With what started as a casual golf conversation over coffee with a co-worker, Blair Lothian took it upon himself to get an eye-witness account of every 18-hole, grass green golf course in Saskatchewan, two decades later the bucket list is complete.

In late May, the retired 60-year-old SaskTel employee used the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club’s “member for a day” promotion to play his 60^th course and wrap up his provincial tour. Growing up in Carlyle, Lothian has always been an avid golfer, as his life progressed he stopped short of saying the sport has become an addiction, he simply says he’s passionate. The first “qualifying” course he said he played was Golf Kenosee, which makes sense being a youngster from the region. Lothian explained that he can’t recall the first course he played regarding this task, if he had teed off at a course prior to his idea to play the courses he didn’t make a point to revisit the club. Of all the courses he’s visited, he said one private club in Saskatoon stood out.

“Riverside Country Club,” he said to Golf Saskatchewan via email. “The entire course is so meticulously maintained and includes spectacular views along the South Saskatchewan River.”

Although he pointed to the Bridge City club as his favourite he said the province boasts several amazing facilities.

“There are many fantastic courses in Saskatchewan, Golf Kenosee, White Bear, the Evergreen in Nipawin, and Dakota Dunes all come to mind. My home course of Deer Valley has one of the most beautiful natural layouts in the province as well and the rebuilt 12^th green is only days away from being in play,” Lothian said.

Many of the rounds he played alone, but in 1998 a group of his co-workers started an annual trip playing courses in Saskatchewan. The group of golf fanatics “christened” the event the “The Spackler,” named after Bill Murray’s famous character from Caddy Shack. The friends even got their own green jacket for the winner to proudly where. He said one trip took them to Blueberry Hill Golf Course near Livelong, SK. During the round a proud peacock strutted onto the course. One of the group quickly quipped, “I wonder what those taste like?”

“It’s a pet!” replied the course owner, much to the hilarity of the rest of their playing partners.

When asked about memorable shots or moments Lothian recounted a mid-week round at York Lake in Yorkton, which is now a 12-hole facility that wouldn’t make Lothian’s list today. He said he was close to that magical ace, but he was alone.

“I hit my tee ball solid and right at the flag, but then strangely as the ball was in mid-flight I had a brief anxiety attack as it occurred to me that as I was playing alone, what would I do if it went in?” he said. “The elevated heart rate was short lived as the ball rolled over the edge of the cup and about six feet right past.”

He did secure his first, and only hole-in-one on March 27, 2015 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Aside from playing the many beautiful courses the province has to offer, Lothian said the people he’s met and just the roads leading far and wide across the province added to the value of his completed mission. He said many trips stand out for more than the golf.

“Perhaps most memorably was the trip on the July long weekend in 2014,” he recalled. “At this point I had four courses remaining to play, Riverside and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, and two in the northwest, Meadow Lake Golf Club and Northern Meadows near Goodsoil. My wife (Val) and I drove up there for the singular purpose of playing these two golf courses. We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Pierceland that was spectacular in every way. One is very far north and west at this point in Saskatchewan, so we drove 50 mins to Cold Lake, Alberta for dinner one evening.”

Lothian’s passion for the game continues and he is now spreading his golf experiences across North America and across the ocean. He recently attended a practice round at Augusta National during the Masters, he’s going to take in an Open practice round at Royal Portrush and in July he’s “fulfilling a lifelong dream” of playing the Old Course at St. Andrews.

The Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate (SSSAD) held their 2019 golf championships Monday (June 3) at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club.

St. Joseph student Sarah Grieve won the girl’s gold medal by four strokes over Halle Hindmarsh of Aden Bowman. Grieve posted a 43 through the first nine holes, she finished the back at 46 to cap the 18 hole event at 89. Jadyn Hue, also of Aden Bowman placed third after shooting 103.

In the senior boys age group, which is grade 11 and 12 students, Bedford Road’s Parker Dale edged Holy Cross student Josh Nagy in a playoff. Both golfers were tied at 78 at the completion of the round. The pair went toe-to-toe posting identical scores of 37 through the front nine and 41 on the back. Carter Wingert placed third, just a stroke back. The Centennial Collegiate golfer lost the deciding shot on the front nine of his round.

