When the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games, and specifically the golf competition, begin on July 16, four golfers will don the maple leaf to represent Canada. The veteran of the squad will be 50-year-old, Charlottetown, P.E.I. native Lorie Kane.
Kane, fourth ranked professional in Canada, has been a fixture on the Canadian golf scene since the early 1990s. In 1996 she made her LPGA debut and has gone on to win four tournaments on the tour including: the 2000 Michelob Light Classic, 2000 New Albany Golf Classic, 2000 Mizuno Classic and 2001 LPGA Takefuji Classic.
Kane also has two wins in the Hyundai Team Matches and two wins on the Legends Tour. As an amateur, Kane captured the 1992 Espirito Santo Trophy,.
This will not be the first time that Kane has represented Canada. She represented her country at the World Cup in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and was also part of the World Team for the 2010-13 Handa Cups.
Perhaps one of the greatest honours Kane has received is the Order of Canada, which she was awarded in 2006. On the LPGA Tour, she has also received the 1998 Heather Farr Player Award, which represents hard work, dedication and love of the game. In 2000 she received the William and Mousie Powell Award, an honour given to the player whose behavior and deeds best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA.
Team Canada will undoubtedly lean on Kane’s leadership and experience as they search for Pan Am gold.
Don’t miss your chance to see the legendary Kane and the rest of Team Canada at the Pan Am Games. For more information visit: http://www.toronto2015.org/golf
He was born in Irving, Texas but Austin Connelly also calls Nova Scotia home. The dual citizen made his debut on Team Canada in 2015 and now he will be one of the four members to represent Canada in golf at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games, July 16-19.
Connelly, the top ranked Canadian Amateur and ninth ranked amateur in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, will enter the Games with an impressive 2015 resume to date. Earlier this year he captured the Jones Cup and was a finalist at the U.S. Four-Ball Championship. He has continued to build momentum off his 2014 season that was highlighted by a win at the FJ Invitational, along with top three’s in the Argentine Amateur, Tailhade Cup, Jones Cup, Junior PGA Championship and Ping Invitational. Connelly was also part of the team that took home top honours at the 2014 Tailhade Cup. In addition, Connelly was part of two winning American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Wyndham Cup Teams and has also been named a two-time AJGA Junior Rolex All-American.
At just 19-years of age, the Pan Am competition will be one of the biggest events he has played in. Something he will be able to take with him as he begins his career as a member of the University of Arkansas golf team this fall.
However, this will not be the first time Connelly has participated in an international team event. In 2014 he was a member of the U.S. Jr. Ryder Cup team that won the event in Scotland. That experience will be crucial for Connelly as he hopes to help propel Canada to gold.
Don’t miss your chance to see the up and coming Connelly and the rest of Team Canada at the Pan Am Games. For more information visit: http://www.toronto2015.org/golf
Elmira, Ontario’s Garrett Rank is coming off a great 2014 both personally and in his golf career. The 2014 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion and now NHL referee, gets to add another accomplishment in 2015 by being part of Team Canada’s golf squad for the Pan American Games, July 16-19.
The 27-year-old Rank has always had a close relationship between golf and hockey. Growing up he played both, including Jr. B hockey in his hometown. When he moved on to the University of Waterloo, he was a member of the Warriors golf and hockey teams. In 2010, he captured the Ontario University Athletics Golf Championship.
Rank is currently the second ranked Canadian Men’s Amateur and is 56th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. In addition to his Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship, he is coming off a win at the Ontario Mid-Amateur Championship, June 23-25. He is also a past winner of the Toronto Star Men’s Amateur in 2011. In 2014, Rank was second at The Players Amateur Championship and third at the Monroe Invitational. He has also been runner up at the U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur in 2012, runner up at the 2013 Canadian Mid-Amateur and Ontario Amateur and runner up in the 2009 Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship. Rank also represented Canada in 2011 during the Spirit International at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Texas.
