Riley Wheeldon has been named the 2020 GJAC Men's Player Bursary recipient, sponsored by Golf Town, and Selena Costabile has been named the 2020 GJAC Women's Player Bursary recipient, sponsored by Mackenzie Investments.
Wheeldon, 29, and Costabile, 22, were each given the $3,000 award after a vote of the membership of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.
“I'm extremely humbled and honoured to be recognized in this regard by GJAC, a group that I know understands and follows Canadian golf as closely as anyone," said Wheeldon, who led the 2019-20 Outlaw Tour money list thanks to a win and three runner-up finishes. "Support like this is beyond appreciated as I pursue my ultimate goal of the PGA TOUR.”
"I am so honoured to have been nominated by some of the most respected individuals in the industry, and to be the recipient of the 2020 GJAC bursary," said Costabile, who has status on the Symetra Tour but opted to play on the Toronto's Player Tour this past summer. "This bursary will significantly help the financial stress of playing full time on the Symetra Tour. I am so grateful to everyone involved in the voting process, and to Mackenzie Investments for sponsoring the award."
Wheeldon, a native of Comox, B.C., was nearly unstoppable on the Outlaw Tour in Arizona, collecting two wins and three runner-up finishes en route to the 2020 Money List title. Wheeldon also holds status on the Mackenzie Tour after a 40th place finish on the money list in 2019, a Tour he has found success on in the past, winning the Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON in 2013.
“Congratulations to Selena Costabile on being named the 2020 GJAC Player Bursary recipient,” said Court Elliott, VP Corporate & Community Engagement, Mackenzie Investments. “In a year that has been so challenging for so many, it’s nice to partner with the Golf Journalists Association of Canada and recognize this exceptional athlete and pay tribute to her hard work and dedication."
“This year has been a very difficult one for many Canadians and athletes. During the pandemic, the golf industry rallied together and drove unprecedented growth for the game,” said Chad McKinnon, President of Golf Town. “We're proud to support Riley as the recipient of the 2020 GJAC Male Bursary, and look forward to watching his continued success in his journey and chasing his dreams. Golf's future in Canada is bright, and we all look forward to the upcoming season.”
Costabile, a Thornhill, Ont. native, elected to stay close to home this summer and compete on the Toronto Players Tour, collecting a victory on July 28 with a 9-under 63, to win by four strokes against a nearly-all male field. After amassing a stacked amateur resume, winning the 2013 CJGA National Junior Golf Championship and qualifying for the 2015 U.S. Women's Amateur, Constabile turned professional in 2018 and claimed a victory that year in a National Women's Golf Association event held at Dubsdread Golf Course.
The following link has free-use social media graphics for members to congratulate the bursary recipients, as well as Thank-You videos from both winners: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AiLgu-hjwkhg3h9P2uvq2eP8FbvU61Cs?usp=sharing
About GJAC
The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) was originally formed in 1995 with a mandate to attain proper media facilities and improved working conditions at professional and amateur golf events across Canada; to encourage and promote golf journalism in Canada; to recognize outstanding contributions to golf and golf journalism in Canada and to add a sound, objective voice to the direction of golf in this country.
For more information:
Contact Rick Young: ryoung@golden.net