The junior boys (grade 9 and 10) category also went to a playoff with Centennial athletes Jackson Wingert and Alex Swinnerton battling for the gold medal. Wingert came out on top over his classmate. The pair swapped strokes over the 18 holes, Swinnerton had a four shot lead after nine holes but Wingert battled back after the turn to force the playoff with both players tied at 76. Chase Pochylko of Aden Bowman picked up the bronze medal, he was just a shot back.

You can see the complete results here, including the overall team standings.

ANCASTER, Ont. – Now that Mackenzie Hughes is a two-time winner of the Rivermead Cup as low Canadian at the RBC Canadian Open, he’s looking for a bigger prize this week.

The Dundas, Ont., golfer, who will tee it up about 10 minutes away from where he grew up starting Thursday at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club, is one of 26 Canadians looking to end one of those most prominent droughts in sport in this country.

“Being the low Canadian has been nice the last couple of years, but I certainly come here hoping to get a different kind of trophy,” Hughes said at a news conference Tuesday. “I know it’s a big ask and we only get one crack at the Canadian Open every year, but I feel like I’ve been trending in the right direction. Especially at this tournament the last couple years, I’ve been playing well. It’s just a matter of putting it all together for four rounds.”

Pat Fletcher was the most recent Canadian to win the event in 1954 – and the pressure only intensifies for Canucks with each passing year.

But Brooke Henderson managed to end another lengthy golf drought last year, becoming the first Canadian since 1973 to win an LPGA Tour at home as she captured the CP Women’s Open in Regina.

With eight Canadians seeing fairly regular time on the PGA Tour this season and many more getting their shot on the top circuit this week, there are plenty of opportunities for the host country.

Hometown fan favourite @machughesgolf chats #golf ahead of this week’s #RBCCO ??⛳️ pic.twitter.com/4Drwvn3Lfz

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) June 4, 2019

Hughes figures to have some of the most vocal support. He tied for eighth last year at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., the best result for a Canadian since David Hearn was third in 2015. Hughes also was low Canadian in 2017 at Glen Abbey, tying for 32nd.

The 28-year-old is coming off a tie for eighth at the Charles Schwab Classic and just missed his second career PGA Tour win earlier this year in the Dominican Republic, settling for a tie for second.

“I think there’s an advantage for sure (playing close to home),” Hughes said. “I’ve got some comfort and familiarity walking around the property knowing certain holes and how they play in different winds. Granted, it’s been a long time, but I still have the rounds logged here to know this place pretty well.”

Hughes made his PGA Tour debut at the Hamilton course in 2012, shooting 1-over 71 in both rounds and missing the cut.

“I didn’t know what to expect back then,” he said. “It was my first PGA Tour event and it was a little more deer in the headlights than it is now. Now, I feel quite comfortable and ready to play golf rather than just get caught up in all the distractions.”

Hughes knows he’ll see many familiar faces at the course – he ran into his Grade 6 teacher this week. He’s embracing the attention.

“I’ve been through this now the last few years. definitely the last two,” Hughes said. “When I came here in 2017, I had won the (PGA Tour’s RSM Classic) the prior fall. I had a bit of experience dealing with extra requests. It’s all part of playing in you’re home country, especially when you’re playing close to home. I don’t think it really takes too much energy out of you. It’s just about managing your time and making sure you need to get what you need to get it done.”

After a pro-am event Wednesday, the first round of the 72-hole tournament is Thursday.

Marquee groupings for the first two rounds include a trio of Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., with Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald, a threesome featuring Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., with previousCanadian Open winners Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk and an all-Canadian trio of Mike Weir, Nick Taylor and David Hearn.

Four of the top six golfers in the world rankings are in the event this year – No. 1 Brooks Koepka, No. 2 Johnson, No. 4 Rory McIlroy and No. 6 Justin Thomas.

