Brad Phelps of Saskatoon will finish as the top Saskatchewan golfer at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championships that concluded on Sunday.

The Holiday Park Golf Course member was extremely consistent for four days at the Saugeen Golf Club shooting 74, 75, 74, and 76, good enough for a tie for 24th at 11-over par, 299.

Ken Rodgers of Regina moved up 16 spots on the leaderboard during the final day thanks to a 74 in round four. Rodgers opened with a 79, bounced back with a 74 to make the cut, shot 78 during round three, he was 17-over par at the end of 72 holes.

Weyburn product Rick Hallberg tied for 58th at 20-over par, 308 and Bent Wotypka of Swift Current also played all four rounds, he was 67th at 23-over par.

The team was eighth overall in the inter-provincial competition.

To see the compete results of the championships click here.

The Canadian Senior Men’s Championships is now set for the final day at Saugeen Golf Club with four Saskatchewan competitors still in the championship.

Brad Phelps of Saskatoon was the top local through 36 holes shooting 74 and 75, Rick Hallberg of Weyburn bounced back after an opening round of 78, shooting 74 in round two Friday, Ken Rodgers of Regina also improved nicely from round one to two, the Regina resident shot 79 in the opening round and 74 during round two, and Brent Wotypka of Swift Current carded back-to-back 77’s, all good enough to make the cut.

Martin Ring of Prince Albert was 11-over par (79, 76), Rob Schneider from Regina shot 83 and 78, Saskatoon golfer Warren Proctor carded rounds of 80 and 84, and Colin Coben posted back-to-back 82’s to conclude the local contigent.

The team made up of Coben, Wotypka, and Rodgers placed eighth in the inter-provincial championship.

Round 3 Update

Phelps continued his solid golf in round three carding another 74, the Holiday Park Golf Course member is tied for 22nd going into Sunday’s championship round.

Hallberg shot 76 Saturday, the Golf Kenosee player is tied for 44th, Rodgers carded a 78, he’s tied for 63rd, and Wotypka posted an an 82 in round three, the Elmwood member is tied for 73rd.

All the results can be seen here.

Will Danielson has started his senior year at Milsaps College with a third place finish in the Majors first event of the fall season, the Greystone Fall Invitational.

Competing in Dickson, Tenn. at the Greystone Golf Club on Sept. 8 and 9, the Saskatoon product carded rounds of 70 and 71, good enough for a tie for third place in the field. The team was 12^th.

Next up for the Majors is the Rhodes Fall Invitational in Tunica Resorts, Miss. on Sept. 23 and 24.

Speaking of strong starts, Alex Swinnerton was a shot off the pace for Indianna University of Pennsylvania (IUP) at the Crimson Hawks first event of the season. The Saskatoon resident shot 72, 68, and 67 at Edgewood Country Club on Sept. 9 and 10 during the University of Charleston Invitational. Swinnerton’s 207 was just a shot behind event champion Erik Ulvang.

Fellow Waskesiu junior graduate Guillermo Salazar of Calgary was also inside the top 10 at 215 (71, 71, 73).

As a team IUP was second behind the host school. The Crimson Hawks next event is the Hillsdale Invitational in Plymouth, Mich. on Sept. 16 and 17.

The Minot State University (MSU) Beavers teams were in Bemidji, Minn. for the BSU Invite on Sept. 9 and 10.

Winston Grayson of Kipling had a fantastic debut shooting 71 and 75 at the Bemidji Town and Country Club, that left him in ninth in his collegiate debut.

Jace Carlisle of Estevan is finishing his college career at MSU this year, he fired back-to-back rounds of 75 to place tied for 17^th.

Darien Herlick of Weyburn was also making his first college start for MSU, the Golf Kenosee member shot 78 and 75, he was tied for 32^nd.

Chase Gedak, also of Estevan shot 76 and 79 for the Beavers, he was tied for 41^st.

As a team the Beavers were fifth out of nine schools competing. The team heads to Hudson, Wis. on Sept. 16 for the CSP-MSU Fall Brawl at the Troy Burne Golf Club.

