Several teams go low at women’s Rosebowl

The 48th Rosebowl is underway in Shellbrook.

The 48th annual Rosebowl began Wednesday at Hidden Hills of Shellbrook with the team of Marie Wachno and Sheila Popowich taking the first-round lead. The Wynyard, Sask. pair sits at minus-14.

The team of Cheryl Lawrence and Linda Sokul are tied for second place at minus-12 along with the pairing of Beryl Robinson and Donna McNaughton. Marg Adair and Bev Langton sit in fourth place at minus-10. Rounding out the top five is the team of Patricia Pratt and Carol Walsh.

The Rosebowl is a 36-hole net stroke play two ball better ball event for women golfers. To be eligible must have a minimum handicap of 19 to be able to participate. Players play their own ball and the better net score is what the team posts for the hole.

The second and final round begins at 9 a.m. Thursday. You can see the complete leaderboard here.

Sawchyn’s; Wildwood featured on CTV’s “9 Holes of Summer”

CTV Saskatoon was recently at Wildwood promoting junior golf. Photo-CTV Saskatoon

CTV Saskatoon took some time earlier this month to profile youth golf and the Wildwood Golf Course.

During the Aug. 1 episode of 9 Holes of Summer with CTV personality Mike Ciona, Tim and Brody Sawchyn played a hole while promoting junior golfing. Tim is the head pro at the course, he told Ciona that Wildwood has a big focus on youth golfing.

“We do group lessons in May and June, there is usually three to four programs a month. The junior golf rates at the Saskatoon city courses is really cheap. If a family wants to get their kids involved in golf the city courses are a great place to get involved,” Sawchyn said.

As the golf season expires into the later stages Wildwood has come up with a new deal to get golfers on the course. Tim

“A new program for us is twilight starts at 3 p.m. everyday. You pay for nine, you can play up to 18. For people working and can’t get to the course during the day it works. The rounds are quicker, and the price is right,” he said.

The trio played the 220-yard 12th hole during the feature. Ciona grinded out a bogey, Tim parred the hole and Brody led the way with a birdie. He told Ciona how he played the hole.

“I put a good drive out there, a good wedge shot led to an even better putt,” Brody said.

You can see the feature in it’s entirety here.

Reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Zach Bauchou extends lead to three strokes

Zach Bauchou
Zach Bauchou [Qualicum Beach, B.C.] – August 7, 2018 – Canadian Men's Amateur Championship at Duncan Meadows & Pheasant Glen Photo by: Golf Canada, 2018 – Canadian Men's Amateur Championship at Duncan Meadows & Pheasant Glen Photo by: Golf Canada

QUALICUM BEACH, B.C. – Defending champion Zach Bauchou battled the extreme heat in Tuesday’s second round with a 3-under 68 to extend his lead to three strokes at the 114th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

Bauchou, a Forest, Va., native, posted six birdies against three bogeys at co-host Pheasant Glen Golf Resort heading into the final two rounds back at Duncan Meadows.

“With all the par-3s you’re going to have to hit a lot of mid-irons—I was able to hit some really good shots and I putted really well too,” said the 22-year-old, greenside at No. 18. “I had some nice looks that I capitalized on today.”

The Oklahoma State junior grew his lead by one stroke on Tuesday and looks to stay aggressive in Wednesday’s third round.

“The goal is just to play as good as I can and make as many birdies as I can,” said Bauchou. “I’ve had some short game errors where I didn’t get up-and-down, so I’ll be looking to sharpen up my short game over the next two days and keep playing aggressively—pedal to the medal.”

Alone in second place is Gatineau, Que., resident Julien Sale, who shot a 2-under-par 69 at Pheasant Glen to move to 6 under for the tournament, three back of Bauchou.

“I’m just trying to put the ball in play and then go for the green and get the putter working well,” said Sale, who grew up in France. “For tomorrow, I’ll see if I need to be a bit more aggressive depending on how the other guys do.”

Sale’s efforts played a large part in helping Team Quebec capture the inter-provincial title to win their second straight Willingdon Cup. Alongside Sale were Team Canada members Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.), who helped Quebec to a 10-under-par score and a seven-stroke win—their eighth victory all-time.

