The 2025 Saskatchewan Junior Order of Merit Tours (OMT) are underway after the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) began their season on the weekend in Estevan.

At TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club on May 3 and 4, 65 junior golfers converged on southern Saskatchewan to start their competitive seasons in the province.

Three players competed in the under-15 women’s division, Saskatoon’s Youran Zhu won the age group with a score of 168 (87, 81).

There was six players in the 15 – 19 women’s division, Tayla Perry of Regina was the winner after carding rounds of 82 and 75. The 16-year-old was 11 strokes better than Grace Odnokon (87, 81). Yuna Lee of Regina rounded out the top-three at 175 (88, 87).

One player was in the peewee boys age group, James Qui from Surrey, B.C., the 12-year-old shot 72 in round one and 75 in the second round.

The juvenile boys category was the largest field with 23 players competing. Aricin Franklin of Saskatoon picked up the win (and overall championship) shooting 71 and 72 from just under 6,300 yards. Reigning under-19 men’s OMT champion Ethan Hunter was second at 149 (76, 73), and Jayden Chernoff of Estevan placed third on his home course with a two-round score of 158 (80, 78).

In the bantam division, Austin Nesbitt of Pilot Butte was the champion with rounds of 71 and 77 from over 5,400 yards at TS&M Woodlawn. Jun Lee of Regina was second, three shots back in the closest finish of the weekend. Lee shot 73 and 78, in third was Tylan Wallin of Humboldt, he was at 153 (75, 78).

In the junior men’s division, Brady Guenther of Saskatoon was the champion, and just one shot back of Franklin for the overall win.

Guenther shot back-to-back 72’s to claim the under-19 age group.

In second was Preston Buchner of Saskatoon, he carded rounds of 73 and 76, Wyatt Frei of Gray, Sask. and Griffin Blanch of Saskatoon tied for third at 156.

The full results can be seen here. The next MJT tournament is also the second OMT event on the schedule. In Swift Current on May 18 -20 Elmwood Golf Club will host the Spring Classic. To register click here.

All photos courtesy Jeff Chambers.

After four years at Milsaps College Will Danielson will graduate following a solid collegiate career in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Saskatoon product recently wrapped up his career that included a win in 2022 – 23.

Following graduation Danielson is going on a golf trip with friends to Scotland, following the summer playing as an amateur Danielson will turn pro and return to Jackson to assist with coaching with the Majors and play Mini Tour events.

The Riverside Country Club member spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about his career with Milsaps.

Holly Knudsen’s solid postsecondary golf career has come to an end at Minot State University.

A leader with the Beavers, the Chaplin product wrapped up a five-year career with a 24^th place finish at the NSIC Championship in Smithville, Missouri from April 25 to 27. After opening with an 82 in round one and 85 in the second round, Knudsen shot a fantastic 76 in round three to vault 11 spots up the leaderboard in her final college round.

Minot State was sixth in the team competition in their final event of the spring season.

Saskatoon’s Will Danielson is also a college graduate after a career at Milsaps College with the Majors. The Saskatoon resident concluded his career at the SAA Championships on April 25 to 27 in Dickson, Tennessee at Greystone Golf Club. He shot 77 in round one, 79 during the middle round of the championship, and like Knudsen Danielson climbed the leaderboard on the final day moving five positions into 31^st thanks to a 73 in the last round.

The Majors were sixth in the team competition.

The Keiser University Seahawks are heading back to the NAIA National Women’s Championship. Autumn Neiszner of Regina was competing as an individual at the Sun Conference Championship on April 27 to 29 at Jekyll Island Golf Club in Jekyll Island, Georgia. Neiszner carded rounds of 83, 91, and 81 for a 54-hole total of 255, she tied for 27^th.

Three of Neiszner’s teammates took three of the top four positions in the event on route to the Seahawks third straight Sun Conference Championship victory.

The national championship will be played at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Michigan from May 13 to 15.

Luke Cote and Will Blake and the rest of the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders team are amid preparing for their regionals. The Regina duo was in Fort Smith, Arkansas on April 21 to 23 for the Great American Conference Championship. Competing at the Hardscrabble Country Club, Cote also used a big third round to get higher on the leaderboard. He opened with a 75, cut off another stroke in round two and then shot a brilliant 67 in the third round climbed 13 spots for a tie for 13^th at 216. Blake placed in 28^th, he shot 224 (74, 71, 79).

The Muleriders were fourth in the team standings. SAU will travel to the Central Regionals in St. Joseph, Missouri at the St. Joseph Country Club starting May 8.