Carter Degelman of Saskatoon made a mark in his first collegiate event on Sept. 9 and 10 for the Dominican University of California Penguins program. Making his debut at Quail Lodge and Golf Club in Carmel Valley, Cal. the Riverside Country Club member shot 77 and 72, god enough for a tie for eighth overall.

Fellow Saskatonian and Riverside player Carter Bell was 21^st overall. He opened with an 81 in round one but bounced back beautifully with a 76 in the second round.

The Penguins won the team event with both players’ assistance. Their second event of the fall season is the Bishop Invitational in DuPont, Wash. on Sept. 26 and 27.

This week also marked the opening of the fall season for Tommy Danielson and Chase Pochylo of Saskatoon and the Nicholls Colonels. They were in Choudrant, LA. for the Argent Financial Classic on Sept. 9 and 10. Pochylko shot 229 and placed 80^th, Danielson was 10 shots higher at 239, he was 94^th. The team was 18^th.

The Colonels are in Jackson, Tenn. on Sept. 16 and 17 for the Grover Page Classic in their next action.

The women’s MSU team and Holly Knudsen of Chaplin were also in Bemidji this week for the Tracy Lane Memorial at the same venue. Knudsen shot 83 and 87, good enough for a tie for eighth place to start her senior year.

As a team the Beavers were third. Knudsen will be in Hudson, Wisc. On Sept. 16 and 17 as well.

Regina’s Hallie Crozier’s second collegiate season is underway at Ferris State. The Bulldogs were in Peru, Ind. for the Midwest Ladies Collegiate at Rock Hollow Golf Course. The Royal Regina Golf Club member posted rounds of 83, 82, and 87, she was tied for 66^th.

The Bulldogs were seventh out of 16 schools in the field. Next up for Ferris State is the Beall Fall Classic in Findlay, Oh. on Sept. 30 to Oct. 1.

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak is two events into her college career at Western Carolina University competing for the Catamounts.

On Aug. 26 Western Carolina was in Clemson, S.C. for the one day, 36-hole Tiger Classic at The Walker Golf Course. The 2024 Saskatchewan Junior Women’s champion shot 77 and 82, she was 78^th overall. The Catamounts were 14^th overall.

On Sept. 9 and 10 Kozak was in Avondale, LA. for the Green Wave Invitational at TPC Louisiana. The Yorkton product improved immensely in her second start, shooting 76, 77, and 72 finishing in a tie for 18^th overall.

The Catamounts also jumped up the leaderboard placing sixth. Their next action is the Tot Hill Farm Invitational on Sept. 23 and 24 in Asheboro, N.C.

Saskatoon’s Justin Miller is the last Saskatchewan competitor to make his college debut this week. Playing for Southwestern Community College, the Spartans were in Fort Dodge, Iowa for the Iowa Central Fall Kickoff at the Fort Dodge Country Club on Sept. 9. He shot 86 and placed 65^th. The Spartans were third as a squad.

Next up is the North Iowa Area Fall Invitational at Highland Park Golf Course in Mason City, IA on Sept. 17.

Several other players will start their fall seasons on Sept. 16.

Final national championship of the season features a field of 156 golfers competing for the senior title along with a super senior division and an
inter-provincial team competition

Saugeen Shores, Ont. – The 2024 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO is set for September 12-15 with a field of 156 amateur golfers competing over four rounds at Saugeen Golf Club in Saugeen Shores, Ont.

Saskatchewan has eight players in the field this year. Making up Team Saskatchewan is champion Colin Coben (Delisle), Brent Wotypka (Swift Current), and Ken Rodgers of Regina.

Also competing is Saskatoon’s Brad Phelps and Warren Proctor, Rick Hallberg of Weyburn, Prince Albert’s Martin Ring, and Rob Schneider of Regina.

The field competing for the John Rankin Memorial Trophy features five past winners including defending champion Doug Hanzel of Savannah, Ga., Darren Ritchie of St. John, N.B. (2021), Brady Exber of Las Vegas, Nev. (2018), Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga. (2015) and David Schultz of Calgary, Alta. (2013).

