The Regina City Junior tournament played on the weekend featured three age groups, two of the divisions needed an extra hole to decide a winner in the tightly contested 36-hole event.

In the under-18 category, Jacob Kydd outlasted last year’s winner Cole Obrigewitsch to take the victory. Each finished with a gross score of 158 but Kydd’s par on the playoff hole sealed the win, his second in three years at the event.

The under-16 group also needed a playoff hole, Adam Husli (pictured above) drained a birdie putt to edge Adam Kydd for the title. Each golfer finished the 36 holes with a tied gross score of 164. Husli battled back from a six-stroke deficit after round one to secure the win. The two also finished 1-2 in the Regina High School Athletics Association golf championships as well last week.

The under-14 division featured the most participants with 11 golfers. Will Blake (pictured above) was a seven-stroke winner over Davin Bourassa.

The golfers played various tees based on their age group, to be eligible for the tournament championship the golfers had to play from the member tees at the Murray Municipal Golf on day one. The tournament moved to the Royal Regina Golf Club on Sunday.

The tournament is now part of the Order of Merit system, so the players collect standings points by participating. With the victory, Kydd will now be eligible to participate in next season’s Regina City Amateur championship.

The Regina High Schools Athletic Association has crowned their 2018 golf champions.

Miller student, and back-to-back Regina City Junior winner Alex Schmidt continues her Queen City dominance by taking a 15 stroke victory in the senior girl’s division. Schmidt was the only golfer to finish in double-digits firing an 85. Balfour Collegiate student Ashley Zado shot 100 to claim second place, Campbell’s Autumn Neiszner finished in third place at 105.

On the boy’s side, Jack Fischer (pictured above) of Campbell put up an 80 to secure the senior title. Miller High School’s Willie Chang came in second just a stroke back at 81. Campbell’s Jacob Kydd was three strokes back of Fischer in third with 83.

In the junior boy’s division Martin student Adam Husli (below; right) fired an 82 to take the win. Adam Kydd, also of Martin Collegiate finished in second place after shooting 87. Aidan Shanks (below; left) of Campbell secured third spot with an 87.

The Rosetown Golf and Country Club will be peppered in pink Sunday for their first annual GOLF fore a CURE tournament.

The initiative is designed to get women involved in golf as well as raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. Organizer Sue Skinner said the club wanted to expand on their annual ladies’ tournament.  She said breast cancer touches many people’s lives, so the community wanted to give back.

“The rationale for hosting the GOLF fore a CURE event was due to discussions based on the interest shown at the club level. In our discussions it became very clear that breast cancer has had a devastating impact on the lives of women and their families.  We just want to help make a difference,” Skinner said.

Every June the club hosts a fun tournament to bring more women onto the course.  There are other games mixed in with the golf to make the tournament more appealing to golfers of all calibres. Skinner said the club has had great success in past events.

“The tournament has always been about having a day for women and having lots of laughs. We have low gross and low net, most honest team prizes, novelty games on every hole with prizes to be won and everyone attending will take home a prize at the end of the day,” she said.

The organizing committee is encouraging teams to dress up and decorate their carts and clubs. Prizes will be awarded to the teams showing the most spirit. The net winners of the event will be presented with blazers similar to the Masters but theirs are “beautifully decorated and bedazzled” according to Skinner.

The cost is $60 which includes green fees, supper and a beverage. Entrants can acquire pledges ahead of the event but it’s not mandatory. Participants can sign up by calling the clubhouse at 306-882-3001.

Participating clubs have a chance to attend a national GOLF fore a CURE event. Last year, Elkridge Resort was the top money raiser in the province earning a trip to the national event. Elkridge is hosting their event on July 5.

Almost 240 golfers chased the senior Lobstick championships this week at the Waskesiu Golf Course in Prince Albert Provincial Park.

West Kelowna’s Glen Erickson is the 2018 senior men’s champion. Erickson shot 214 over three rounds including a scorching 66 on day one. Medicine Hat’s Warren Gnam finished just two strokes back.

Doug Piper (pictured below) is the back-to-back super senior champion.

The Saskatoon Secondary Schools Athletic Directorate held their annual golf championships on Wednesday.

Taking top spot in the senior boy’s category was Holy Cross student Steven Duchscher; he shot a one-over 73. Josh Nagy was one stroke behind the leader shooting 74. Bradley Moser was third, Cole Nagy placed fourth, the top four are all Holy Cross students.