Golf Canada, in partnership with RBC, the City of Hamilton and the Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation, along with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton Catholic District School Board, announced today a number of youth initiatives that will make the 2019 RBC Canadian Open more junior-accessible than ever before, while creating a meaningful golf legacy in the Hamilton Wentworth region.

When you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you play good. If the old adage is correct, adidas Golf Canada should have you playing some solid golf.

Whether it’s shoes, pants, shorts, polos, outerwear, or hats, the global company has you covered right here at home in Saskatchewan. When you think adidas, the first thing that does come to mind is shoes. Saskatchewan-Manitoba-Lakehead Territory Sales Manager Paige Lawrence said they are led by the new Tour 360 XT Spikeless but the brand has much more to offer.

“We have Sports Performance which is what most people are used to,” Lawrence explained to Golf Saskatchewan. “That’s where you will see our standard polo that we’ve been selling for 20 years it has seen technology improvements through the years. It’s also where our Ultimate Shorts is as well, the number one shorts in golf. We actually just released a Sergio 20^th anniversary polo, it’s a great showcase of how styles and technology have changed over the years”

With golf becoming a more stylish, cool sport adidas is working to keep up with trends both on and off the course. Part of that venture is the Adicross silo launched last year.

“It’s more of an on course, off course business or casual line,” Lawrence said. ‘We still have polos, but we have Range Henley and t-shirts offered as well. That’s something you will see guys on the range with, it doesn’t have a Tour presence just because it is a little more casual. With golf becoming a more accessible sport we’re trending more casual as well so we’re seeing Adicross doing well in it’s infancy.”

Prairie golfers are well acclimatized to the ever-changing weather patterns during the summer, not just daily but often hourly. Morning and evening players will experience the fluctuations more regularly and Lawrence says they have that aspect covered as well.

“Within all our silos we have lots of different options,” she said. “We do a Climawarm which you will see within the adidas brand overall. It’s true to its name, it’s meant to be worn on those cold mornings, so nothing stops you from getting on the links”

adidas is staying ahead of the curve through their various brands but the company is staying true to their roots as well with the Adipure line. The brand was relaunched in 2017 Lawrence said.

“That is true to our heritage, true to golf,” she said. “It’s a little bit more traditional and you only see it at golf courses. Adipure pays attention to detail making it a great business line on and off the course”

Top ranked PGA Tour players Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia are on the adidas golf roster assisting in making the brand very popular among men, but their LPGA roster is helping boost the profile of women’s golf as well. Danielle Kang, Paula Creamer, and Jessica Korda are sport adidas on the women’s pro tour. Lawrence said the growing demand is something they are working hard to keep up with.

‘We’re trying to grow that business as well. Within adidas Golf after the divestiture we have seen a big change. Our adidas Golf Canada team is almost 50 percent women now so obviously new insights will allow for new ideas. We are looking to continue serving all areas of the marketplace and become Best in Class within the industry” Lawrence added.

adidas Golf Canada is available at proshops across Saskatchewan as well as GolfTown and SportChek stores and online.

Saskatchewan’s reigning Women’s Order of Merit Tour (OMT) champion has kicked off her 2019 with a victory.

Saskatoon’s Kim Brown cruised to a seven-stroke victory on Sunday in the Ladies Northern at the Cooke Municipal Golf Course. Brown fired two consistent rounds of 76 and 78 to outlast Pauline McDougall and Sherry Anderson. Brown said opening the campaign with a victory is a great way to start the season.

“The Northern is always my first tournament of the year so you never know how it’s going to go when you haven’t been playing a lot, but everybody is in the same boat, shaking off the rust,” Brown told Golf Saskatchewan. “It felt good, it was good to have good weather on a great golf course, it was really nice.”

Brown admitted she got off to a rough start on day one but fired one under par on the back nine during round one to set herself up for a chance to win her first Ladies Northern. A solid start to round two opened a wide lead before she stumbled with a triple-bogey on hole 14 set her back. She said she rebounded nicely and finished strong on route to the win.