Along with the past champions, among those in the field are Dave Bunker of Ridgeway, Ont. who won the 2024 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship in July. Miles McConnell, a Canadian who now resides in Tampa, Fla. who has enjoyed a successful season having won the 2024 Gate Senior Invitational back in January and followed it up with three runner-up finishes and a third-place finish in tournaments throughout the season. Accomplished Australian golfer, Ken Brewer of Newcastle, Australia will also be heading to Saugeen Shores.

“We are very excited to welcome an incredible and talented field of golfers set to compete for our Canadian Men’s Senior Championship this week at Saugeen Golf Club,” said Daniel Suppa, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “The staff, volunteers, host committee along with the entire community have really gone to great lengths to ensure that those competing for our national championship are given an experience they won’t soon forget at Saugeen.”

Founded in 1925 by a group of local visionaries, Saugeen Golf Club stands as a testament to their vision and community spirit. Recognizing the growing popularity of golf, they established a premier golfing destination in Port Elgin and Southampton. Hiring renowned golf architect Stanley Thompson, they crafted the initial nine holes now known as Legacy with meticulous attention to detail, setting the stage for a Legacy of excellence.

Expanding their vision over the decades, first with the addition of the Sunset nine in 1956 and the Sunrise nine in 1996 solidified their reputation for exceptional golf and camaraderie for players of all levels. Next year, Saugeen Golf Club will celebrate its centennial anniversary as it celebrates the enduring legacy of their founders and guide their team into the next century with pride and a reverence for the past.

“Saugeen Golf Club is extremely proud to be hosting this prestigious national championship. The process began four long years ago, and we cannot be more exhilarated to display what our golf club and community has to offer,” said Brad Young, General Manager and COO, Saugeen Golf Club. “With playing conditions that rival any in our country, to the 200 plus volunteers that are donating their time, we’re confident that this weeklong event will set the precedence of national championships for years to come”

The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship was established in 1962 for golfers aged 55-and-over and includes a Super Senior division for golfers 65-and-over that was introduced in 1995. The national championship consists of 72 holes of stroke-play with a cut after 36 holes. The Super Senior Championship is contested concurrently over the four rounds of the championship. In addition, the Senior Inter-Provincial Team Championship was added in 1977 and runs concurrently through the first 36 holes of the tournament.

A trio of Canadian Golf Hall of Famers lead the way having won the most Canadian Men’s Senior Championships in tournament history including, Bob Wylie of Calgary, Alta. with seven (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995). Nick Weslock of Oakville, Ont. with six (1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983) and Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que. with four (2001, 2002, 2008 and 2009).

Prior to the start of the national championship, there will be a one-day qualifier on Tuesday, September 10 at Saugeen Golf Club where a field of 56 golfers will be playing for six spots in the tournament. Practice rounds are scheduled for Wednesday, September 11, and the tournament gets underway on Thursday, September 12.

The champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, N.C.

For the full player field competing in the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

Scores are kept, a great couple hours are had, and memories are being made for Saskatoon resident Graham Mazurak on the golf course.

He used to play three times a week prior to having a stroke that has limited his mobility, now through Silverwood Golf Course, Sherbrooke Community Centre, and Golf Saskatchewan’s SoloRider golf cart Mazurak is playing again because “there is nothing better than being on the course with your buddies.”

Sherbrooke Centre volunteer, and current University of Saskatchewan student Logan Knutson introduced Mazurak to the SoloRider, a discussion that improved both of their lives. The duo got out a few times this summer, and Knutson aided another player of the season as well.

To learn more about how to get involved with First Tee – Canada or Youth on Course, visit firstteecanada.ca or golfcanada.ca/youthoncourse.

Golf is now the most-played sport in Canada and will be played by approximately six million Canadians from a variety of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds this year. To sustain the growth of the sport and ensure that golf represents the strengths of Canada’s diversity, junior programs must be accessible and affordable. 

Golf courses operated by cities are open to the public and provide affordable golf opportunities for people of various ages and economic means. Municipally run spaces also serve as community hubs, fostering social interaction and integration among people of all backgrounds. This sense of community encourages participation in golf and attracts individuals and families who may not have considered the sport otherwise.