This past winter, Rank made his NHL officiating debut on January 15 in Buffalo. Rank has also officiated AHL and OHL games along with the IIHF World Under 17 World Championships.
The Pan Am Games will not be the only time that Rank tees it up at a high-profile event this summer. Thanks to his win at the Canadian Mid-Amateur, he will be part of the field for the Canadian Open, July 20-26, at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville.
Don’t miss your chance to see the inspirational Rank and the rest of Team Canada at the Pan Am Games. For more information visit: http://www.toronto2015.org/golf
MARKHAM— The Pan American Games are just over a month away. Countries are finalizing their rosters, so what better time to take a look at the golf course that will be the centre of attention: Angus Glen.
Angus Glen Golf Club, South Course, will play host to the golf competition July 16-19. The course itself is no stranger to hosting high profile events. Since it’s creation in 1995, by Ontario Golf Hall of Famer, architect Doug Carrick, it has played host to a pair of Canadian Open’s in 2002 and 2007. In addition, the club’s North Course has hosted the LPGA Canadian Open and the Telus Skins Game. Most recently, the South Course hosted the 2014 World Junior Girls Championship, something that Angus Glen Head professional Terry Kim says helped the club prepare for the upcoming Games. “Thanks to the World Junior Girls Championship, we saw that there are lots of good golfers everywhere. It was definitely a smaller scale, but the positive feedback we received from the different country coaches went along way in our preparations.”
When the competition begins, the course will be showcasing a number of changes made thanks to a revitalization project done by designer Martin Ebert, something Kim is quite excited about. “I think the defining characteristics will be quite different with the changes. All of the greens have been resurfaced, the bunkers were redone with top-technology drainage, three holes (3,11 and 14) received major changes and all feel new and a bunker was added on 18 to make the finish even tighter.”
The project began five years ago with nearly a $6-millon investment from the owners. So far the course has received many positive reviews.
What will make things challenging for players will be the course’s fescue, which should be fully grown in by the time of the competition. “The added fescue is big,” said Kim. “Players at the World Junior Girls Championship really enjoyed it then. With the length of the course, getting off the tee safely will be key to the players succeeding. The fescue will require punch outs, so if they can avoid that and read the subtle breaks on the green they should be in good shape.”
Kim says that the toughest stretch for players will be the start of the back nine, holes 10 through 13. “It is a tough stretch but if players can get through these four, they have a good chance to score well on the final five.”
He outlines how 10 is a tough uphill hole, 11 requires a player to shape their second shot well, 12 is a long par-3 with narrow green and 13 has a blind tee shot, all of which will act as the challenges. Yet as the players finish on 18 they will have the full attention of spectators thanks to the hole’s stadium seating.
In terms of set up, Kim says that the course will be set up similar to how it was for the World Junior Girls Championship, with increased length off the tees. “Players will need to plan their shots. It is a fair course so they should be able to score well, but I think we will see both good and bad scores.”
With all of the changes and preparations that the course has put in to get ready for the Games, Angus Glen should prove to be an excellent site for the competition. “Everything so far has been great with the course this season and we are eager to showcase Angus Glen on the world stage,” said Kim.
The first round of the golf competition begins on July 16 with the medals being presented on July 19. For more information or to purchase tickets see: http://www.toronto2015.org/golf
TORONTO – The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Golf Canada have announced the four athletes who have been nominated to represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26.
The Canadian athletes nominated by Golf Canada for the Pan Am golf competition – which runs July 16-19 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. – were determined based on selection criteria and world ranking as of May 15, 2015.
On the women’s side, 17-year-old former world number one amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. has accepted selection to the Pan Am golf team and will be joined by four-time LPGA Tour winner Lorie Kane of Charlottetown.
The men’s team will be comprised of 18-year-old Austin Connelly who resides in, Irving Texas, currently the 10th ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings along with reigning Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont.
Golf Canada’s National Women’s Team Head Coach Tristan Mullally of Straffan, Ireland along with National Men’s Team Head Coach Derek Ingram of Winnipeg, Man will serve as coaches for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Team.
