Schneider honoured with Junior Leader of the Year
Longtime junior golf coach Jason Schneider was recently recognized at the PGA of Saskatchewan awards.
This is the Saskatoon professionals first award since 2021.
Schneider, who works out of Wildwood Golf Course in Saskatoon was chosen the winner at Dakota Dunes Resort on Oct. 30. He also won this award in 2012.
He spoke to Golf Saskatchewan following the reception.
Mosher caps unprecedented year with Div. 1 college commitment
The rise of Ryan Mosher on the Saskatchewan junior golf circuit has not been seen in any year in the province’s history.
Mosher, 17, is the first ever Saskatchewan junior to compete for the junior men’s and amateur men’s national teams, and the Canada Summer Games all in the same summer.
The Saskatoon product also added the Golf Canada NextGen Selection Camp event in Toronto to his summer itinerary. Among all the travel and tournaments the Riverside Country Club member also committed to a college. He will attend Holy Cross and join Ella Kozak (Idaho) and Chase Pochylko (Nicholls) at the NCAA Division 1 level with the Crusaders starting in September of next year.
Mosher burst onto the junior golf scene with a win at the 2024 NextGen Prairie Championship in Thunder Bay, Ont. Mosher went on to win the 2024 Saskatchewan Junior Championship in July.
He didn’t win the juniors or amateur but did place third in both championships to earn team spots and the distinction of playing in all those events this summer, again a Saskatchewan first.
Golf Saskatchewan spoke with Mosher about his rise and ultimately a golf spot at Holy Cross.
Nesbitt wins bantam age group at MJT Nationals
Austin Nesbitt has added another trophy to his collection.
The Pilot Butte, Sask.product has won the Saskatchewan under-13 and under-15 championships, now the Wascana Country Club player is a Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) national title holder.
On the weekend in Kissimmee, Florida at Orange Lake Golf Resort the 14-year-old shot rounds of 71, 70, and 74 to win the under-15 age group by six shots. There were 24 players in the age group playing at almost 6,300 maximum yardage.
Hudson Diederichs of Saskatoon was tied for 10th in the division at 231 (78, 79, 74)
Miranda Merriman (La Ronge) and Ada Dillon (Onion Lake Cree Nation) competed in the 15 to 19 year-old women’s event. Merriman was ninth at 266 (86, 88, 92). Dillon was 11th with a 54-hole score of 272 (95, 87, 90).
The youngest Saskatchewan competitor was 13-year-old Alyxa Melsted of Wynyard. She shot rounds of 93, 90, and 89, that was seventh in the division.
Dante Gamble of Duck Lake, Sask. was the top local finisher in the under-17 men’s category tied for 24th at 233 (74, 83, 76). Kai Kriekle of Regina was 35th with a three round score of 253 (84, 81, 88 and Ayden Melsted of Wynyard was 36th at 255 (83, 95, 77).
Dade Bernatchez of Sucker River, Sask. capped his junior career with a 15th place finish in the under-19 man’s age group. The 2025 Junior Lobstick champion carded rounds of 78, 84, and 78 in Florida.
To see all the results and images courtesy the MJT click here.
MJT National Championships underway in Florida; 9 Sask. players in field
The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) National Championships began Friday in Kissimmee, Florida at Orange Lake Golf Resort.
Eight players from Saskatchewan earned an invite to the 54-hole tournament. Competing this year is:
Alyxa Melsted (Wynyard) | Under-15 Women
Miranda Merriman (La Ronge) | 15 – 19 Women
Ada Dillon (Onion Lake) | 15 – 19 Women
Austin Nesbitt (Pilot Butte) | Under-15 Men
Hudson Diederichs (Saskatoon) | Under-15 Men
Dante Gamble (Duck Lake) | Under-17 Men
Kai Kriekle (Regina) | Under-17 Men
Ayden Melsted (Wynyard) | Under-17 Men
Dade Bernatchez (Sucker River) | | Under-19 Men
The three round championship will conclude on Sunday.
To follow along with the scores, click here.
Wells wins two trophies at PGA of Sask. awards banquet
Ryan Wells is a two time winner at the 2025 PGA of Saskatchewan awards.
The Cooke Municipal Golf Course head professional took home the Frank Fowler Trophy for lowest scoring average (68) and the Bill Taylor Trophy which is given to the professional best exemplifying sportsmanship.