Chase Pochylko’s second season at Nicholls University in Louisiana has come to an end with a 23^rd place finish in the Southland Conference Championship hosted at Comanche Trace Ranch in Kerrville, Texas. The Riverside Country Club member shot 76 in round one before carding back-to-back 73’s to wrap the event at 222, tied for 23^rd.

Nicholls was ninth as a team in their season wrapping event held April 21 to 23.

Another Riverside member had his final event of the year from April 21 to 23. Carter Degelman and the Dominican University of California Penguins were in North Las Vegas, Nevada at Aliante Golf Club for the PacWest Championships. Degelman posted rounds of 80, 82, and 86 to conclude the season with a 40^th place finish.

Dominican was seventh overall in the team competition.

Justin Miller’s season continued April 23 and 24 with Southwestern Community College. The Saskatoon product was in Panora, Iowa at Lake Panorama National Golf Club for the Southwestern Premier. Competing as an individual Miller tied for 36^th at 160 (77, 83).

The Spartans are in Sioux City, Iowa for the North Central District Championships starting May 4 at Whispering Creek Golf Course.

Chase Gedak has made his final putt in a solid college career that included a victory with Minot State University (MSU).

The Estevan product began his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas-Monticello before transferring to MSU in the summer of 2023.

Gedak was joined by longtime friend and fellow Estevanian Jace Carlisle in his sixth and final year at MSU with the Beavers.

Gedak will remain in Minot for the summer working at the local country club and is planning to return to school for another year without golf at the golf level.

Gedak joined Golf Saskatchewan and spoke about his career and what’s next.

GolfPass has recently come out with their 2025 list of “public courses and hidden gems” in Canada with two Saskatchewan courses being recognized.

Kachur’s Golf Club near Prince Albert and Yorkton’s Deer Park Golf Course were both named in the list. Kachur’s was placed 14^th, Deer Park is ranked 11^th in the compilation that is determined by analyzing the ratings and reviews submitted by members of the GolfPass community.

GolfPass began compiling the list in 2015. Waskesiu Golf Course was the first Saskatchewan club to make the list, the Stanley Thompson masterpiece was listed at number four that year, the only time the course was named. Deer Park has been on the list six different times starting in 2019. In the 2022 list, Deer Park was the top club. The city-owned 18 hole course has been third (2021), eighth (2023), and 18^th last year. Deer Park Director of Golf Operations Allan Sauser said being recognized on the list is always nice, but he wants to see Deer Park return to the top spot on the GolfPass rundown.

“It’s really great to be honoured and recognized on GolfPass’ annual list of hidden gems,” Sauser said. “This year we are ranked 11^th, showing that we have room to improve to get back to the number one ranking we had a few years ago. We have no control over the results and people’s opinions when they leave a review, so our jobs are to make sure anyone attending Deer Park has an amazing experience from the proshop to the Owl’s Nest Restaurant and beyond. We strive to make Deer Park a must play and being on the list is a great way to show we are a destination club for many.”

For Kachur’s Golf Course and owner Patty Kachur, being on the list is an incredibly proud moment. Owning a golf course, especially in Saskatchewan with a shorter season staff must work incredibly hard to get the club ready for play and to make positive experiences. Kachur said making the list for the first time in 2025 is a testament to the entire staff and the players that take time to review the 18 hole course.

“It’s really nice to be recognized,” Kachur said. “The city courses and the park courses in the region are awesome, amazing courses, but I feel we are just as good and people take it for granted.”

Kachur’s is celebrating their 50^th season this summer. Kachur said planning for a celebration is underway, but the season has started very busy (opened April 19). The parking lot was full opening weekend and players flocked to get an early round in with the positive weather. Kacher said to be on GolfPass’ list during a monumental year adds to the excitement.

“We are so excited, even our members are happy for us. Once the news hit so many of our members were like, congratulations, you guys deserve it. So the feedback has been great, we are proud of the honour and can’t wait to have an amazing 50^th year,” Kachur added.

Other courses to make the GolfPass list over the years is Harbor Golf and RV Park, the Elbow based club on the shores of Lake Diefenbaker was number one in 2019, they were ranked eighth in 2021 and 2022, in 2023 Harbor was third. The other Saskatchewan course to make the list over the years is North Battleford Golf and Country Club, they were 21^st in 2022.

The collegiate career for Jace Carlisle of Estevan has concluded with a fourth place finish at his final event with the Minot State University Beavers.