Selection criteria among those considered for the Canadian Pan Am Golf Team was based on competitive standing inside the top-500 on the World Golf Ranking for professional golfers as well as competitive standing inside the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of May 15, 2015. Players that met the selection criteria had until April 28, 2015 to notify Golf Canada of their interest in being considered for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Team.
The field for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Competition will include 32 women and 32 men competing in a women’s individual, men’s individual and mixed team competition (low female and male score combined).
The Pan Am Games will be a historic event for Canadian golf as the sport will be included for the first time ever as part of the multi-sport Pan Am Games. In 2016, the sport of golf makes its celebrated return to the Olympic sport program for the first time since Canadian George S. Lyon won gold at the 1904 Olympic Games.
Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with over 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “Home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will offer a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.
QUOTES
“Canada is proud to be hosting the first-ever Pan Am Games where golf is on the program. This is a fantastic opportunity for our talented golfers to showcase their ability to the Americas with a home soil advantage. Congratulations to all those who made it onto the team.”
– Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee
“I am incredibly excited for our Canadian golfers to be a part of Pan Am Games history. I am totally confident that this group will re-ignite Canadian success in multi-sport games after George Lyon’s gold medal in 1904. Congratulations to all of the golfers named to the team, I can’t wait to see you all tee off.”
– Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Team Canada Chef de Mission
“We are very excited about the composition of our team for the Pan Am Games and feel confident that they will be very competitive with the field in this event. Lorie and Brooke representing Canada provide a great combination of both youth and experience while Garrett and Austin are two of the top amateurs in the world and will give Canada a great chance over the four days of competition.”
– Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer
“It’s an honour to be selected to represent Canada at the Pan Am Games. In a short time with the national team program I’ve been able to take advantage of great opportunities and I’m sure that the Pan Am Games will be a special golf experience.”
– Austin Connelly, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete
“I am honoured and extremely excited to be playing for Canada again.I am excited about the quality of schedule I have this year with the Pan Am Games and RBC Canadian Open as well as the other great championships I’ll be competing in this summer.”
– Garrett Rank, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete
“It is an absolute honour to have the opportunity to represent my country and the Canadian Olympic Committee with my selection to play for Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. I have always proudly represented Canada while playing on the LPGA Tour, but wearing the maple leaf in acclaimed international competition is something I am extremely humbled by and excited about.”
– Lorie Kane, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games athlete
“It’s really exciting to have been selected to represent Canada in the first ever Pan Am games golf competition. I’ve had so many great experiences being a part of Golf Canada’s national team program since I was 14, and now in my first year as a pro, it’s a great honour to play for my country at the Pan Am Games.”
– Brooke Henderson, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete
“Canada has a long tradition of excellence in golf, and we are very proud of the team that has been selected to represent our country as this sport makes its Pan Am Games debut this summer. Congratulations to all our golfers; Canadians will be following and encouraging you as you face the best athletes in the Americas at the 2015 Pan Am Games. Good luck!”
– The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)
Click here to listen to an interview with Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Development Officer, Jeff Thompson, as he discusses team selection criteria for Canada’s golf contingent for the 2015 Pan Am Games.
TORONTO— The 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games are quickly approaching with the opening ceremonies scheduled for July 10. Making it’s debut at the 2015 Pan Am Games will be golf, July 16-19 at Angus Glen Golf Club, south course. The debut of golf comes at a exciting time for the sport, as it will also be making it’s return to the Olympics after a 112-year hiatus in Rio in 2016.
The Pan Am competition will feature a men’s and women’s individual stroke-play competition, to be contested over four rounds (72 holes), along with a mixed team competition. Both the men’s and women’s fields will be made up of 32 competitors and will be open to both amateurs and professionals.
Nation’s may enter a maximum of two competitors per gender. As the host nation, Canada automatically qualifies a full team of four athletes. All other athletes will qualify through the Official World Golf Ranking and Women’s World Golf Rankings (and if necessary) the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of April 28, 2015. All nations that qualify in the men’s and women’s singles events will also qualify for the mixed team event.