These facilities are especially welcoming for children, as they provide quality recreation at an affordable cost. Many municipal golf courses, particularly those in major markets, offer a low-cost annual pass for children 18 and under. For example, an annual junior pass to play at all five of the City of Toronto courses costs $378, with financial aid available for qualifying families.

Membership at a municipal golf course provides children with an entire spring, summer and fall’s worth of outdoor activity and in-person social time for a cost that is more affordable than most other sports.

The initial step in Golf Canada’s partnerships with municipalities is to engage children through First Tee – Canada, a youth development program that provides life-enhancing experiences through golf at community centres, schools and golf courses.

Golf Canada has formally partnered with 34 municipalities from coast-to-coast, including major metropolitans like the cities of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. In addition, over 83 per cent of First Tee – Canada’s community centre locations serve low-socioeconomic neighbourhoods.

The intention is to first introduce children to golf through First Tee – Canada at city-operated community centres, then transition them to on-course programming at their nearby municipal golf course through events and registered programming.

Golf Canada distributes private registration links to local community centres, who primarily serve children from equity deserving communities. With the support of RBC, all First Tee programming provided at the municipal level is offered at no cost to the participants or program locations.

After children have experienced registered programming and are ready to progress their skills on the course, they can play rounds of golf at their municipal course for $5 or less through Youth on Course. All First Tee – Canada participants receive a complimentary Youth on Course membership that allows them to access affordable green fees at participating courses across Canada.

There are currently 21 municipal courses that have partnered with Golf Canada and Youth on Course. With the continued support of RBC and provincial golf associations, Golf Canada helps subsidize rounds of golf to youth aged 18 and under. Since 2018, nearly 17,000 rounds of affordable golf have been played by juniors at these participating courses.

Together, Golf Canada and municipalities are working together to create an accessible, affordable entry-point into the sport for all young people across Canada.

Three Saskatchewan players have returned from the first ever Canadian Under-15 Championships held last week in Elmira, Ont.

Grace Odnokon, Lucas Sturgeon, and Austin Nesbitt all competed over two days (Aug. 28/29) at the Elmira Golf Club in the first event held at a national level for players under 15 years of age.

Odnokon posted rounds of 79 and 82, the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member finished in 32nd place.

In the junior men’s field, Sturgeon, another SGCC junior star, and the Saskatchewan under-15 champion posted rounds of 72 and 75, he tied for 20th spot.

Nesbitt, from Pilot Butte and a member at Wascana Country Club shot 79 and 72, he was tied for 28th, Nesbitt can compete in the event again next year.

The full results are here, Golf Saskatchewan will hpefully hear from all three players following their fantastic seasons.

The Canadian Senior Women’s Championships concluded Thursday at The Club at North Halton with six Saskatchewan players in the field.

Pauline McDougall of Prince Albert was the top Saskatchewan player in the event finishing tied for 50th at 41-over par, 257. The Cooke Municipal Golf Course member shot 87 in round one in Georgetown, Ont. on Tuesday, she followed that up with an 85, made the cut and posted another 85 Thursday concluding her second straight national senior event, and first as leading the Saskatchewan team.

Denise Wilson of Swift Current and Sue Skinner from Rosetown made up the rest of the provincial roster for the inter-provincial competition, Saskatchewan was seventh as a team.

Neither Wilson or Skinner made the cut, Wilson shot 92 and 86, Skinner went 96 and 89 over 36 holes.

Kathy Hopfner of Swift Current was in the field, the Elmwood Golf Club member shot 95 and 90, she didn’t make the cut.

Also in the event was Lloydminster golfers Jo-Anne Schiller and Robin Acton, both players made the cut and played all 54 holes. Schiller tied for 68th at 54-over par, 270 (89, 87, 94), Acton carded rounds of 84, 90, and 98 to conclude the championship in 70th place at 56-over par.

The complete results can be seen here.

Golf Saskatchewan is pleased to announce the 2024 SAGE Scholarship Recipients. The Saskatchewan Academic and Golf Excellence (SAGE) Scholarship program annually presents scholarships to assist deserving member golfers in their pursuit of high school and post-secondary academic excellence. 
The successful Golf Saskatchewan recipients were selected based:

1. academic average | grade point average (GPA), and
2. a small percentage based on the individual’s sports excellence.