“I faltered a little bit coming in,” she laughed. “I had enough of a lead, and I hung in for the next few holes and I ended up birdying 18, so I finished strong. That happens, you have your ups and downs and I guess at the end of the day it was enough to get it done.”

McDougall, a ten-time Cooke women’s champion shot 77 on day one and 84 during round two. Anderson (right) ended up as the senior champion carding rounds of 79 and 83. Abra Thompson and Ann Kirkland tied for fourth at plus-18.

Women’s Golf Day

Every June 4, Women’s Golf Day is celebrated by players, courses, and facilities around the world. Saskatchewan and Canada are true to form working tirelessly to promote the game across all genders.

Brown has been involved with golf almost her entire life going back to being on the course with a best friend. As she grew and continued to play and become an excellent athlete, so did her list of friends and colleagues. Brown said that’s what makes the game special to her.

“You have so many good friends that come back year after year. The course and tournaments are a place you get to see your friends,” she said. “Obviously you enjoy spending time with them, the bonus is we’re doing something we love to do. We get to be outside, play golf, and do our best.”

A prime example of the comradery and supportive mentality of the women’s game was on full display in Prince Albert this past weekend. Both McDougall and Anderson shaved their heads in support of Carole Rucks, who is a cancer warrior. Rucks was in the field of the Ladies Northern. A fundraising event involving the head shaving was held at the Rock and Iron Sports Bar at the PA Golf and Curling Centre. Brown was among the attendees and said the event spoke volumes for women’s golf and sports in general.

“I think that really summed it up,” she said. “I said at the course on Sunday when I addressed the players that were there, I said this is why we’re here. We’re here to support each other, remember each other, and have each other’s backs. What Sherry and Pauline did is a real testament for what we can do for events and supporting each other.”

The “Cuts for Carole” campaign resulted in approximately $13,000 in funds raised that will be directed to the Victoria Hospital Foundation and the chemotherapy room.

Junior girl’s golf is also something near and dear to Brown’s heart. She mentioned how a good friend of hers was a young golfer, so she got into the game to spend time with her. Eventually the skill set developed and Brown found ways to play along boys in events or other supportive avenues at her golf club. She said now the leaders of courses and coaches need to branch out, think outside the box and find creative ways to not only elevate competitive female junior golfers but positive recreational opportunities as well.

“There is going to be very competitive girls and it’s going to be about that, but there is going to other girls where it’s about having their friends and having a social circle around them. We have to find ways to offer those things that are going to keep that one girl,” Brown said.

Women’s Programming

Golf Saskatchewan has several programs in place for women’s programming. Ada Mackenzie Day is a 10-day long event that raises funds for junior golf development. You can fill out a form prior to playing a round at a member club, contribute two dollars and be entered to win prizes.

Upwards of a dozen courses offer Canada Day events over a stretch of days at the end of June and into early July. Again, two dollars can get players involved in across any handicap bracket.

Golf Fore the Cure events have also teed off in Saskatchewan with many more to come. Money raised during these one-day events goes back into battling cancer and raising awareness against the disease. Last year Elk Ridge’s event brought in well over $20,000. Their tournament will be held on July 11.

 Celebrating Saskatchewan’s Best

The province has had several women golfers accomplish amazing feats on the course, and off it.

The Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame has 11 women inductees led by the late, great Joanne Goulet. You can see all their accomplishments here.

Currently the Saskatchewan woman making the most noise on the course is Saskatoon’s Anna Young. The five-time women’s amateur champion is playing Mini Tour events and chasing her LPGA Tour card. She recently competed in the CP Women’s Open last year in Regina at the Wascana Country Club, making her LPGA debut. She has two professional tournament victories.