Holy Cross was the runaway winner in the team category shooting 208 overall, 42 strokes ahead of Centennial.

Centennial golfer Will Danielson was the top junior boy’s athlete, he also won with a one-over 73. Holy Cross’ Jack Hodson shot a 79 finishing six strokes back, Evan Hardy student Micah Tangjerd placed third.

Centennial edged Holy Cross by a stroke in the team competition.

On the girl’s side, St. Joseph student Sarah Grieve shot 86, 14 strokes ahead of Marion M. Graham student Paige Thompson. Aden Bowman golfer Jadyn Hue placed third.

Aden Bowman was the overall team winner with 213.

PGA Saskatchewan held their Pro Lady tournament in Saskatoon June 4 with 23 teams from across the province taking part.

The foursome of professional Shawn Woods, along with Donna Coffey, Bev Grimes, and Barb Swanson took top spot shooting a 12-under-par in the two net best ball format event at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club. Scott Knapp, Judy Giblett, Carol Michel, and Mamin Lee-Sing finished in second place, the team of Ryan Wells, Donna Dyck, Deb Thieman, and Dawn Macauley were four strokes back in third. You can see a complete list of the results here.

Woods tied with Dean Brown (pictured below) for the low score among professionals at one over par each shooting 73.

The tournament has been played for over three decades but was resurrected a couple years ago with new sponsorship. Sun Mountain Sports came on board as title sponsor, Woods is the Saskatchewan representative for the company.

The PGA of Saskatchewan holds a men’s and junior pro-am event each year too. The men’s tournament is in North Battleford on June 18.

The Future Links driven by Acura schedule made a stop in High River, Alta. June 1 to 3 with four Saskatchewan golfers taking part looking for a spot in the national event.

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak, 12, shot a three-round total of 255. She finished in 18^th position overall in the junior girl’s category. Kozak shot 89, 84, and 82 at the Highwood Golf and Country Club.

On the junior boy’s side, Bradley Moser of Saskatoon shot five over through three rounds, that left him tied for ninth place, just 17 strokes back of the winner. Moser fired rounds of 71, 70, and 75 for a three-round total of 216. Steven Duchscher of Saskatoon shot 232 over three rounds, he finished tied for 32^nd, Andrew Campbell, another Saskatoon athlete tied for 44^th position with a three-round total of 237.

The next Future Links competition is scheduled for June 14 to 17 in Portage la Prairie, Man. at the Portage Golf Club.

HAMILTON, Ont. –  Golf Canada and title sponsor RBC today announced that the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont., will host the RBC Canadian Open in 2019 and 2023.

The tournament’s return to the Harry Colt designed course in 2019 is timed perfectly – marking the 100-year anniversary since the renowned club originally hosted Canada’s National Open Golf Championship.

“Together with our partners at RBC and the PGA TOUR, we are extremely proud to be bringing the RBC Canadian Open back to the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in both 2019 and 2023,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada.  “There are few courses in the country that can equal Hamilton in terms of excellence and storied history and I am delighted that the club’s membership and the City of Hamilton have joined us to bring the RBC Canadian Open back to Hamilton twice over the next five years.”

Consistently ranked among Canada’s best courses, Hamilton’s parkland setting, which includes winding fairways, multi-elevations and undulating greens, have made the club a favourite of the PGA TOUR pros who’ve played it throughout the years.

“Returning to Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019 and 2023 is a great fit for RBC and the RBC Canadian Open,” said Matt McGlynn, Vice President, Brand Marketing for RBC. “Our clients and all Canadian golf fans want to see the world’s best golfers playing the world’s best courses and by having Team RBC challenge the PGA TOUR’s best at Hamilton, we will accomplish just that.”

We’re thrilled to be hosting the 2019 & 2023 #RBCCO @HamiltonGolf ??

Read ➡️https://t.co/t2zk4mggR4#OurOpen pic.twitter.com/yQNh9myrZq

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) June 6, 2018

The Hamilton Golf and Country Club previously hosted five Canadian Opens, with the first taking place in 1919 – a championship featured two of the most legendary names in golf – Bobby Jones and Francis Ouimet. J. Douglas Edgar would go on to earn a 16-stroke win – a PGA TOUR record that stands to this day as the largest margin of victory.

Other players to have won the Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club include Tommy Armour (1930), Bob Tway (2003), Team RBC member Jim Furyk (2006) and Scott Piercy (2012).

