Johnson lone local to earn Elk Ridge Open spot
It was another dramatic day on the 17th green at Waskesiu Golf Course.
Yorkton’s Kade Johnson needed a playoff-hole birdie to punch his ticket into the Elk Ridge Open beginning Thursday at Elk Ridge Resort.
Teeing off in the third group out, Johnson set an early pace at 3-under, 67. Then the wait began.
The score was good enough to get into a three-way playoff for one spot into the Open. Johnson hit his approach shot to the back of the 17th green, was away for his birdie but and made the putt.
Both Texas Harper and Patrick Sullivan couldn’t get their birdies to drop allowing Johnson to enter the Elk Ridge Open field for the second straight year.
Junior Alex Swinnerton (above) put up a great fight on his home course shooting 2-under, 68. He missed his birdie putt on 18 by mere inches, just missing out on the playoff.
Saskatoon’s Chase Pochylko (below), another junior looking to get into the field in Elk Ridge also finished at 2-under par.
The complete results can be seen here.
McNall wins Men’s Lobstick in event debut
Regina’s Shawn McNall outlasted the entire 2022 Men’s Lobstick Championship field and claimed the victory on Saturday at Waskesiu Golf Course.
McNall, 42, started the week with a tie for 17th in the Open, the Roya Regina Golf Club player then placed 14th in the qualifying round on Tuesday. He then went on to beat Doug Kozak, Danny Klughart, Ashley Ziegeman, and Payton Ochitwa in the final in a one hole playoff.
Ochitwa took the early match lead after McNall bogeyed Waskesiu’s classic second hole. McNall bounced back with a birdie on hole four to get the match even, but Ochitwa took the 1-up lead right back on the fifth hole. Ochitwa’s tee shot on hole six found the trees allowing McNall to tie the match with a par.
On hole 10, Ochitwa again regained his one hole advantage, however he gave that back with a bogey on 13 to square the match again. The young Saskatoon golfer regained his 1-up lead with a birdie on hole 16. McNall rebounded with a birdie on 17 to draw even.
After pars on 18, the pair was send back to hole 17 where McNall knocked in another birdie to claim the title in his first ever appearance at the historic event.
The complete results can be found here.
McNall spoke to Golf Saskatchewan following the win.
Golf Saskatchewan announces SAGE scholarship recipients
Golf Saskatchewan is pleased to announce the 2022 SAGE Scholarship Recipients. The Saskatchewan Academic and Golf Excellence (SAGE) Scholarship program annually presents scholarships to assist deserving member golfers in their pursuit of high school and post-secondary academic excellence. The successful recipients were selected based on being a Golf Saskatchewan member, academics, and some weighting on sporting excellence.
Graham DeLaet Scholarship #1 (valued at $1,500)
• Ryan Chernoff, TS&M Woodlawn GC, Estevan
Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship (Valued at $1,500)
• Alexandra Schmidt, Royal Regina GC, Regina
Meredith MacPherson-Stalwick Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,178.51)
• Symone Ripley, Saskatoon G&CC, Saskatoon
Fletcher-Reid Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
• Jace Carlisle, TS&M Woodlawn GC, Estevan
Ron Young Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
• Josh Nagy, Riverside GC, Saskatoon
Cooke-Kinnear Scholarship (values at $1,000)
• Autumn Neiszner, Wascana GC, Regina
Kozy Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
• TJ Baker, Waskesiu GC, Waskesiu
Leddy-Heywood Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
• Sarah Grieve, The Willows/SGCC, Saskatoon
Dr. Garry Hayes Memorial Scholarship $1634.98/2 (valued at $817.49 each)
• Alex Swinnerton, Riverside CC, Saskatoon
• Will Blake, Royal Regina GC, Regina
Golf Saskatchewan High School Bursary (valued at $400)
• Nick Kitchen, Evergreen GC, Nipawin
• Max Regier, Willows GCC, Saskatoon
• Myles Johnson, Legends GC, Warman
• Dane Giesbrecht, Legends GC, Warman
For more information on our scholarship program or any of our other programs please visit the Golf Saskatchewan website at www.golfsaskatchewan.org or contact our office.
Kozak qualifies for U.S. Junior Girls Championship
Yorkton’s Ella Kozak is going to the U.S. Junior Girls Championship after qualifying through an event in North Dakota on Monday.
