golf Golf Ontario Spring Lakes GC Women's four-ball

Burke/Ward win Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship

STOUFFVILLE— The final event on the women’s provincial championship calendar took place on Sept. 12 at Spring Lakes Golf Club in Stouffville. The Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship is one of the more unique championships on the Golf Ontario schedule because it is open to all age groups. The 2017 version was no different as it saw participants as young as 13 and as old 83 all competing for the title.

The field featured numerous notable players including: World Golf Hall of Famer Marlene Stewart Streit, 2017 Ontario Bantam Girls’ Champion Raesa Sheikh, 2017 Ontario Junior Girls’ Match Play Champion Vanessa Chychrun, one half of the defending champions in Marion Reid, past Senior Women’s Champion Ivy Steinberg and Emily Zhu, who was recently named to Team Canada for the World Junior Girls’ Championship.

With all of the talent in the field, there was no doubt that a strong score would be needed to win. In the end, that was the case as it took a six-under (66) from the team of Port Colborne’s Kayla Burke and Niagara Falls’ Emily Ward to claim victory. Burke, from Lookout Point Country Club, and Ward, from Grand Niagara Golf Course, took the victory but a narrow margin of one-stroke.

“This is just awesome, it was really fun to play with someone like Emily,” said Burke. “Everything was going well in our games today. If one player was in trouble, the other just stepped up and was right there to bail us out.”

“We picked each other up when we needed to and fed off each other’s positivity and enthusiasm,” added Ward. “We were a really great paring. We have known each other for five years. We met on the Niagara Junior Tour and ever since then, we have been close friends.”

Burke and Ward also took the Net Division Trophy at a net total of 10-under (62).

There was a tie for the silver medal at five-under (67). Sharing the medal was the team of Markham’s Hailey McLaughlin (Cedar Brae Golf Club) and Richmond Hill’s Emily Zhu (National Pines Golf Club) along with the pair of Etobicoke’s Marion Reid (Islington Golf Club) and Etobicoke’s Joanne Noble (Weston Golf & Country Club).

Golf Ontario would like to thank the staff of Spring Lakes GC for hosting the 2017 event, along with the Golf Ontario volunteers for their continued support of amateur golf in the province. For more information, including the final leaderboards, see the tournament site at: https://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao17/event/gao17130/index.htm 

About the Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship

First played in 1953, the Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship is contested annually and features two-woman teams competing in a better-ball format. In total, 24 teams and 48 players took part in the 2017 event.

Golf Ontario Weston G&CC Women's four-ball

Court and Reid win 2016 Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship

TORONTO — Two Golf Ontario championship veterans claimed their first provincial titles as the team of Mississauga’s Debbie Court and Etobicoke’s Marion Reid captured the 2016 Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship. The event, September 7 from Weston Golf & Country Club, was the final Golf Ontario women’s event of 2016.

Court, from the Toronto Golf Club, and Reid, from the Islington Golf Club, had a stellar day. The pair battled the hot, humid temperatures and finished with a team total of three-under (69). That turned out to be good enough for a two-shot victory.

The pair of Court and Reid also captured the net division title, scoring a net score of seven-under (65).

Finishing in second place was the team of Stouffville’s Ivy Steinberg, from Granite Golf Club, and Toronto’s Kelly Koselek, from Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club. The team carded a one-under (71) to earn the silver medal.

Rounding out the medals, with the bronze, was the team of Etobicoke’s Joanne Noble, from the host club of Weston, and Thornhill’s Judith Kyrinis, The Thornhill Club. Noble and Kyrinis shot a team total of even par (72).

Golf Ontario would like to thank the staff of Weston Golf & Country Club for hosting the 2016 event, along with the Golf Ontario volunteers for their continued support of amateur golf in Ontario.

About the Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship

First played in 1953, the Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship is contested annually and features two-woman teams competing in a better-ball format. In total, 40 teams and 80 players took part in the 2016 event.

Champion of Champions Golf Ontario Turkish Airlines Women's four-ball

Golf Ontario welcomes Turkish Airlines as new partner

UXBRIDGE— Golf Ontario is pleased to announce a new partnership with Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines, is already investing in golf worldwide with their amateur series the Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup (TAWGC) along with their sponsorship of a European Tour event, the Turkish Airlines Open, and now their support of Golf Ontario can be added to the list.

“On behalf of team at Turkish Airlines based here in Canada, it is our distinct pleasure to continue our sponsorship of the many events Golf Ontario hosts. I was honoured to recently host a trip to Istanbul and Antalya in which Golf Ontario and Canadian golf media participated in and by all accounts it was a resounding success. Something we hope to build on moving forward,” said David Batey, Regional Corporate Sales Manager, Turkish Airlines.

Turkish Airlines will offer support to Golf Ontario in a variety of fields. Turkish Airlines will become the presenting sponsor of all Golf Ontario Champion of Champions events (Men’s, Women’s, Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s) along with the Women’s Four-Ball Championship.

Golf Ontario’s vTour will also get a boost from the partnership. The vTour is a season-long competition that incorporates the Golf Canada Handicap System, which allows golfers of all abilities to compete on an equitable basis. Participants simply play their round at any course they choose and are entered in the specific vTour simply by posting their scores. Not only will Turkish Airlines sponsor one of the vTour events, they will offer qualifying spots to the TAWGC to participants.

In addition to the involvement in championships and vTours, Turkish Airlines will also be a sponsor of Golf Ontario’s main fundraiser the Junior Golf Drive. Turkish Airlines has also committed to sponsoring future “Learn to Golf” events.

On the Golf Ontario side, the association will be more present in assisting Turkish Airlines with their Ontario-based World Golf Cup competition. The Golf Ontario tournament staff will assist in running a qualifier for the event, along with promotion and support of the competition itself on Aug. 11 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

“As one of the top airlines in the world, Turkish Airlines shares a passion for excellence, innovation and service making this a wonderful partnership for Golf Ontario,” added Golf Ontario Executive Director Mike Kelly. “Turkish Airlines has invested in golf all over the world and we are thrilled to work with them to enhance the experience for Ontario golfers through unique programs and offers.”

ABOUT TURKISH AIRLINES

Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines is a 4-star airline that flies to 115 countries, with a fleet of 306 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 286 destinations worldwide with 236 international and 49 domestic. According to Skytrax survey of 2015, Turkish Airlines was chosen “Europe’s Best Airline” for the fifth and “Best Airline in Southern Europe” for the seventh consecutive year. Having won in 2010 the world’s “Best Economy Catering Service”, in 2013 the world’s “Best Business Catering Service”, and in 2014 “Best Business Catering Service” awards, Turkish Airlines was awarded in 2015  the world’s “Best Business Class Lounge Dining” and “Best Business Airline Lounge”  prizes in the Skytrax survey. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on www.turkishairlines.com