In addition, Hamilton has hosted many other prestigious events including the (former) Canadian Senior Championship in 1996 as well as several Ontario (1932, 1974 and 1991) and Canadian Amateur Championships (1922, 1927, 1935, 1948, 1977 and 1994).

“We are proud to host the most prestigious championship in Canadian golf and welcome the RBC Canadian Open and the stars of the PGA TOUR to Hamilton Golf and Country Club twice over the next five years,” said Hamilton Golf and Country Club’s President Chris Hamel. “Our members are honoured to have the opportunity to help write additional chapters in the long and storied history of Canadian golf and the RBC Canadian Open in 2019 and 2023 and are especially pleased to celebrate a centennial connection in 2019 between our club and Canada’s National Open.”

The confirmation of the Hamilton Golf and Country Club as the host venue for 2019 and 2023 was also made possible through a new partnership between the city of Hamilton and Golf Canada. This partnership will result in Canada’s National Sport Federation bringing multiple events and golf championships to the city to complement the two RBC Canadian Opens.

“We are thrilled to welcome the stars of the PGA TOUR back to Hamilton for two more years,” said Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of Hamilton. “The RBC Canadian Open is a world class event and I know our citizens take great pride in hosting the championship here in their backyard. In addition, through our partnership with Golf Canada, our region will welcome numerous national and regional golf championships between 2019 and 2023. With a goal to leave an economic, charitable and social legacy through golf, we look forward to becoming a hub community for Canadian golf.”

The stars of the PGA TOUR won’t be the only ones having fun during tournament week when the RBC Canadian Open stops in Hamilton. Golf Canada, RBC and all tournament partners have embraced the PGA TOUR’s new fans first mantra, highlighted in the Tour’s new “Live Under Par” campaign. The event has become much more than just 72 holes of world-class golf – it’s one of Canada’s most prolific sporting events, chocked-full of activities for spectators, whether they are core golf fans or new to the sport.

This year’s RBC Canadian Open will take place east of Hamilton at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 20-26, 2018. Ticket, volunteering, sponsorship and corporate hospitality info is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

The fourth annual Swinging for STARS fundraising golf tournament will take place later this month in Saskatoon.

There is still room for approximately 10 teams in the June 21 event at the Greenbryre Golf & Country Club. STARS foundation event and development officer Ashlyn Yablonski said hosting events and generating revenue is key to the air ambulance’s service.

“The Government of Saskatchewan provides 50 per cent of our funding and the other 50 per cent (or $10.5 million) is what we need to raise each year to operate from our Saskatoon and Regina bases. Events such as this golf tournament are important to help us continue to keep STARS in our prairie skies, ready to help the next patient who needs us,” she said.

The entry fee is $185 per golfer, that includes 12 holes of golf, power cart, prizes from sponsors, a bar-b-cue lunch on the course, and a ticket to the dinner plus a commemorative program. New this year to the event is an outside partnership with another not-for-profit group. STARS will team up with the Saskatoon Millennium Lions Club. Yablonski said the collaboration has injected some excitement into the tournament.

“They are an amazing group to work with; passionate, dedicated, and the club make it fun. STARS is very lucky to have the group as partners on this event and hope to continue this partnership with them for future years,” Yablonski said.

The deadline to enter the tournament is June 18, contact Yablonski at 306-659-1525 or email ayablonski@stars.ca

STARS air ambulance provided emergency services in almost 200 Saskatchewan communities or regions in 2016-17 according to their website. In total they responded 874 times during that fiscal year.

Decision 13-2/10: Pitch-Mark in Dropping Area Repaired Before Ball Dropped

QUESTION:
Dave was playing golf after a day of rain. The course was wet but playable. Through the green, Dave’s ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in a closely mowed area. Dave lifted his ball under Rule 25-2 (Embedded ball) but, before dropping it, repaired the pitch-mark. Is such repair permissible?

ANSWER:
No. Dave was in breach of Rule 13-2 when he improved the area in which his ball was to be dropped by eliminating an irregularity of surface. In this case, Dave would be penalized 2 strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. In the instance above, Dave was required to drop the ball on the pitch mark, play the stroke and then repair the pitch mark. Unfortunate for Dave, he made a mistake which is done almost every day on the golf course.

Reminder: Golf has a few fundamental principles. Hit it, find it and play it. Keep it simple and you can avoid most Rules breaches. Happy golfing and remember the rules matter.