Kozak, 16, travelled from Ste. Anne, Manitoba following the conclusion of the rained out NextGen Prairie Championship on Sunday to Jamestown, North Dakota to compete in the one-day event and potentially punch her ticket to the national championship in Bowling Green, Kentucky and be the first Saskatchewan player to accomplish the feat since Anna Young in 2012.
Kozak said the idea was advice from her coach Henry Brunton in Florida to enter started the schedule planning and after getting off the course with a lead and then realizing there was live scoring at the event it was a whirlwind while the others finished, she said.
“It was kind of a shocker, it took a while for it to hit me that I might have won it and qualified,” Kozak said. “It’s still kind of settling in, it’s definitely something I’ve never felt before.”
Kozak placed fourth at Golf Canada’s NextGen event. The three-day tournament had the final day washed out and that allowed Kozak to make her way to the United States a little earlier than planned. Despite the disappointment in not finishing that event Kozak said the weather was potentially a blessing.
“Part of me really wanted to play (Sunday at Quarry Oaks), I felt really ready, even though I played two-and-a-half holes I felt it that I was going to play well. I was in a good mood, it sucked but like you said, a blessing in disguise, I was really well rested for my round,” she said.
Kozak won the qualifier with a 2-over, 74, three strokes better than Rylee Heryford and Rose Solberg.
The U.S. Junior Girls Championship will be held at The Club at Olde Stone from July 18 to 23. Kozak said nothing drastic will change with her game ahead of the premier event. She said her daily preparation will continue leading up to the championship.
“I’m really happy where my game is at right now, I’m just going to tweak a few things. Not really any big changes, just practicing, grinding, making sure my short game stays in touch and making sure I’m ready to go,” she said.
You can hear more from Kozak who spoke with Golf Saskatchewan a couple days after the qualifier.
After nearly 40 years Meier moves on from Golf Saskatchewan
For 38 years Terry Meier has been a fixture within the golfing circle in Saskatchewan, so much so that the Regina resident was inducted into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
Now after nearly four decades volunteering in roles such as being a past president of the Saskatchewan Golf Association, a rules official, and a course rater. Meier has also been recognized a Golf Saskatchewan Long Term & Exemplary Volunteer Service award recipient.
“My time as a volunteer was most enjoyable, both on the job and in the social time when the job was done. I met and spent time with many interesting and fun people and got to see most of Saskatchewan and much of Canada.”
TERRY MEIER
Meier attended his first SGA meeting in the mid-1980’s and as the saying goes, the rest is history. In 1987 he received his Level 4 officiating accreditation which led to 20 years of officiating across the province and Canada. From there he transitioned to rating in 2007.
“While others work their way towards being different, Terry strived towards making a difference. His passion and energy are unparalleled, and we respect his spirit of volunteerism immensely. We are so very grateful to have Terry’s help for the past 38 years. Thank you for being so selfless with us and for the impact on the game of golf in Saskatchewan and across Canada.”
BRIAN LEE
Fry cooks up another tournament win
Brooklin Fry has another championship to add to her impressive resume.
Fry, 17, finished the 36-hole Saskatoon Women’s Open at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club on Sunday with a six-shot win over Kathy Ziglo. The Shell Lake product said she hasn’t played much golf this year so her even par round on the second day on route to the win felt great.
“It feels pretty good,” Fry said. “Especially shooting a 72 on the last day which was only my third round of the whole year so that definitely gives me some confidence going into the rest of the year.”
Fry shot 77 in the opening round on Saturday. Round one leader Dianne Bethune placed third at 156, Ziglo carded a two-day score of 155 (78, 77).
Fry and Ziglo have competed at the top of leaderboards for the last few years. The three-time junior women’s champion said the opportunity to play and learn from Ziglo and her career is always memorable.
“I always have a blast playing with Kathy and I look up to her so being able to play with her is awesome,” she said.
Saskatoon’s Sarah Grieve continues her strong start to the season with a fourth place finish, Laura Small of Saskatoon rounded out the top five.
The complete results can be seen here.
Buglass steps away from volunteering
After three decades of giving back to golf in Saskatchewan, and Canada, Pat Buglass is stepping away from volunteering with Golf Saskatchewan.
Buglass, a 2020 Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame inductee, has worn many hats within the organization including being the last president of the Saskatchewan Ladies Golf Association, a course rater, referee, and many other service committees.
The most satisfying part of any volunteering is the people you meet. You get to know people from all parts of Saskatchewan and Canada. Buglass is also a Long Term & Exemplary Volunteer Service award recipient.