World No. 1 Brooks Koepka, World No. 2 Dustin Johnson, World No. 4 Rory McIlroy and World No. 6 Justin Thomas along with past Major champions Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson and Henrik Stenson headline exciting field for Canada’s National Open Championship

Canadian tournament exemptions include 2019 Web.com Tour winner Michael Gligic; European Tour player Austin Connelly; PGA TOUR China winner Richard Jung;  PGA TOUR Latinoamerica winner Drew Nesbitt; and Team Canada members Joey Savoie, Josh Whalen, and Chris Crisologo

Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Ben Silverman, Roger Sloan, Adam Svensson, and Mike Weir headline list of 20 Canadians set to compete at Hamilton Golf and Country Club from June 3-9.

HAMILTON (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the US$7.6 million purse at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

World no. 2 and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson will try to defend his title against a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars led by World No. 1 and 2019 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka. World No. 4 Rory McIlroy along with World No. 6 Justin Thomas will make their RBC Canadian Open debut and will be joined at Hamilton by former Masters champions Sergio Garcia, Danny Willet and Bubba Watson.

Other notable additions to the field for the 110th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include FedExCup leader Matt Kuchar, Major champions Zach Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Jason Dufner, Padraig Harrington, Keegan Bradley and Jimmy Walker, along with former world No. 1 Luke Donald.

Johnson, a 20-time winner on the PGA TOUR, and Kuchar, a nine-time PGA TOUR winner will lead a roster of Team RBC players at Hamilton Golf and Country. Team RBC has seen unprecedented success in 2019 as Ryan Palmer, Graeme McDowell, Canadian Corey Conners, Johnson, and Kuchar have all won on the PGA TOUR.

Other Team RBC players competing including world no. 19 Webb Simpson, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker; Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner and two-time RBC Canadian Open champion, including at Hamilton in 2006; along with fellow Canadian Team RBC players Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Ben Silverman, and Roger Sloan round out the contingent.

“The field is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory and we’re ready to welcome the best players in the world teeing it up at the 110th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship,” said Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “This year’s championship features a great mix of stars from all around the world, more than 30 combined Major titles and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever to challenge for our National Men’s Open title. Along with great golf, we’ll be offering fans so many great on-site experiences from our key partners, a new food initiative to try some of Hamilton’s best restaurants, and thanks to the RBCxMusic Concert series, fans can take in music from Florida Georgia Line and The Glorious Sons on Friday and Saturday.”

In total, 156 players will compete for the US$7.6 million purse next week in Hamilton when the RBC Canadian Open returns to the storied club for the first time since 2012 and sixth time ever.

Click here for a full field list for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open

PGA TOUR Season Winners…
A total of 11 in-year PGA TOUR winners (accounting for 13 PGA TOUR titles in 2018-19) will compete at Hamilton Golf and Country Club led by two-time winners Brooks Koepka (THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, PGA Championship) and Matt Kuchar (Mayakoba Golf Classic and Sony Open). Other 2018-19 season winners include Kevin Tway (Safeway Open), Adam Long (Desert Classic), Martin Trainer (Puerto Rico Open), Dustin Johnson (WGC-Mexico Championship), Rory McIlroy (THE PLAYERS Championship), Graeme McDowell (Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship), Corey Conners (Valero Texas Open), Ryan Palmer (partnered with Jon Rahm at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans), and Sung Kang (AT&T Byron Nelson).

Past Champions…
Two past winners at Hamilton Golf and Country Club will be returning to familiar territory this year as 2006 winner Jim Furyk and 2012 winner Scott Piercy are in the field this year. Furyk also won the 2007 Canadian Open. Two other past RBC Canadian Open winners in the field at Hamilton are Brandt Snedeker (2013) and Dustin Johnson (2018).

The 2003 RBC Canadian Open was contested at Hamilton and won by Bob Tway. His son, Kevin Tway, will be in the field.

Twenty Canadians to compete for the National Men’s Open Title…
Leading the Canadian contingent at Hamilton will be Abbotsford, B.C. native and world No. 77 Adam Hadwin, who will return to Hamilton to play in his 10th RBC Canadian Open. Other confirmed Canadians include past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes of nearby Dundas, Ont., Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. round out Canada’s PGA TOUR contingent along with Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir, making his 28^th start at the Canadian Open.