Congrats to Team Quebec, who captured the #CDNAm inter-provincial competition by 7 strokes to capture the second straight Willingdon Cup ????

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Team Alberta was the only other team to finish under par, closing with a score of 3 under to finish alone in second place.

Also making significant moves on Tuesday were Garrett Rank and Justin Warren. Rank, an Elmira, Ont., native and Team Canada graduate, shot a 65 to tie the course record at Pheasant Glen. The 30-year-old climbed into a five-way tie for sixth place at 3 under for the tournament.

At Duncan Meadows, Australian Justin Warren carded a scorching 64 to set the new course record (Bauchou tied the old record of 65 on Monday). Warren, a senior at Little Rock, sits tied for 24th at even par.

A total of 71 players who finished 3 over par or better have advanced to the final two rounds of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be contested at Duncan Meadows.

In addition to claiming the title of 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif., and the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. from June 3-9.

The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

For full results click here.

Yorkton’s Deer Park busy with stars and starters

Deer Park Golf Course's signature hole will see some changes in the future.

East-central Saskatchewan’s largest trading centre isn’t leading the way in just shopping for Yorkton visitors, Deer Park Golf Course continues to be a key driver in the city’s tourism and recreation stats.

Deer Park has hosted every Golf Saskatchewan moderated championship within the last two decades including the men’s amateur. Golf operations manager Allan Sauser has been involved in all the championships. One of the province’s elite courses is known for hole eight, an elevated 100-yard, par three gem recognized by locals and visitors. Sauser is proud of their signature hole but water issues over three of the last four years during profitable weeks need to be addressed. He said changes are coming.

“With the new design I believe hole eight will be the new signature hole again. You will oversee hole 10 and 12 when you are on new hole eight, it’s going to be a fantastic hole. It’s sad to see it go but it’s more about drainage issues than us wanting to change a hole,” Sauser told Golf Saskatchewan.

Deer Park is one of the oldest courses in the province. Sauser said junior golf numbers are optimistic along with overall players at the 18-hole course. Sauser said the season has treated their course well.

“We’re seeing a real good year because of being in great shape. All the courses depend on weather and we’ve been really lucky,” he said.

Deer Park has been in the provincial spotlight of late, Saskatchewan amateur men’s champion Kade Johnson and 12-year-old phenom Ella Kozak both call Deer Park their home course. Sauser has worked with both up and comers. He said there are similarities between the two talented athletes.

“Kade has been keen since the start,” Sauser said. “It’s been a goal of his and his family to achieve something right from the beginning. It’s great to see him come up through the system, play college golf, and now winning the amateur which is fantastic.”

Johnson is currently tied for 42nd at the 114th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

Kozak is winding down her busy summer on the course. She took part in the Saskatchewan Women’s Amateur Championship in June earning a spot on the national team. Kozak finished second to Brooklin Fry in the junior girl’s tournament, also booking a Canadian championship birth. Kozak finished well back of the leaders in the events but Sauser said the experiences are unmeasurable.

“For someone her age to make both the women’s and junior’s championships, the future is only bright for her,” he said.

Deer Park will celebrate their 100th year next summer. Celebration details will be announced in the future.

Johnson; Dunphy make cut at Canadian Amateur Championship

Day two of the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship is now complete. Photo-Golf Canada

Yorkton’s Kade Johnson and Saskatoon’s Shaun Dunphy are still in the hunt at the Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship in Duncan, B.C.

Johnson, 19, the Saskatchewan amateur champion parred the Pheasant Glen Golf Resort course on Tuesday finishing at plus-2 after two rounds. The cut line was set at plus-3. Johnson opened his round with a pair of birdies, he bogeyed hole three but rebounded with another birdie on five. The Deer Park Golf Course member birdied eight and bogeyed nine to come into the turn at 2-under. The back nine was as clean, Johnson bogeyed holes 10, 11, and 16 before he birdied 18 to post a 71.

Meanwhile, Dunphy followed his opening round of 69 with a 5-over, 76. Although the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club golfer was seven strokes higher during round two, his 145 was good enough for a tie in 59th place, just ahead of the cut line.

