club); Dawson Lew (Players Club – Markham); Graydon Laughlin (Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club); Nathaniel Yoo (Meadowbrook Golf Club); Rylan Hall (Whistle Bear Golf Club).
Next Wave: The recently announced 2024 Next Wave program will be represented by seven of its 15 golfers: Ben Julie (Sawmill Golf Course); Cole Thompson (Lookout Point Country Club); Matthew Simpson (Lambton Golf & Country Club); Aiden Pavey (Hidden Lake Golf Club); Bo Dong (Golf Canada Club – Ontario); Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club); Michael Vivone (Royal Ottawa Golf Club).
Four of Team Canada’s NextGen male golfers will also be competing: Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club); Isaiah Ibit (Camelot Golf & Country Club); Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club); Eric Zhao (Bayview Golf & Country Club).
Top Junior Golf Pathway Ranking Players: Bode Stephen, No. 1, U19 and U17; Dawson Lew, No. 2, U19 and U17; Spencer Shropshire, No. 3, U19 and U17.
PLAYER NOTES
Last year’s Junior Boys Spring Classic Champion Isaiah Ibit (Camelot Golf & Country Club), who also ranked first in last year’s U19 Boys’ Junior Golf Pathway Rankings.
Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club) and Andrew Aquino (The National Golf Club of Canada) both finished tied for third in last year’s Junior Boys Spring Classic. Smith also won last year’s Junior Boys Championship.
Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf & Country Club) recently won the 2024 Ontario Junior Players Invitational.
Jager Pain (Golf Canada Club – Ontario) comes in fresh off his win at the 2024 Ontario NextGen Championship.
The winner of the last two Ontario Juvenile Championships, Matthew Javier (Scarboro Golf & Country Club).
Last year’s Ontario Bantam) Champion, Manav Bharani (Brampton Golf Club) is also in the field.
QUOTES
Rob Watson, Tournament Director: “This event is annually one of the strongest playing fields for junior boys in the country. This year, we have a very strong field, which only reinforces why this event is so competitive.”
Reggie Millage, Head Provincial Coach: “The Junior Spring Classic was started by my father in a time when opportunities for the best juniors to play against each other were very limited early in the season. Initially it was a stand-alone event, which became one of the strongest and most anticipated ones of the new Ontario golf season. That anticipation only elevated once it became a Golf Ontario Championship in 1995. It is truly an honour to have my name etched in the first two slots on the trophy named in honour of my dad and something I continue to cherish year after year.”
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: Wooden Sticks Golf Course
Championship Dates: May 19-21
Field: 60 players
Format: 54-hole, stroke play, 36 Hole Cut – Low 40 & Ties
Leaderboard Link: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/10230937104817375312
Fun Fact: Twelve of the 18 holes at Wooden Sticks were inspired by various famous holes from around the world of golf.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
A perfect day for golf in Myrtle Beach, S.C., was underscored by the thrilling final round of the Ontario Junior Players Invitational at the scenic Moorland Course of Legends Golf Resorts.
In the girls’ competition, Nobelle Park of RattleSnake Point Golf Club, leading after the first round, proved unbeatable. The Team Ontario athlete sailed through her even-par final round to clinch the title. Her Team Ontario teammate, Aryn Matthews of Bigwin Island Golf Club, closely followed throughout the round but couldn’t narrow the gap despite posting a strong 72 on her scorecard. Alexa Ouellet of Weston Golf & Country Club, another Team Ontario member, finished in third place.
Park’s performance on the back nine, featuring birdies on the 15th and 16th, secured her victory at one-over par for the tournament.
On the boys side, Gabriel Mainella of Summit Golf & Country Club emerged victorious after a day-long battle with Bode Stephen from Cataraqui Golf & Country Club, claiming the boys division title. Jordan Hwang of Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club took third place, achieving the tournament’s lowest score of 69 in his final round.
Mainella’s win was highlighted by five birdies, including a two-under par on the back nine, enabling him to win by a single stroke over Stephen, with both players scoring 69 on the final day. Mainella shared his excitement about the victory, saying, “obviously a big tournament and my first win… it’s a tough stretch of holes down the back and I kind of got nervous…but excited I got the win.
Tournament Director, Connor Doyle, highlighted the excellent start to the season, noting the excitement of the tournament’s conclusion.
Golf Ontario expressed gratitude towards Legends Golf Resort and its staff for their outstanding hospitality during the past week.
The 77-player field featured many of Ontario’s top junior golfers, all of whom were looking to take home the championship title from the challenging and beautiful Moorland Course at the Legends Golf Resorts.
This year’s event saw an extension to 54 holes, an increase from last year’s 36 holes. Furthermore, participants have the opportunity to earn points towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking and Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.
For the full leaderboard and final round tee times, CLICK HERE.
FAST FACTS
- Seven of the Top 10 girls are Team Ontario members.
- The lowest girls’ score was 69, achieved by Alexa Ouellet (Team Ontario).
- Six of the Top 10 boys are Team Ontario members.
- The lowest boys’ score was 69, achieved by Jordan Hwang (Team Ontario).
- The 12th hole was the toughest, with an average score of 4.88.
- The 7th hole was the second toughest, averaging 3.65.
- The easiest hole was the 16th, with an average score of 3.94.
- The course’s scoring average was 78.27.
- The Moorland Course was once ranked as the 37th toughest golf course in America by Golf Digest.