The course itself, Angus Glen, is one of Canada’s most prestigious courses that has hosted numerous noteworthy tournaments including a pair of Canadian Opens. Just last year, Angus Glen hosted the inaugural World Junior Girls Championship in preparing for the 2015 Pan Am Games.
The Pan Am competition will no doubt set the stage for the world’s best golfers to compete in Rio during the 2016 Olympics. Golf has previously been an event at the Olympics, in 1900 in Paris, France and in 1904 in St. Louis. Canadian George S. Lyon won the gold medal in 1904, so Canadian golfers will be looking to defend the gold in 2016.
Golf was attempted in both 1908 and 1920 but was not run due disputes or lack of interest. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) then mandated that a sport be participated in at least 40 countries to have Olympic eligibility. It was only until the 212th IOC Session in 2009 that IOC members voted to reinstate golf for 2016.
The tournament for the Olympics, much like the Pan-Am games will be stroke play for both men and women over 72 holes. In the event of ties, playoffs will be used to determine medal winners. In both the men’s and women’s event, the top 15 world-ranked players will be eligible for the Olympic Games, regardless of the number of players from a given country. Beyond the top 15, players will be eligible based on world ranking, with a maximum of two available players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15 to a maximum number of 60 players in total in the competition. The field size will be larger at the Olympics with 60 participants on both the Men’s and Women’s side.
With both the debut of golf at the 2015 Pan Am Games and the return of golf to the Olympics it really is an exciting time for the sport. With some of the best golfers in the world in Toronto this summer, there is no better time to see the stars of our sport shine.
OTTAWA— With numerous international sporting events coming to Canada in 2015, an announcement was made last week proclaiming 2015 as the Year of Sport in Canada. The announcement came from Governor General David Johnston at the torch-lighting ceremony for the 2015 Canada Winter Games, Oct. 16 in Ottawa.
In addition to the Canada Winter Games (Prince George), the country will host the Pan American Games (Toronto/ Greater Golden Horseshoe), where golf will be one of the 36 sports featured, the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship (Toronto and Montreal), the Men’s World Curling Championship (Halifax) and the FIFA Women’s World Cup (multiple locations).
“Next year promises to be a truly memorable sporting year for Canadians. A number of major international sporting events will take place in Canada, including the Pan Am Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the IIHF World Hockey Junior Championships. It is for these reasons and so many more that I am delighted to proclaim 2015 the Year of Sport in Canada,” added Johnston.
Minister of State (Sport) Bal Gosal, was in attendance for the announcement and gave his thoughts on what 2015 means for sport in Canada. “In 2015, Canadians from across the country will have many opportunities to cheer on our remarkable athletes and celebrate their achievements. With events such as the World Junior Hockey Championship, the Canada Winter Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, the Pan and Parapan American Games and many others, 2015 will be a memorable year for all Canadians — an opportunity not only to attend sport events, but also to be inspired to participate in sport activities throughout the year.”
The Year of Sport in Canada is a proactive pan-Canadian initiative to celebrate the role that sport plays in our country and encourage Canadians to participate in and seek the benefits of sport. During the year, sport events and other celebratory activities will highlight how sport benefits Canadians. The Year of Sport will promote Canada’s position as a leading sport nation and highlight the power of sport to enhance the lives of all Canadians.
The Pan Am Games, July 10-26, will welcome more than 10,000 athletes from 41 countries to the Toronto area. This year’s Games will mark the first time golf will be contested. Angus Glen Golf Club, who recently hosted the successful 2014 World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship, will be the host venue for golf at the Games. Individual and team competitions will take place for both men and women. The event will build into the lead up of Golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016 in Rio, Brazil. The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is proud to partner with Golf Canada and the International Golf Federation to organize the event.
For More information on the Year of Sport visit http://www.pch.gc.ca/
For more information on the Pan-Am Games Golf Competition visit: http://www.toronto2015.org/golf