Ty Campbell played well Tuesday carding a 2-under par, but he missed the cut at plus-5 overall. Justin Wood finished at plus-8, David Stewart was plus-10. Roman Timmerman improved heavily on his round one 85 shooting a 73 on day two, he finished at plus-16, Humboldt’s Mike Herperger finished at 18-over. Liam Courtney and Keighton McNab, both of Saskatoon finished at plus-20 and 29-over respectively.

Johnson will tee off at 8:36 a.m. Wednesday, Dunphy begins his third round at 9:09 a.m. local time.

Zach Bauchou of Forest, Virginia is the leader at 9-under par.

Team Saskatchewan finished in fifth place in the inter-provincial competition, Quebec won the Willingdon Cup for the second straight year at 10-under. Saskatchewan finished at 12-over.

You can follow Johnson and Dunphy’s round here.

Elkridge tees off on cancer

Over 80 golfers took part in Elkridge's Golf fore a Cure event in July.

Elkridge’s annual Golf fore the Cure event raised over $21,000.

The total is slightly down from last year’s fundraising tournament but that is the local committee’s second highest total overall. Chair Verna Schneider said the event was a huge success.

“It was a great day,” she said. ‘The weather cooperated, golf moved well, we had 85 golfers. Everything went well, everyone had a good time.”

Golf fore a Cure is a national initiative to assist the Canadian Cancer Society and breast cancer research. Each year a national event takes place rewarding clubs for money they raised. Last year the Elkridge Golf Course event raised over $23,000 allowing Donna Dutchak, Cora Lee Dutchak, Brenda Dutchak, and Lee Anne Osler all travelled to Brantford, Ont. for the tournament. Schneider, a two-time cancer defeater said they will know by the end of August if they won again. She said winning isn’t an important motivator for participating. Schneider said the event brings their small community together and the support is overwhelming.

“I can’t name them all, there’s too much support. We had 24 hole sponsors, dinner sponsors, Elkridge just a great job, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without their help. There’s a lot of people to thank for our success,” she said.

The Kelvington Golf Club is hosting their Golf fore the Cure event on Aug. 14. Kelvington is having their tournament on Aug. 23.

Céleste Dao wins 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship

Celeste Dao (L) and Emily Zhu
Tsawwassen, BC – 03 August 2018 – Celeste Daowinner of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship (L) and Emily Zhu winner of the Juvenile Division of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, BC. (Chuck Russell/Golf Canada)

TSAWWASSEN, B.C. – After a close round on Friday, Team Canada National Development Squad Member Céleste Dao from Notre Dame de l’Île Perrot, Que. carded a 2-over-par 74 to become the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Champion.

Dao started the day with a one stroke lead and worked hard to keep the lead in the final round. She started her round with a bogey on hole 2 and hole 3 and continued to bogey two more holes before she made the turn.

Dao’s first three bogeys were out of the sand to put her at 1-over-par in second place after the 7thhole. She parred hole 8, while Emily Zhu from Richmond Hill, Ont. bogeyed it, putting them both with a share of the lead before the back nine.

Dao’s fourth bogey set her back one stroke, into second, and another bogey on hole 10, after a three putt, forced her to sit three back of Emily Zhu.

“The voice in my head kept telling me to stay patient, just stay patient for the two par 5s that are coming, I knew that at least one of them I could birdie,” said the 2018 Junior Girls Champ.

The Notre Dame de l’Île Perrot, Que. native went on to birdie hole 14, her first birdie of the day, to sit tied for the lead again with Zhu.

“I was waiting for the birdie for a long time, I kind of panicked a little on the front nine but I knew the two par 5s were coming so I stayed patient and when the first birdie dropped I was really, really happy,” said the 17-year-old. “After the first birdie came I knew I would be good for the next one.”

Dao birdied hole 15, as well, to sit one up.  Both players stepped up to hole 17, the same hole that decided their fate in round 3, and teed off.

Zhu hit her ball to the left of the fairway, over the cart path, and into the trees. She had a great recovery and made it back on to the fairway. As she swung her club for her third stroke, the ball went into the trees to the right, and fell out of bounds. Zhu double bogeyed the hole, placing Dao in the lead by 3 strokes with just one hole left.

