Last year the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship came down to a battle between Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mary-Ann Hayward and U.S. Senior Amateur champion Judith Kryinis.
Over the final seven holes, the lead changed hands four times. Hayward’s birdie on the 17th hole would prove to be the difference as she secured her fourth Canadian senior women’s title.
The two will square off again August 26-29 and this time the Club at North Halton will be the setting as it hosts the Canadian championship.
But Hayward and Kryinis will have more than each other to contend with. There will be six past champions, with a combined 13 Canadian senior titles between them, vying for the national championship.
And if that wasn’t enough, three-time U.S. Senior Amateur winner Laura Tennant will be looking to add a Canadian title.
“I think this could be the strongest field in the history of the tournament,” said tournament chair Gloria Sinclair.
Hayward, who compiled much of her Hall of Fame resume while a member at North Halton, will have a definite advantage in course knowledge, as will North Halton’s Julie Green. Hayward won the 2010 Ontario senior championship when North Halton hosted. Alberta’s Sharon Phillips will also have a secret weapon with former North Halton member Robbie Johnson, now a teaching professional at Banff Springs, caddying for her.
“The golf course will be a really good test,” said Club at North Halton director of golf Marc Bezaire. “It’s a quality field and should be really competitive.”
There will be a welcome dinner and reception dinner for players, past champions and hall of farmers on Monday (Aug. 26), where Sandra Post, the first Canadian to win an LPGA major, will speak.
That will be followed by the first two rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday. The field will then be cut to the top 70 and ties for the final round Thursday (Aug. 29).
There will also be an interprovincial competition, with a team of three representing the province. Eight of 10 provinces are currently represented.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the tournament. Ten per cent of sponsorships sold will go toward the Junior Tee It Up legacy program, an initiative created by the tournament committee, which includes Sinclair and co-chairs Debbie Campbell and Helen Noble.
The program is designed to introduce two students, one male and one female between the ages of 12-18, to golf, who might not otherwise have access to the game.
It will teach them the game and introduce them to successful mentors while learning important interpersonal skills.
Admission will be free for spectators.
