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CANADIAN AMATEUR HISTORY
There is no other golf championship in Canada with a richer history than the Canadian Amateur Championship. More than a century old, the Amateur was first contested as one of the newly formed Royal Canadian Golf Association's first orders of business in 1895 at the Ottawa Golf Club.
When T. M. Harley of Kingston Golf Club defeated A. Simpson of Ottawa Golf Club 7&5, a proud tradition of Canadian championship golf was born. George S. Lyon won the Amateur an astounding eight times between 1898 and 1914 and was runner-up twice more, while the inimitable Sandy Somerville made it to the match play final 10 times between 1924 and 1938, capturing six championships of his own and finishing second four times.
Among the Canadian legends who have won our national Amateur championship are Moe Norman (twice), Nick Weslock (four times), Gary Cowan and Doug Roxburgh (four times). Incidentally, all four golfers are enshrined in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. In recent years, some of Canada's top touring pros launched their careers with resounding Amateur victories. Among them are Richard Zokol, Jim Nelford and Brent Franklin.
Inter-Provincial team matches between Ontario and Quebec were first played in 1882, eventually developing into the Willingdon Cup in 1927. This team event, which pits teams from 10 provinces against each other in stroke play competition, has been played in conjunction with the Canadian Amateur since 1931 and remains one of the highlights of championship week.
RCGA Backgrounder
Whether it is the first putt a youngster sinks on a practice green or the last hole of The Bell Canadian Open Championship, the Royal Canadian Golf Association provides a helping hand in Canada's greatest golfing moments.
As the governing body of men's amateur golf in Canada, the RCGA has been serving Canadian golfers since 1895, providing support, encouragement and expertise as the game, and the country, have grown through the past century. And, as golf drives forward into the next millennium, the RCGA will be there to serve the increasingly diverse needs of Canada's golfers and golf courses.
Membership in the RCGA comes with a golfer's membership in his respective provincial association and member clubs. There are more than 280,000 RCGA members playing at 1,550 associated clubs across Canada. Members carry the RCGA membership card, symbolizing their investment in the advancement of the game at all levels and ensuring its continued health well into the future.
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