“She got unlucky, unfortunately, she played so well the whole round. She was so consistent, I mean she’s 14-years-old, it’s impressive, she’s really impressive,” said Dao about Zhu’s shot out of bounds on hole 17.

Dao would go on to birdie hole 18 to finish the day 2-over-par 74 with a total score of even par 288 for the tournament.

“This win means a lot, it was one of my goals as a junior. This year I’m really, really happy. Brooke did it, and so many good players did it, and for me it is so important to win it so I’m happy,” said Dao. “This is a big win for me because it is in my home country and playing against so many players here, it is a national event, and playing in a beautiful city, I’m really happy.”

Emily Zhu also continued to birdie hole 18 to win the Juvenile competition at 14-years-old. Angela Zhang from Vancouver, B.C., came in at 4-over-par and Zhu, after the birdie on 18, came in at 3-over-par to take the title.

“I wanted to sink that birdie putt anyways (not just to win the Juvenile Competition), the first two days I bogeyed the hole and yesterday I hit par so I was like why not go for the birdie?”

The Richmond Hill, Ont., native finished 3-over-par 291 for the tournament. This is just the beginning for her, as she has a few more years to play in this event.

Sarah Beqaj from Toronto Ont., finished 5-over-par 293 to finish third in the Juvenile Competition. Tiffany Kong from Vancouver, B.C., and Angela Zhang, also from Vancouver, B.C., finished with a share of third in the Championship with a score of 4-over-par 292.

Click here to view the full leaderboard for the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

Henderson finishes T11; Hall wins Women’s British Open for 1st major title

Brooke Henderson of Canada plays her third shot on the 3rd hole during day four of Ricoh Women's British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes on August 5, 2018 in Lytham St Annes, England

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Named in honour of a famous Masters victory, Georgia Hall has her hands on one of the big trophies in women’s golf at the age of 22.

The Englishwoman reeled in long-time leader Pornanong Phatlum in a gripping final-round duel at Royal Lytham to win the Women’s British Open for her first major title on Sunday.

Hull tapped in for a bogey _ her first of the day _ at the last hole to clinch a two-shot victory over Pornanong. Hall then hugged her playing partner from Thailand before being lifted off her feet by her caddie, father Wayne.

It was fitting that Wayne, a former two-handicapper himself, was on the bag to experience the biggest moment of his daughter’s career.

Georgia was born during the 1996 Masters won by English golfer Nick Faldo at Augusta, Georgia. She was named in honour of that victory, which came after Faldo overcame a six-stroke deficit to Greg Norman in the final round.

Twenty-two years later, Hall is the pride of English golf just like Faldo was. And the way Hall kept her composure and kept producing the shots of her life down the stretch, there might be more major titles to come.

Her round of 5-under 67, which included six birdies, saw her finish on 17-under 271.

“I was loving it deep down, hitting the shots under pressure,” said Hall, who barely showed any emotions all round. “To get six birdies in the final round of a major is not bad.”

Hall, who receives a check of $490,000, became the first English major winner since Karen Stupples won this event in 2004, and the fourth overall along with Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas.

She followed Stupples and Catriona Matthew _ in 2009 at Lytham _ as the only British winners of the Women’s British Open since it achieved major status in 2001.

Brooke Henderson (74) of Smiths Falls, Ont., tied for 11th at 6 under par. She had three birdies and three bogeys offset each other, but a double bogey on the par-4 17th hole put her at 2 over for the round.

Roared on under blue skies by the large gallery desperate for a home winner, the 39th-ranked Hall started the day a shot behind Pornanong, who led after the second and third rounds.

From the moment Pornanong curled in a long left-to-right putt at the second hole to answer Hall’s 15-foot birdie at the first, it had the makings of a duel in the Lytham sun.

And a two-player race for the year’s fourth major was definitely established when both picked up a shot at No. 4 and Pornanong followed Hall in birdying No. 6. That regained a two-shot lead for Pornanong, who had also birdied the par-3 fifth hole.

Hall was always chasing but was given hope when Pornanong bogeyed No. 8 to reduce her lead to one shot. Then, when Hall rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt at No. 13, they were tied for the first time since the first hole.