After winning the 2018 Saskatchewan Junior Championship Carlisle started his collegiate career at Lake Superior State. He transferred to Post University, was able to compete in two national NCAA Div. 2 events (2022 and 2024) and had several solid finishes and team wins.

Carlisle graduated from Post in May of 2024, he had a year left of eligibility so Carlisle returned close to home and spent one year with the Beavers and longtime Estevan friend Chase Gedak, who also saw his career close last week.

Following graduation Carlisle has accepted a position at world renowned Banff Springs Golf Club under the guidance of longtime professional Steve Young.

Carlisle spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about his career south of the border and what is next in the golf industry for the former TS&M Woodlawn staff member.

Jace Carlisle and Chase Gedak’s collegiate careers have come to an end at Minot State University (MSU). The Estevan duo and the Beavers were in Blue Springs, Missouri for the NSIC Championship at Adams Pointe Golf Club.

Carlisle will close his career with a fourth-place finish. He shot 79 in round one but found his groove over the last 36 holes shooting an event low 65 on day two and 69 in the final round to place just four shots back of the winner.

Gedak shot 80 on day one, he carded back-to-back 77’s leaving him in 36^th in his final college start.

Winston Grayson of Kipling had another solid event finishing in a tie for 25^th at 11-over par 234. He shot 73, 73, and 81. Darien Herlick of Weyburn was 40^th, he posted an 82 in round one, 77 in the middle round and 79 in the third round.

The Beavers were seventh as a school in the team competition.

Golf Saskatchewan will hear from Carlisle and Gedak this week following their outstanding collegiate careers.

Ella Kozak’s first college season with the NCAA Div. 1 Western Carolina University Catamounts is over. The Yorkton star tied for 20^th at the SoCon Championships in West Columbia, South Carlina at Solina Golf Club from April 14 to 16. Kozak shot 76, 82, and 75, good enough for a top 20 placing to cap her rookie season.

The Catamounts tied for sixth as a squad.

The freshman season at Waldorf University for Saskatoon’s Caden Loeppky is over. The Warriors were in Dubuque, Iowa on April 13 and 14 for the Loras Invite at The Meadows Golf Course. Competing for the Warriors ‘B’ team Loeppky shot 84 and 80. He tied for 35^th. His team was 10^th.

Waldorf is currently in Beatrice, Nebraska competing in the GPAC Championship, Loeppky is not in the field.

In their home event of the spring season, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) tied for second in the team competition with Saskatoon shooter Alex Swinnerton leading the Crimson Hawks. He shot 75 and 74 at the Indiana Country Club in the 60^th Cecil C. Spadafora IUP Invitational to tie for second, just missing another collegiate win by a shot.

Teammate and Waskesiu junior graduate Guillermo Salazar shot 82 and 78, the Calgary product tied for 41^st.

IUP will start their playoffs at the NCAA Atlantic/East Super Regional Championship in Erie, Pennsylvania from May 7 to 10.

In Prescott, Arizona on April 14 to 16 Nipawin’s Cole Taylor and the Park University Buccaneers were at the Antelope Hills Golf Course for the GSAC Championship. The Evergreen Golf Course staffer shot 76 in round one and fired back-to-back 82’s leaving him in 32^nd place.

The Bucs as a team were sixth in their final event of the season.

Carter Degelman of Saskatoon was in Tulock, California for the Hanny Stanislaus Invitational alongside the Dominican University of California Penguins on April 14 and 15 at Turlock Golf and Country Club. The Riverside Country Club member carded rounds of 76, 80, and 79to tie for 76^th place. Dominican was 14^th in the tournament as a team.

Degelman is currently on the course at the Pacific West Conference Championship in North Las Vegas, Nevada at Aliante Golf Club. That event concludes on April 23.

Holly Knudsen led the charge for the Minot State University (MSU) Beavers at the Augustana Spring Invite in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on April 7 and 8. The Chaplin product opened with an 82 at Elmwood Golf Club, she shot 79 in round two finishing at 17-over par. The Beavers tied for fifth in the team competition, Knudsen’s tie for 12^th was MSU’s top placing.

Knudsen and the team will head to Adams Pointe Golf Club in Blue Springs, Missouri for the NSIC Tournament on April 25 to 27.

On the men’s side of the Augustana Spring Invite Saskatchewan golfers were all over the leaderboard. MSU collected a second place in the team competition.

