After 17 years as a member at The Club at North Halton, it might look like Mary-Ann Hayward would have an advantage in next week’s Canadian Senior Women’s Championship.
And while Hayward may know the course very well, she may have negated her advantage by helping recruit some strong competitors.
“This is probably the best venue we’ve had in a long time,” she said of the championship, which will be held Aug. 26-29. “We’ve been telling players in the States about it. It’s close to Toronto, so travel is easy.”
The tournament will feature an international field that includes every champion since 2008, including two-time winner Sue Wooster of Australia. Other two-time champs playing next week are Jackie Little and Shelly Stouffer of British Columbia, Thornhill’s Judith Kyrinis and Etobicoke’s Terrill Samuel and 2014 champ Helene Chartrand of Quebec.
American Laura Tennant, a British senior amateur and three-time U.S. senior champ, will try to complete the triple crown in Canada while Ellen Port, a four-time U.S. mid-amateur and three-time senior women’s champion, will look to add some international flavour to her resumé.
“It’s a very strong field,” Hayward said. “I’ll have a lot less homework to do, but it’s still going to take some great golf to win.”
In Hayward’s first year of senior eligibility, she won the 2010 Ontario Senior Women’s Championship at North Halton. She went on to win her first of four Canadian senior titles later that year.
She won again in 2011 and 2013 and after a run of near misses – six top three finishes over the next 10 years, including two playoff losses – Hayward captured her fourth title last year.
“Canada has some of the best players in the world,” the Ontario, Quebec and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer said. “In golf, the win percentage is very low. All you can do is try to throw yourself in the mix on the back nine on the last day.”
That’s exactly what Hayward did at the Ontario Senior Women’s Championship earlier this month. Hayward wiped out Kyrinis’ three-shot final-round lead before the 2017 U.S. Senior Amateur champion made a birdie on the 15th hole to edge Hayward and Samuel for the title.
Hayward said North Halton offers a course where “every hole is different” and tests players’ skills.
“With the doglegs, I don’t know that length will be a huge advantage, but it’s going to take strong iron play and putting will be key,” Hayward said.
Players will have a practice round Monday, followed by the opening ceremonies that will include Canadian golf legends Marlene Streit, Sandra Post and Cathy Sherk.
“(Tournament chair) Gloria (Sinclair) and her team and the club have been throwing everything into making this a great event,” Hayward said.
“I am very excited to be working with the staff and committee at The Club at North Halton during what is shaping up to be an incredible Canadian Women’s Senior Championship,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Sam Brown. “I’m excited to see some of the best senior women players in the world battle it out at such a fantastic golf course.”
Tournament play gets underway Tuesday. Following Wednesday’s round, the field will be cut from 156 golfers to 70 to battle for the title in Thursday’s final round.
Admission is free all week and spectators are welcome to follow their favourite groups. Spectator parking will be off site. Follow the public parking signs leading to the course.