The NextGen Prairie Championship is coming to The Legends Golf Club in Warman this year, the first Golf Canada event ever hosted by the course.

Almost 120 players from five provinces, and 36 players from Saskatchewan are on the pending registration list, Golf Canada started taking entries on Feb. 19. The 54-hole championship runs from June 13 – 15. Legends General Manager and Davidson Matyczuk said the club is delighted to host the event.

“We are very excited to have been given the opportunity to host this Golf Canada event,” Matyczuk said. “We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Warman and the Legends Golf Club this June. It’s going to be a great event for both the juniors in our province as well as those traveling from other provinces to participate.”

The Legends is a par-72 championship caliber course that plays over 7,200 yards from the back tees. Matzczuk said the competitors are all talented players and will be tested by the course in various aspects.

“The players should expect to see a very strong field with the top juniors from Saskatchewan competing alongside some of the top junior golfers in Canada. The Legends has a history of identifying worthy champions as proven by the list of winners in previously held provincial championships. We expect the course will provide a fair but challenging test where their skills, course management, and mental toughness will all be required to be successful,” he added.

The NextGen Prairie Championship rotates between Saskatchewan and Manitoba each year. In 2023 Nipawin’s Evergreen Golf Course hosted the event over three days in June. Killarney, Man. product Cala Korman and Alberta resident Kye Fisher were the champions that year. Both players are now Division 1 collegiate players in the United States. Matyczuk, a longtime professional that has played around the world on several professional tours. He said events such as the NextGen Championship could be key in any junior golfer’s development.

“A win in any NextGen Championship has proven to be huge. It is often a turning point in a player’s development as well as opening new opportunities going forward. Events like this are a fantastic means for individuals to begin to validate their skills and building their own personal belief that they can compete amongst the best Canada. I’m hopeful that for many players (and specifically the Saskatchewan players) that this event might become a defining experience. For some it comes in the form of a win or earning an exemption into the Canadian championships, but even if it doesn’t, this event hopefully lights a spark and gives them the confidence to keep advancing towards their individual goals,” Matyczuk added.

The NextGen Prairie Championship will also be part of the Canada Summer Games qualifying process in Saskatchewan. Golf Saskatchewan will release the entire qualification process in March.

The college golf season is getting underway in the warmer states of the U.S.A.

Autumn Neiszner and the highly ranked Keiser University Seahawks team were in Jekyll Island, Ga. for the Coastal Georgia Winter Invitational on Feb. 10 and 11. The Regina product competed as an individual at the Jekyll Island Golf Course, she shot 82 and 80, good enough for a tie for 34th in the field of 76 players.

Neiszner’s team took the overall championship of the event. Next up for the Seahawks is the Babs Steffens Invitational hosted by Stetson University on Feb. 24 and 25 in DeBary, Flo.

Fellow Regina golfer Luke Cote and the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders opened their spring season in Texas at the Golf Club of Houston on Feb. 10 and 11. The Royal Regina Golf Club member tied for 46th place after rounds of 73 and 78.

The Muleriders were 10th in the team competition. SAU travels to Edmond, Okla. on March 17 for the Oak Tree Invitational at Oak Tree Golf Club

Saskatoon product Carter Degelman got his spring season underway at Dominican University of California on Feb. 10 and 11. The Penguins placed 13th at the CSUSM Fujikura Invitational with Degelman at 68th. The Riverside Country Club player fired 80, 79, and 87 at Shadowridge Golf Club in Vista, Cal.

The Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout in Alameda, Cal. at Corica Park Golf Course on March 10 and 11 is next up for Dominican.

Dick DeRyk, who was president of Golf Saskatchewan following the amalgamation of the amateur women’s and men’s organizations in the province has been honoured by the City of Yorkton.

DeRyk served as the president of Golf Saskatchewan from 2000 to 2002. He has also been a key member of many golf events hosted by Deer Park Municipal Golf Course serving as either the chair or co-chair of many provincial and national events hosted by the club between 1986 and 2017.

The city of Yorkton celebrated their sixth edition of the annual Civic Recognition Awards prior to a council meeting on Jan. 27.

More details from Yorkton This Week can be found here -> Dick DeRyk chosen as Yorkton’s Civic Recognition Award winner – SaskToday.ca.