Estevan’s Jace Carlisle tied for seventh place, he shot a tournament low 69 in round one and 77 in the second round, teammate Winston Grayson of Kipling tied for 13^th place at 6-over par, 150 (78,72). Darien Herlick of Weyburn fired rounds of 77 and 75 for the Beavers, he was tied for 22^nd, Estevan’s Chase Gedak carded a 77 in the first round and 76 in the second round, the Golf Kenosee member was tied for 25^th.

MSU was just three shots back of Augustana’s ‘A’ team that won the team competition. The Beavers conclude the spring season at the NSIC Tournament starting April 17 at Adams Pointe Golf Club.

The Waldorf Warriors were in Marshall, Missouri for the Missouri Valley Invitational on April 7 and 8. Saskatoon’s Caden Loeppky was competing for the Warriors ‘B’ team at Indian Foothills Golf Course. The Willows Club member shot 87 in round one, bounced back nicely with a 77 in the middle round, in the final round he shot 84. Loeppky tied for 35^th at 32-over par, his team placed seventh overall.

Next up is the Loras Invitational on April 13 and 14 in Asbury, Iowa at The Meadows Golf Club.

Regina duo Will Blake and Luke Cote alongside their Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Mulerider teammates were in Mayetta, Kansas on April 7 and 8 for the Firekeeper Open at Firekeeper Golf Club.

Blake went 74, 78, and 73 for a 54-hole total of 9-over par, 225, he was tied for 37^th. Cote tied for 47^th at 10-over par, 226. The Royal Regina Golf Club shooter shot 74, 73, and 79.

SAU placed eighth as a team, next up is the Great American Conference Tournament in Fort Smith, Arkansas starting April 21 at Hardscrabble Country Club.

At the Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester, Pennsylvania on April 7 and 8 the Indianna University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks were in action. In the field of the Dr. Edwin B. Cottrell Invitational was Waskesiu junior graduates Alex Swinnerton and Guillermo Salazar.

Swinnerton was his steady self shooting rounds of 74 and 79 leaving the Saskatoon product in a tie for seventh overall. Salazar, who hails from Calgary, Alberta but spent summers at Waskesiu growing up finished tied for 47^th, he opened with a 79 but his second round was 91 dropping him 14 spots down the leaderboard.

IUP was third as a team. The next event for the Crimson Hawks is their lone home event of the season, the Cecil C. Spadafora Invitational at Indiana Country Club on April 15 and 16.

In New Orleans, Louisiana on April 7 and 8 Saskatoon’s Chase Pochylko was competing in a three school match play event for Nicholls University. In his first match, the Riverside Country Club member tied New Orleans University’s Maximilian Wojciechowski at Bayou Oaks at City Park. On day two Pochylko outlasted Southeast Louisiana’s Viggo Hed 1UP. After hole seven Pochylko was 3DOWN but forced his way to the front on the back nine.

The Colonels turn their attention to the Southland Conference Championships in Kerrville, Texas at Comanche Trace – The Hills / The Creeks Courses from April 21 to 23.

The Southwestern Community College Spartans took part in an event featuring several NCAA Div. 1 teams and placed fourth overall at the Kishwaukee Intercollegiate at Kishwaukee Country Club in Dekalb, Illinois on April 5. Playing 36 holes in one day, Saskatoon’s Justin Miller shot 79 and 86 placing 39^th in the event.

Miller and the Spartans will travel to Indianola Country Club in Indianola, Iowa for the Storm Spring Classic on April 16.

Regina’s Diana Kerr is the new president of Saskatchewan’s amateur golf governing body.

The Wascana Country Club member was voted into the role by the board of directors following Golf Saskatchewan’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 5. Kerr becomes the first female president of the association since another Regina golfer led the executive, Cathy Bildfell.

She began volunteering with Golf Saskatchewan just over a decade ago as a Rules Official. Kerr then decided to join the board of directors to learn the “business behind Golf Saskatchewan.” After two years in the role of vice president under Kevin Duchscherer, Kerr will now take over. She said another former president pushed her towards the opening.

“It was never something I wanted to do, but Larry [Wagman] approached me, and I thought with my business background I think I can do it. It was a big step for me,” Kerr said.

Kerr admitted she is nervous about being the first woman in the position since 2006 and being Saskatchewan’s provincial representative at the Golf Canada board table, but she’s also thankful to be depended on after several years of service to the organization.

“I am humbled to have the opportunity to be the president of Golf Saskatchewan for the next year or if it’s longer than that, I am excited about that,” she added.

