Natasha Stasiuk and Chris Willis claim 2024 Canadian All Abilities Championships
Mike Masaro / Golf Canada; Image above: Christian Bender / Golf Canada
Brighton, ON – Natasha Stasiuk and Chris Willis were atop their respective leaderboards from start to finish and have successfully defended their titles to win the 2024 Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO. Stasiuk’s win marks her fourth consecutive national championship while Willis earns his second in as many years on Thursday at Timber Ridge Golf Course in Brighton, Ont.
Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. shot a final round of 15-over 86 to finish at 41-over for three days to win by 22 shots over Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alta. The win gives Stasiuk her four consecutive Canadian All Abilities National Championship.
“It feels pretty special to win it for the fourth time. I’ve had some struggles this year but at the same time it feels really good for my confidence level. I’ve been invited to different things this year, I’ve gone to Portugal, I’ve gone to England recently, it’s all helped my game. Even though I did struggle a lot this week, I had a really good first round and my last two rounds were an adventure but that’s part of golf” said Stasiuk following her round.
In the Women’s Net Stableford division there is a new champion as Bittorf held off a late charge from three-time defending champion, Tess Trojan of St. Catharines, Ont. to win the title for the first time. Bittorf collected 31-33-34 points during the tournament rounds to finish with 98 total Stableford points to win by five over Trojan (93 points). Stasiuk finished third with 87 total points.
On the men’s side, Willis of Aurora, Ont. fired a second consecutive 4-under 67 on Thursday to finish the tournament with rounds of 74-67-67-208, good for 5-under and a nine-shot victory. Willis was reflective on his entire year after earning back-to-back national titles.
“I’ve had a very special year this year where I’ve got to play at a Champions Tour event called the World Champions Cup and I got to hang out with all my heroes and play the same tees and on the same course that they’re playing that filled me with a lot of confidence and then I went to Portugal with Natasha (Stasiuk) and Russell Aide and the teaching and instruction there boosted my game beyond what I thought it could be and then my experiences at the British, finishing third, playing with the world number one and two filled me with confidence and then the U.S. Open. So really, playing well here is a culmination of this year’s opportunities that I’ve received through playing adaptive golf and I feel like I’ve reached a level that I was very much hoping to achieve so it’s awesome,” said Willis.
Reggie Millage of Milton, Ont. finished in second at 4-over for the tournament while Josh Hunke of New Hamburg, Ont. finished third at 13-over.
Willis also won the Men’s Net Stableford Championship for the first time, with 110 total points from three days. Willis collected 32 points on Tuesday followed by 39 points on both Wednesday and Thursday to win by five over Hunke (105 points). Scott Stafford of St. Thomas, Ont. and Geoff Beecroft of Newcastle, Ont. finished tied for third with 100 points each.
The stableford scoring format of the Canadian All Abilities Championship awarded set points based off a golfer’s net score for the hole. The points were awarded as follows: Albatross (5 points), Eagle (4 points), Birdie (3 points), Par (2 points), Bogey (1 point), Double Bogey or higher (0 points).
The fourth playing of the national championship featured 57 golfers competing over 54-holes. The field was represented with players from Canada, the United States, Australia, Ireland and Sweden with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments competing in the largest field in tournament history. Both Stasiuk and Willis were happy to see more competitors this year as the tournament continues to grow.
“Over the last four years it’s nice to see more women coming to it and more competition. It’s always nice to have Tess (Trojan) with me too, it’s someone close to me but it’s also nice to have new people and I would like to see more girls in it,” said Stasiuk.
Willis added, “there’s more competitors and they’re all trying to find ways to improve. There is noticeable improvements among many of the golfers without any external instruction, they’re just getting better year after year having the opportunity to come and compete in a serious event like this.”
First conducted in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto, Ont., the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.
For the final leaderboard from the 2024 Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.