The 2024 SAGE & High School Bursary recipients include:

• Graham DeLaet Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Chase Pochylko | Riverside Country Club, Saskatoon
• Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship #1 (Valued at $1,000)
  • Myles Johnson, Riverside Country Club, Martensville
• Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship #2 (Valued at $1,000)
  • Autumn Nieszner, Wascana Country Club, Regina
• Fletcher-Reid Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Luke Cote, Royal Regina Golf Club, Regina               
• Ron Young Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Carter Bell, Riverside Country Club, Saskatoon
• Scholarship (values at $1,000)
  • Cole Taylor, Evergreen Golf Course, Nipawin
• Kozy Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Chase Gedak, Golf Kenosee, Estevan
• Leddy-Heywood Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Will Blake, Royal Regina Golf Club, Regina
• Dr. Garry Hayes Memorial Scholarship (valued at an amount TBD by SCF)
  • Jace Carlisle, TS&M Woodlawn, Estevan                           
  • Alex Swinnerton, Riverside Country Club, Saskatoon
• Meredith MacPherson-Stalwick Memorial Scholarship (valued at an amount TBD by SCF)
  • Hallie Crozier, Royal Regina Golf Club, Regina         

*SCF – Saskatoon Community Foundation

Golf Saskatchewan High School Bursary (valued at $400)

• Ryan Mosher, Riverside Country Club, Saskatoon
  • Tayla Perry, Wascana Country Club, Regina

For more information on our scholarship program or any of our other programs please visit the Golf Saskatchewan website at www.golfsaskatchewan.org or contact our office.

The Junior Order of Merit Tours (OMT) have concluded after the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) held their OOM Championship at The Legends Golf Club on Aug. 24 and 25.

Almost 125 players took part in the 36 hole championship played in Warman. In the under-15 women’s category Yuna Lee of Regina capped a remarkable season with her second win of the season. The Royal Regina Golf Club (RRGC) member shot 83 and 90, winning by four strokes over Saskatoon golfer Zhu Youran who carded rounds of 84 and 93.

Sienna Taylor, also of Saskatoon was third at 188 (87, 101).

In the under-19 women’s division, Chloe Wills of Kyle captured her third OMT event win of the year just getting past Tayla Perry of Regina and Saskatoon’s Sarah Henderson.

Wills, who plays at Saskatchewan Landing Golf Resort carded rounds of 78 and 75, two strokes ahead of Perry (77, 78) and Henderson’s 76 and 80.

On the junior men’s side in the under-13 division, Jun Lee of Regina claimed his fourth championship of the year. The RRGC shooter went 70, 77 at The Legends to win his age group by seven shots.

Cooper Roberge of Lloydminster was second at 154 with back-to-back rounds of 77, Craik product Dalton Stephens was third at 156 (75, 81).

In the under-15 men’s category, Lucas Sturgeon’s dominate season continued with his fifth win on the OMT in Warman.

The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club standout shot 72 and 79, one shot lower than Austin Nesbitt of Pilot Butte. Nesbitt carded rounds of 73 and 79.

Both players are currently in Elmira, Ont. for the Canadian Under-15 Championships, Golf Saskatchewan will have more from both players once they return to Saskatchewan.

Coming in third in the under-15 division was two southwest Saskatchewan players, Jace Wills of Kyle and Matty Schmiess of Swift Current tied at 153.

The under-17 category was won by Ethan Hunter of Casa Rio. The 15-year-old posted back-to-back rounds of 72, winning by seven shots in his age group, and second overall.

Jack Maharaj (Saskatoon) was second at 151 (75.76) and Aiden Walker of Regina was third at 154 (74, 80).

In the under-19 men’s division, Dane Giesbrecht tore up his home course to the tune of 138 (67, 71) to claim the overall win by 10 shots, the widest margin of victory at the event.

Ben Staines (Saskatoon) was second with rounds of 71 and 77, just a shot back in third was Martensville golfer Brayden Skene after carding rounds of 71 and 78.

The complete results can be found here. The MJT National Championship will take place in Kissimmee, Flo. from Nov. 7 to 10.

*All images courtesy Jeff Chambers