Golf Ontario kicked off its 2024 championship schedule with the Ontario Junior Players Invitational Monday in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Team Ontario’s Nobelle Park of Rattlesnake Golf Club and last year’s second-place finisher, leads in the girls’ division thru 36 holes. Park delivered commendable scores of 74 and 73, securing a two-stroke advantage over her Team Ontario teammate Aryn Matthews of Bigwin Island Golf Club, who posted scores of 72 and 77, finishing at 3-over par.
In the boys’ division, Next Wave athlete Gabriel Mainella of the Summit Golf & Country Club, climbed to the top of the leaderboard with solid rounds of 74 and 73, bolstered by eight birdies on the first day. He enters the final round with a one-stroke lead over Team Ontario’s Bode Stephen of Cataraqui Golf & Country Club, who carded rounds of 72 and 75 to stand at 5-over.
The 77-player field features many of Ontario’s top junior golfers, all of whom are looking to take home the championship title from the challenging and beautiful Moorland Course at the Legends Golf Resorts.
The competitions biggest change this year is the extension to 54 holes, an increase from last year’s 36 holes. Furthermore, participants have the opportunity to earn points towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking and Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.
“It was great to see how well the players handled the 36 holes today, we should be in for an exciting finish,” Ontario Players Invitational Tournament Director Connor Doyle says.
The tournament concludes on Tuesday with the final 18 holes, starting at 8 a.m. from both the 1st and 10th tees.
For the full leaderboard and final round tee times, CLICK HERE.
QUOTABLES
“I’m nervous for tomorrow … but I hope play wel l… it’s tough competition.”
— Nobelle Park, Team Ontario Athlete,
“Today was definitely fun. I started off the day really well with an even par… but quickly kind of on the back stretch … lost a little bit in the second round.”
— Aryn Matthews, Team Ontario Athlete
“The conditions were tough, it was windy and cold in the the start of the morning. Feel like I did really good at the start. Pushed through the windy conditions.”
— Gabriel Mainella, Next Wave Athlete
FAST FACTS
Seven of the Top 10 Girls are Team Ontario Athlete
Lowest Girls Score of the day: Team Ontario’s Alexa Ouellet, 69
Six of the Top 10 Boys are Team Ontario
Lowest Boys score was 72: By 5 players
Course scoring average was 81.6
Team Ontario athlete and third-place finisher at last year’s Junior Players Invitational, Jordan Hwang of Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club, currently sits third again.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
Golf Ontario’s 2024 championship schedule kicks off in Myrtle Beach, S.C., with the Ontario Junior Players Invitational.
The 77-player field features many of Ontario’s top junior golfers, all of whom are looking to take home the championship title which will be contested March 11-12 at impressive Moorland Course at the Legends Golf Resorts.
This year marks the event’s second installment, featuring significant updates. Notably, the competition will extend over 54 holes, an increase from last year’s 36 holes. Furthermore, participants will now have the opportunity to earn points towards the World Amateur Golf Ranking and Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.
John Lawrence, Golf Ontario’s Director of Competitions and Performance, expressed enthusiasm about this year’s enhancements to the events. “Launching our championship season with the Ontario Junior Players Invitational is thrilling,” Lawrence says. “Expanding the championship to 54 holes and including ranking points elevates the players’ experience, mirroring the collegiate competition atmosphere.”
The invitational will see players take on 36-holes on Monday, with the final 18-holes coming on Tuesday.
This year’s field includes all 16 Team Ontario members as well as 10 Next Wave athletes. The field is rounded out by an impressive group of players who were offered invites based on their 2023 performance.
For first round pairings, CLICK HERE.
FIELD NOTES
Among the 78-players in the 2024 Ontario Junior Players Invitational, there are:
Team Ontario: All 16 members of Team Ontario are in the invitational’s field. They are: Alexa Oueullet; Angela Cai; Aryn Matthews; Bridget Yu; Kaprice Park; Nobelle Park; Shelby Hardwick; Wendy Li; Ben Sheridan; Bode Stephen; Chase Jerome; Dawson Lew; Graydon Laughlin; Jordan Hwang; Nathaniel Yoo; Rylan Hall.
Next Wave: 10 of the 15 athletes from the recently announced 2024 Next Wave program.
Top Junior Golf Pathway Ranking Players: Boys—Jordan Hwang, No. 4, U19 and U17; Chase Jerome, No. 1, U15. Girls—Nobelle Park, No. 2, U19, U17 and U15.
Youngest Players: Ava Gilbert, 12. Max Li, 13.
PLAYER NOTES
Brampton Golf Club’s Manav Bharani, winner of the 2023 Ontario Bantam (U15) Boys Championship makes his Players Invitational debut.
2023 Ontario Super Camp and Junior Tour Champion, and Team Ontario athlete Alexa Ouellet of Weston Golf and Country Club.
Last year’s runner up, the No. 2-ranked player on the 2023 Junior Golf Pathway Rankings and Team Ontario athlete Nobelle Park of Rattlesnake Golf Club.
Team Ontario athlete and third-place finisher at last year’s Junior Players Invitational, Jordan Hwang of Emerald Hills Golf & Country Club.
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: The Moorland Course at The Legends Resort
Championship Dates: March 11-12
Field: 78 players
Format: 54-hole, stroke play
Leaderboard Link: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/9986953813031962870
Fun Fact: Golf Digest once rated the Moorland Course the 37th toughest golf course in America.
Social Handles: @thegolfontario on Instagram, Facebook and X