Golf has been very successful globally, especially with the COVID pandemic providing an uptake in players taking up the sport. One area that continues to struggle in numbers is female competitors. Kerr said Saskatchewan’s top players usually participate in the Saskatchewan Amateur and Senior Championships, she said having more female events at the club levels and junior is very important for the future of the game.

“I’d rather focus on the member clubs getting more events for ladies,” Kerr said. “Our competitive golfers are already participating in the provincials, that’s not going to change. What I’d also like to focus on more junior girls, because I think that’s more the potential for the future.”

Kerr said making sure the province’s best players compete for national teams is very important, but most golfers are recreational, the category she puts herself in. She posted over 50 18-hole rounds through the Golf Canada Scorecentre app in 2024, but also played many partial rounds. Kerr concluded that however you play the game, shooting for a national spot or spending time outside enjoying the game, she encouraged everyone to try to sport out.

“You have to create an environment where people feel comfortable, if they don’t want to keep score, I don’t care. If they want to go out and play five holes, I don’t care, just get out and play,” she stressed.

One new person joined the executive, Audrey Perra of Regina was acclaimed to the group.

Golf Saskatchewan’s AGM can be viewed here.

To see the annual report, including the organization’s finance report that showed a $122,000 surplus, click here.

Ella Kozak has wrapped up her top collegiate performance with the Western Carolina Catamounts.

The Yorkton product was at Mimosa Hills Country Club in Morganton, North Carolina on March 31 and April 1 competing in the Mimosa Hills Invitational. Kozak opened the 54 hole event with a 78, she shot 80 in the second round, and 79 in the final round to tie for 16^th, her best finish yet. The Catamounts were fourth out of 10 teams.

Their next event is the SoCon Championship in West Columbia, South Carolina at Solina Golf Club starting April 14.

Holly Knudsen of Chaplin continued her final spring season with the Minot State University (MSU) Beavers at Paradise Pointe Golf Club on March 31 and April 1. She shot 82 and 85 while in Smithville, Missouri for the 36 hole event and placed 34^th. The Beavers were 13^th in the team race.

MSU is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the NSIC Conference Preview at Elmwood Golf Course starting April 7.

Will Danielson tied for his team’s lead in 11^th place and helped the Milsaps Majors to a third place performance this week in Bullard, Texas at the Eagle’s Bluff Intercollegiate. Danielson carded rounds of 79, 70, and 76 on March 31 and April 1 finishing at 12-over par.

The event was the lowest score for the Majors this season which will be Danielson’s last. Next up is the SAA Golf Championships at Greystone Golf Club in Dickson, Tennessee from April 25 to 27.

Two Saskatoon student-athletes were in the same field in Maryville, Missouri at the Mozingo Lake Golf Course. Caden Loeppky and Justin Miller were competing for the Waldorf Warriors and Southwestern Community College respectively on March 28 and 29 in the Graceland University Spring Invitational. Playing on Waldorf’s ‘B’ team, Loeppky shot 86 and 84, he was 39^th, his team was eighth. Miller fired an 83 and an 82, he was 24^th playing as an individual.

Waldorf will travel to Marshall, Missouri for the Missouri Valley Invitational starting April 7, Miller and Southwestern begin the Kishwaukee Intercollegiate at Kishwaukee Country Club in Dekalb, Illinois Saturday (April 5).

Alex Swinnerton and fellow Waskesiu Golf Course junior graduate Guillermo Salazar were in Old Hickory, Tennessee on March 31 and April 1 for the 54 hole Trevecca Men’s Spring Music City Invitational played at Hermitage Golf Club General’s Retreat Golf Course. Swinnerton added another top 10 finish to his record with Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) after rounds of 72, 69, and 68 to lead the Crimson Hawks team in a tie for 10^th. Salazar, from Calgary but spend his summers in Waskesiu and competing on the Saskatchewan junior circuit shot 75, 70, and 75, he was tied for 48^th.

IUP placed 11^th out of 17 schools in the event. The Crimson Hawks reload and prepare for the Dr. Edwin B. Cottrell Invitational in West Chester, Pennsylvania at Penn Oaks Golf Club starting April 7.

Cole Taylor of Nipawin and the Park University Gilbert Buccaneers hosted a small four school event from April 2 and 3 in San Tan Valley, Arizona. Taylor shot 78 and 74, he was tied for 13^th.

The Bucs won the event being the only school under par shooting 10-under par on route to the win. The GSAC Conference Championships are next for Park, that begins on April 14 in Prescott, Arizona at Antelope Hills Golf Course.