Canadians receiving exemptions into this year’s RBC Canadian Open include Ryan Yip of Calgary along with Toronto natives Richard Jung and Drew Nesbitt.

Three members of Canada’s National Men’s Team—Joey Savoie of LaPrairie, Que., Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C. and Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont.—have also received exemptions.

Dual-citizen and European Tour player Austin Connelly of Claire, N.S., who was recently announced as one of Canada’s representative for the upcoming Pan-Am Games in Lima, Peru, will play his third RBC Canadian Open.

Burlington’s Michael Gligic, a winner on the Web.com Tour in 2019, has earned a spot in the field as the highest-ranked golfer on the Web.com Tour’s season-long points list who played on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada in 2018.

Marc-Etienne Bussieres of Quebec earned a place in this year’s RBC Canadian Open after finishing No. 1 on the PGA of Canada’s Order of Merit in 2018.

Local resident Michael Blair of Ancaster, Ont. won the Ontario Regional Qualifier to earn his spot in the field and amateur Matt Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. earned his spot by winning the Quebec Regional Qualifier.

Each of the 21 Canadian players in the field will look to become the first Canadian to capture the national title since Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat in 1954.

Two-time reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur Zach Bauchou of Forest, Virginia along with 2018 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Joseph Deraney of Lexington, Kentucky will also compete at Hamilton.

Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…
Following the Bayview Place DCBank Open presented by Times Colonist on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, the winner will earn an exemption to play in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.

The final four exemptions into the field for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Qualifier on June 3, to be played at Heron Point Golf Links near Ancaster, Ont.

Tickets for available rounds of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open can be purchased at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

A chip in from the fringe was inches from falling to secure Pat Marcia a Scotia Wealth Management Open win on the 36^th hole of the event but as fate would have it the victory took another 600 yards.

Marcia could have earned the win on the 18^th hole at the Evergreen Golf Course on Sunday via sinking a chip but a solid second round effort from Lloydminster’s Clint Schiller forced a sudden death playoff in the event. Marcia went left off his tee shot during the playoff hole, the 600-yard hole one. Schiller was true up the middle, after two shots each golfer was just approximately 75 yards shy of the green. Schiller landed his approach on the dance floor; Marcia hooked his shot a tad too far and right onto the back fringe. The Regina based Canadian PGA professional showed some fantastic touch chipping in for birdie putting the pressure on Schiller and his 12-foot putt. Schiller just lipped out giving Marcia his first Scotia Wealth Management Open title.

“This feels fantastic,” he said after the win. “The Evergreen is one of my favourite courses in the province. I come back here all the time, it’s awesome.”

Marcia had a very similar chip shot on the 36^th hole to win and he just slid it by the hole.

“I just said I have one chance to win here, give it your best shot,” he told Golf Saskatchewan about the moment. “Luckily I was able to make par and get to a playoff and get it done.”

The victory was Marcia’s first in the event. He has been in the final group three times and has been second place on two occasions. He said getting the victory was a little bit surprising at this point in the season.

“I definitely didn’t see it coming, my game was not trending in the right direction, but I like where it’s at after this, this is great. It was pretty cool in the playoff to chip in there, it was a pretty special moment” he added.

After round one, Marcia was tied with amateurs Danny Klughart (Prince Albert) and Drew Kocur (Regina) at one-under, 70, the group was the last to tee off Sunday. Schiller was three back going into round two and posted a 70 of his own to force the playoff. Marcia said having an event with both professionals and the top amateurs across the province the field is tough to beat.

“Danny and Drew hit it so good, they are young guys with a lot of strength, they were pounding it by me all day. They are very impressive. This is really cool, there’s not a lot of tournaments in the province where us professionals get to play with amateurs and mingle. This is truly is one of the strongest field of golfers in the province because of it,” Marcia said.

Klughart ended up in a tie for third along with Regina’s Ryan McNall, who is fresh off a Regina Amateur Men’s win. Cory Sawchuk of Prince Albert rounded out the top five. A handful of players were tied for sixth at plus-five.

The complete results can be found here.