“I have had the opportunity to visit many communities that I wouldn’t have stopped in if not for Golf Saskatchewan. You realize how proud they are of what they have accomplished building a golf course on the barren prairie or carved out of the forest.”
PAT BUGLASS
Buglass worked her last event in August of 2021 when she officiated the Rosebowl Championship at Katepwa Beach Golf Club. Golf Saskatchewan Executive Director Brian Lee has worked alongside Buglass for almost 20 years, he said her contributions to the sport not only in the province but nationwide.
“Knowing Pat for almost 20 years, she’s one of the hardest working and dedicated volunteers an organization could ever ask for. I can’t thank Pat enough for her dedication and her friendship.”
BRIAN LEE
Swinnerton speaks about NextGen championship
“Team Saskatchewan” is back from Ste. Anne, Manitoba with a championship and plenty of memories after the NextGen Prairie Championship.
Alex Swinnerton won the boys division with a rain-shortened score of 3-under par, 141 at Quarry Oaks after the third round was washed out by weather. The Saskatoon product was the only player under par and won by four strokes.
Swinnerton spoke to Golf Saskatchewan Monday after returning to Saskatoon.
Regina’s Luke Cote had the only other subpar round, that was a 71 in Saturday’s second round. Cote finished in fifth place at 5-over par. Darien Herlick of Weyburn had a strong couple days as well placing fourth at 4-over par.
Max Regier of Saskatoon also cracked the top-10 at 9-over par.
In the women’s event, Yorkton’s Ella Kozak was the top local. Coming off an impressive performance at the Scotia Wealth Open, the 16-year-old placed fourth at 9-over par. The winner was Amy Seung Hyun Lee of Langley, British Columbia at 2-over par.
Hallie Crozier of Regina was ninth at 23-over par, Autumn Neiszner, also from Regina was 11th at 31-over par.
The complete results can be seen here.
Swinnerton continues to lead at NextGen
Saskatoon’s Alex Swinnerton still has the lead at the NextGen Prairie Championship in Ste. Anne, Manitoba.
The Waskesiu Golf Course member backed up his opening round of 71 Friday with a 70 during the middle round of the three-day event. Swinnerton leads Matthew Javier by four shots going into Sunday’s final round.
“It was tough, lots of tough pins out there,” Swinnerton said after the round. “I just tried keeping the ball in play and make birdie when I can and make sure I get that two putt for par.”
Weyburn’s Darien Herlick shot 76 on Saturday, he’s in fourth place, seven shots back of Swinnerton.
The only other under-par round of the day besides Swinnerton was Regina’s Luke Cote who vaulted up the leaderboard to fifth after a 71 in round two. He said his round started with some firewords.
“It was a good round, I got off to an okay start birdying the first hole, but then I made a bad triple on the second hole,” Cote explained. “I rebounded after that, made some birdies, kept the ball in play all day. All in all it was a good day on the course.
On the girls side of the 54-hole event, Yorkton’s Ella Kozak is the top Saskatchewan player in fourth place.
Kozak shot 78 on Saturday, after a 75 on Friday the Deer Park Golf Course member sits at 9-over par, 153, seven strokes back of leader Amy Seung Hyun Lee of Langley.
Regina’s Hallie Crozier bounced back with a solid round on day two, she stroked a 91 on Friday but a 76 on Saturday jumped the Royal Regina Golf Club member to ninth at 23-over par.
Points earned at the event will go towards the Canada Summer Games rankings. The complete results and Sunday’s tee times can be found here.
Swinnerton takes first round lead at NextGen event, Kozak one off the lead
Alex Swinnerton is the first round leader after 18 holes of the Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship.
The Saskatoon product was the only player in the red shooting a 1-under, 71 on day one of the 54-hole tournament in Ste. Anne, Manitoba at Quarry Oaks.
Weyburn’s Darien Herlick is one shot back of Swinnerton in second place. Saskatoon’s Carter Bell (75) and Assiniboia golfer Davin Karst (76) are the other two locals inside the top ten.
On the girls side, Yorkton’s Ella Kozak sits just one shot off the lead.
The Deer Park Municipal Golf Course player carded a 75 on Friday. Carlee Meilleur of Ontario is the first round leader.
Regina golfers Hallie Crozier is in 12th with a 91 in round one, Autumn Neiszner posted a 92 in the first round, she’s in 13th position.
The complete results and Saturday’s tee times can be seen here.
The event will wrap up on Sunday.