The work of the “Fore” Women Hillcrest Ladies Committee in Moose Jaw was recognized by the city on Tuesday,

During the intermission of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Moose Jaw Warriors game the group was honoured for the work they do providing scholarships to female athletes chasing post secondary options.

Hillcrest Golf Club General Manager Jasmine Cameron is very proud of the group and appreciates the recognition the group received.

“This group of fabulous ladies contribute countless hours of their time volunteering, organizing, supporting, and carrying out an annual golf fundraising event that has put over $50,000 worth of scholarships back into our community for young women continuing on with their post secondary studies while taking part in high level sport. I am one proud general manger to have the opportunity to work with such amazing members.”

PGA of Canada Professional Ryan Wells is returning to Cooke Municipal Golf Course.

He spent eight years at Cooke from 2012 to 2020 before taking the head professional role at Dunes Golf and Winter Club in Grande Prairie, Alta. in May of that year. After one season in northern Alberta, Wells returned to Saskatchewan taking over the head professional job at Elk Ridge Golf Resort. Cooke Municipal made the announcement on their Facebook and Instagram pages of Wells’ return Tuesday afternoon.

He said coming back to Prince Albert is exciting.

““Returning to Cooke Municipal feels like coming full circle, Wells said. Back to the course I know and love, and a place that has played a huge role in my growth and success in this industry. After gaining valuable experience, I’m excited to bring back what I’ve learned to Cooke Municipal and having my family, friends, and familiar faces right along makes this a very rewarding transition. I’m looking forward to the 2025 season.”

Avonlea golfer Hudson Heistad has committed to play collegiate golf in southern California.

The Long Creek Golf Club junior will attend Providence Christian College in Pasadena next fall and study Business.

Heistad spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about his start at the local 18-hole gem, the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour and his process of choosing a post-secondary golf opportunity.

Earlier this week the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) announced their “tentative” nationwide schedule including seven events in Saskatchewan.

The MJT schedule in the province begins May 3 and 4 in Estevan at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club for a 36 hole tournament.

On may 17 to 19 Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current welcomes the tour for a three day championship.

The 2025 Saskatchewan Junior Championships host Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre will also be an MJT venue on May 30 and June 1.

Regina’s Tor Hill Golf Course will welcome juniors to their 27-hole facility on June 28 and 29.

After a month break, the MJT returns July 28 and 29 at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club just south of Saskatoon.

The annual trip to Elk Ridge Golf Resort for the tour will be on Aug. 9 and 10 and the season will conclude as it does each summer at The Legends Golf Club in Warman on Aug. 23 and 24.

All the events will be part of the Saskatchewan Junior Order of Merit schedule with points accumulated for the five age groups.

Registration will open in the new year.

The PGA of Canada has released the list of their award nominees.

Regina’s Dean Brown is a nominee for the Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year against seven other nominees as well as the Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year.

Saskatoon Golf and Country Club General Manager McLaren Taylor is up for the Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year.

The George Knudson Teacher of the Year has Wascana Country Club instructor Garrett McMillan in the list of nominees.

North Battleford Golf and Country Club Head Professional Dana Johnson is nominated for the Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year.

In the Ben Kern Coach of the Year category Jeff Chambers of Swift Current is among the nominees.

Hannah McNeil of Saskatoon, and formerly Shaunavon is up for the Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year.

The Stan Leonard Class ‘A’ Assistant Professional of the Year features eight nominees including Brad Lovatt of the Wascana Country Club.

The PGA’s release didn’t specify when the awards would be handed out, but said in the next few weeks the winners will be announced.

A lifelong connection with Titleist has turned into a “dream job” for Max Murchison.

The son of a Calgary based golf professional, Murchison is the new Titleist/FootJoy rep in Saskatchewan taking over for the retired Ken Rodgers.

Golf Saskatchewan sat down with Murchison to learn more about his start in golf, the job, and future here in Saskatchewan.

Warman’s Dane Giesbrecht has picked a school to continue his golf journey committing to South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, AZ.

The Legends Golf Club junior began golfing when he was seven, and once the now 17-year-old started competing in tournaments collegiate play was the goal he said.

He spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about the process, choosing the junior college route and where his main goal hopefully ends in the game.