Golf Saskatchewan is dishing out over $12,000 in scholarships to golfers across the province.

The annual Saskatchewan Academic and Golf Excellence (SAGE) Scholarship program presents scholarships to assist deserving member golfers in their pursuit of high school and post-secondary academic excellence. Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Sport and Championships, Steve Ryde said the organization always enjoys handing out the bursaries.

“Congratulations to all the bursary and scholarship winners this year. We hope the bursary and/or scholarships assist your studies in the classroom for the next stages of your life and also on the golf course. We’re very happy to assist the scholarship recipients in their educational pursuit,” Ryde said.

The following student-athletes are the 2019 recipients:

•Graham DeLaet Scholarship #1 (valued at $1,500)
Kade Johnson, Deer Park Municipal GC, Yorkton

•Graham DeLaet Scholarship #2 (valued at $1,500)
Carey McLean, Deer Valley GC, Deer valley

•Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Bradley Moser, Riverside G&CC, Saskatoon

•Ron Young Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Marc Sweeney, Willows GCC, Saskatoon

•Kozy Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Carson Harcourt, Golf Kenosee, Kipling

•Cooke-Kinnear Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Cory Sawchuk, Cooke Municipal GC, Prince Albert

•Fletcher-Reid Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Jace Carlisle, Estevan Woodlawn, Estevan

•Leddy-Heywood Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
Griffin Wilson, Elmwood GC, Swift Curren

•Meredith MacPherson-Stalwick Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,074.06)
Veronika Duchscherer, Evergreen GC, Nipawin

•Dr. Garry Hayes Memorial Scholarship $1490.70/2 (valued at $745.35 each)
Tyler Buffalo, Golf SK Public player, Saskatoon
Joshua Guthrie, Cooke Municipal GC, Prince Albert

•Golf Saskatchewan High School Bursary (valued at $400)
Sarah Grieve, Willows G&CC, Saskatoon
Lauren Fox, Public Player, Creighton
Autumn Neiszner, Wascana G&CC, Regina

The scholarships are rewarded, based on their academic achievements in high school and post secondary programs.

For more information on our scholarship program click here or contact our office.

16.3 Embedded Ball

1. When Relief Is Allowed

(1) Ball Must Be Embedded in General Area. Relief is allowed under Rule 16.3b only when a player’s ball is embedded in the general area.

• There is no relief under this Rule if the ball is embedded anywhere except in the general area.
• But if the ball is embedded on the putting green, the player may mark the spot of the ball and lift and clean the ball, repair the damage caused by the ball’s impact, and replace the ball on its original spot (see Rule 13.1c(2)).

Exceptions – When Relief Not Allowed for Ball Embedded in General Area: Relief under Rule 16.3b is not allowed:

• When the ball is embedded in sand in a part of the general area that is not cut to fairway height or less, or
• When interference by anything other than the ball being embedded makes the stroke clearly unreasonable (for example, when a player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush).

(2) Determining Whether Ball Is Embedded. A player’s ball is embedded only if:

• It is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke, and
• Part of the ball is below the level of the ground.

If the player cannot tell for sure whether the ball is in its own pitch-mark or a pitch-mark made by another ball, the player may treat the ball as embedded if it is reasonable to conclude from the available information that the ball is in its own pitch-mark.

A ball is not embedded if it is below the level of the ground as a result of anything other than the player’s previous stroke, such as when:

• The ball is pushed into the ground by someone stepping on it,
• The ball is driven straight into the ground without becoming airborne, or
• The ball was dropped in taking relief under a Rule.

DIAGRAM 16.3a: WHEN A BALL IS EMBEDDED

For an interesting video of whether or not a ball is embedded, watch and listen to the Referee and Matt Kuchar at the Memorial PGA Tournament.
https://golf.swingbyswing.com/tour/kuchar-pleads-with-two-rules-official-for-relief/?e=[md5_email]&e1=[sha1_email]&e2=[sha256_email]

Remember the Rules Matter!

If you are interested in the Rules, start your Rules of Golf education here.