Four golfers named to Team Canada for Santiago 2023
TORONTO (September 26, 2023) – Golf Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s golf team nominated to compete at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games.
The Team Canada golf team for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games is:
Athletes
Selena Costabile (Thornhill, Ont.)
Myles Creighton (Digby, N.S.)
Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que.)
Alena Sharp (Hamilton, Ont.)
The four athletes qualified for Team Canada based on their standing through their respective World Golf Ranking, with considerations for 2023 performance as well competition schedules on the global golf calendar. Santiago 2023 will mark the Pan American Games debut for all four athletes.
Sharp, a two-time Olympian (Rio 2016 & Tokyo 2020) and long-time LPGA Tour member, recently made her 18th appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open where she finished tied for 36th. Sharp won the 2023 ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada and is ranked 12th on the 2023 Epson Tour points list in a season that features a victory and four other top-10 finishes.
“I am honoured to represent Canada at the Pan Am Games and take great pride in representing my country,” said Sharp. “In recent years I’ve tried to help and mentor younger Canadians coming up through the professional ranks and I’m looking forward to competing in Santiago alongside Selena. We’ve spent time together this year, I know we will have a great time, and we hope to bring a medal home for Canada.”
Costabile, a member of Golf Canada’s national team, currently sits 65th on the 2023 Epson Tour points list where she has three top-10 finishes. The 25-year-old turned professional in 2018 and will be competing in a major multi-sport Games for the first time ever.
Creighton, 27, turned professional in 2018 and will go into Chile riding a stellar 2023 season on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica with nine cuts made in 12 events played, including a win, two third-place finishes, and five top-10s overall. A member of Golf Canada’s national team program, Creighton finished second on the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica ranking to earn conditional 2024 Korn Ferry Tour membership. He also made the cut in three of five events played on PGA TOUR Canada, including two top-10 finishes.
Papineau, 27, who turned professional in 2022, is coming off a great season on PGA TOUR Canada that included a victory, five top-10 finishes, and 16 of 21 event cuts made. The National Team member finished fourth on PGA TOUR Canada’s Fortinet Cup standings to earn conditional status on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour.
Golf joined the Pan American Games program at Toronto 2015. At Lima 2019, Team Canada won its first and only Pan Am Games medal in golf – a bronze – by Austin Connelly, Mary Parsons, Joey Savoie and Brigitte Thibeault in the mixed team event. At Santiago 2023, golf will have individual events only.
Golf Canada’s Manager of High Performance Sport, Emily Phoenix, believes the Canadian squad brings a strong balance of global competitive experience and a collective passion to represent Canada in the multi-sport Pan American Games.
“Our team is well constructed with athletes who bring strong experiences and are playing well on the global golf stage in what has been one of the most successful seasons in Canadian professional golf history,” said Phoenix. “Selena will lean on Alena’s veteran presence as a two-time Olympian, and both Étienne and Myles have played great on their respective tours this season, especially Myles with a great comfort competing in Latin America. In Santiago, I’m confident that they will be up to the moment in representing Canadian golf.”
Golf will take place November 2-5 (Day 13 to 16) at the Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago, Chile.
“Welcome, Team Canada golfers! In a sea of swings and putts, you’ve brought the perfect balance of precision and patience to the Pan Am Games,” said Christine Girard, Team Canada’s Santiago 2023 Chef de Mission. “Let’s tee off with enthusiasm and enjoy every moment on the green.”
Team Canada’s golf coaching and support staff for the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games are:
Jennifer Greggain (Vancouver, B.C.) – Associate Coach, Team Canada – Women
Matthew Scanzano (Oakville, Ont.) – Golf Canada High Performance Coordinator
*Each of the participating athletes will be supported by a local club caddie.
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organisations.
The latest Team Canada Santiago 2023 roster can be found here.
-30-
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Dan Pino, Senior Director, Communications
Golf Canada
C: 416-434-5525
E: dpino@golfcanada.ca
Tara MacBournie, Team Canada Santiago 2023 Sport Communications Lead
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-522-8328
E: tmacbournie@olympic.ca