In a gripping finale at the 24th Can-Am Matches in South Carolina, Team Ontario faced a narrow defeat.
The host team, comprising 16 juniors from South Carolina, emerged victorious at Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, S.C., with a final score of 37 to 35 over the visiting Ontario squad.
“Sixteen individual matches and it ultimately came down to earning one more point,” says Team Ontario’s head coach Reggie Millage.
During Sunday’s Singles Matches, Team South Carolina clinched a total of 26.5 points, surpassing Team Ontario’s 21.5 points. This outcome was a significant turnaround from Saturday’s mixed Four-Ball Matches, where Ontario had taken the lead with 13.5 to 10.5, setting the stage for an intense showdown in Sunday’s 16 Singles Matches. With 48 points available on the final day, each match offered three points—one each for the front nine, the back nine, and the overall match.
“This is the youngest team I have taken to the Can-Am Matches and they showed their skill, resilience and character,” Millage says. “Although there is some sadness and disappointment, I am very proud of this group and excited for the season ahead.”
The Can-Am Junior Team event kicked off on Friday with the Junior Am event, dinner, and opening ceremonies at Wachesaw Plantation Club, marking a warm welcome for the athletes. The juniors paired with members and event sponsors for a round of golf in a pro-am style.
Team Ontario, the 2019 champions of the Can-Am Matches, showcased a formidable lineup this year, including Alexa Ouellet; 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; Luke Smith, and Rylan Hall.
Notably, past participants in the Can-Am Matches include prominent figures such as Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Brittany Marchand, Augusta James, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Bill Haas, Kevin Kisner, Lauren Stephenson, and Jensen Castle.
To follow Team Ontario’s progress in Sunday’s singles matches on social media, check out their profiles on Instagram, Facebook and X.