Hall took the outright lead for the first time in the tournament after a 20-foot putt for birdie at the 16th hole and went down the last with a three-shot lead after Pornanong, ranked No. 97 and also seeking her first major and LPGA title, missed a two-foot putt to make double-bogey at No. 17.

Hall played safe in three-putting from distance in front of Royal Lytham’s storied clubhouse and celebrated her first win on the LPGA Tour. She had never won on the Ladies European Tour, either.

“It is too good to be true,” Hall said. “It was my goal when I was nine to win the British Open. I am so happy.

“I just had to stay calm and patient. It was very close up to the last two holes and I holed all the putts today.”

Ryu So-yeon of South Korea was third on 13 under after a final-round 70.

Defending champion Zach Bauchou ties course record to lead Canadian Men’s Amateur

Zach Bauchou [Duncan, B.C.] – August 6, 2018 – Canadian Men's Amateur Championship at Duncan Meadows & Pheasant Glen Photo by: Golf Canada

Reigning champion Zach Bauchou fired a 65 in Monday’s opening round of the 114th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Duncan Meadows Golf Course to tie the course record and lead by two strokes.

The Forest, Va., native thrived in the sweltering B.C. weather, going 7 under through his first 10 holes thanks to two eagles—one that included a hole-out from the bunker on No. 17. Bauchou cooled off on his final eight holes, giving one back with a bogey on the par-3 7th.

“I was making some nice putts and hitting my irons really well,” said Bauchou, greenside at the 9th hole. “My round kind of fizzled off at the end—I missed a short putt and stopped making some putts. But 65 is still a solid round and it’s a good start.”

Bauchou will tee off at 1:03 p.m. PT on Tuesday at co-host Pheasant Glen Golf Resort. He plans to clean up some minor mistakes, with the game plan remaining the same.

“I really felt like the last eight holes I could have played a lot better, so I need to touch up on some things this afternoon and come out strong tomorrow,” said the 22-year-old Oklahoma State junior. “I’m going to hit a lot of drivers out there [Pheasant Glen], you just need to hit some good wedges and make some putts.”

Defending champion Zach Bauchou of Forest, Va., shoots an opening-round 65 to tie the Duncan Meadows course record and take the early clubhouse lead in the Canadian Amateur at 6 under #CDNAm

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There is a five-way tie for second at 4 under par consisting of: Team Canada National Squad member Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.), Andrew Harrison (Camrose, Alta.), Kaleb Gorbahn (Smithers, B.C.), Julien Sale (Gatineau, Que.) and Oliver Ménard (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que.).

Canadian Junior Boys champion Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que., sits in a four-way tie for 7th at 3 under par.

Team Quebec jumped out to an early lead in the 36-hole inter-provincial competition for the Willingdon Cup. The trio’s lowest two scores (67-67) of the round from Savoie and Sale gave the team a score of 8 under par and a six-stroke advantage.

Teams Alberta and British Columbia share second place at 2 under par. The Willingdon Cup champion will be crowned on Tuesday at Pheasant Glen.

In addition to claiming the title of 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif., and the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. from June 3-9.

The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

Click here for full results.

Rule of the Week (Aug 5 – 12)

Water hazard relief is this week's rule topic.

Rule 26-1 Explanation of Water Hazard Relief (Rule 26-1b) vs. “Line of Flight”


QUESTION:
How do I determine where the ball must be dropped when proceeding under option b in Rule 26-1? Is it along the line of flight the ball took to get to the hazard?

ANSWER: No. Under the rules of golf, dropping the ball on the “line of flight” is never an option, however, it is often confused with the concept provided in Rule 26-1b. Under Rule 26-1b, when taking relief from a water hazard, a player may drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which, the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped (a term of “flag line” has been used to help clarify).

In determining this line, the player must first determine where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard. Once this point is determined, the player should draw an imaginary line from this point to the hole. The player may then drop the ball anywhere along an extension of this line behind the water hazard (Decision 26-1/1.5).

Please refer to point “D” in Decision 26-1/15, for an illustration.

Remember, the rules matter.