Wells spoke after the awards reception on Oct. 30 at Dakota Dunes Golf Resort.
Wallin wins pair of PGA of Sask. awards
Former Saskatchewan junior men’s champion Tayden Wallin has found his golf game again and has been recognized for a fantastic season on the course.
Now a professional working at Riverside Country Club, the 2017 junior champion was named the Scott Knapp Trophy (Player of the Year) and Peter Kushner Trophy (Order of Merit) winner at the associations awards banquet on Oct. 30 at Dakota Dunes Resort.
The Humboldt product spoke after the reception about being back on the competitive circuit and his return to loving the sport.
Cote’s career best highlights slower week on collegiate circuit
Regina’s Luke Cote has a career best third place finish on his college resume.
The reigning Saskatchewan amateur champion was in Rockwall, Texas this week for the DBU Classic with Carter Bell and the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders. Competing on Oct. 27 and 28 at Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club, Cote carded rounds of 69, 71, and 71 to place two shots back of the winner in third, his first collegiate podium finish.
Bell shot 75 in round one, 77 in the second round and closed with an 80, the Saskatoon product tied for 66th. The Muleriders were fourth overall in the team competition to wrap the fall campaign.
Davin Karst of Assiniboia was on the course this week for the Milsaps College Majors in Flowood, Mississippi. Competing in the Belhaven Invitational at the Refuge Golf Club Karst shot 80 and 88 to place tied for 48th place. Karst was on the Majors ‘B’ team at the event; the group was 11th overall. The Milsaps ‘A’ team was fourth.
That was the end of the season for Karst and the Majors.
Justin Miller’s fall season has been busy with another event this week, the Southwestern Community College (SCC) Spartans played their ninth tournament of the fall this week. SCC was in Galesburg, Illinois for the Prairie Fire Classic on Oct. 25 and 26 at Soangetaha Country Club. The Saskatoon product shot 76 and 81 helping lead his team to a win. SCC had the top two finishers in the event; Miller was tied for 18th to wrap the fall season.
A half a dozen Saskatchewan student-athletes have events scheduled next week before the season closes for good.
PGA of Sask. hands out annual awards
The PGA of Saskatchewan hosted their annual awards reception on Thursday during the organization’s Buying Show at Dakota Dunes Resort.
There were two multi-winners this year with Tayden Wallin of Riverside Country Club being recognized for a fantastic playing season and Ryan Wells made the most of his return to Cooke Municipal Golf Course also taking home two honours.
The winners are listed below. Golf Saskatchewan spoke with several winners and will be featured next week.
Graham Coulter Professional of the Year | Paul Schatz | Waskesiu Golf Course
Class ‘A’ Assistant Professional of the Year | Chad Lavallee | Riverside Country Club
Apprentice Professional of the Year | Cole Ginther | The Legends Golf Club
John Gaudet Teacher of the Year | Mitch Bach | Clubhouse Golf
Coach of the Year | Jeff Chambers | Jeff Chambers Golf
Sales Representative of the Year | Max Murchison | Acushnet Golf
Junior Leader of the Year | Jason Schneider | JDS Golf
Retailer of the Year | Brad Lovatt | Wascana Country Club
Scott Knapp Trophy (Player of the Year) | Peter Cushner Trophy (Order of Merit Champion) | Tayden Wallin | Riverside Country Club
Bill Taylor Trophy (Sportsmanship) | Frank Fowler Trophy (Lowest Scoring Average) | Ryan Wells | Cooke Municipal Golf Course)
Executive Professional of the Year | Darcy Myers | Cooke Municipal Golf Course
*Unable to attend
Henderson and Wills compete in college; Salazar just misses win
It’s been several years since two Saskatchewan student-athletes have competed in the same women’s collegiate event, until this week.
Chloe Wills and Sarah Henderson were both in the field in Caseyville, Illinois for the McKendree Bearcats Dual Gender Invitational on Oct. 20 and 21. Playing at Far Oaks Golf Club, both players put up excellent results. Wills shot 81, 77, and 79 over the 54 holes leaving her in a tie for 10th place. Henderson also had a great showing placing tied for 14th. She carded rounds of 81, 83, and 75.
Henderson and her Lewis teammates won the team competition at the event, the Drury Panthers and Wills were sixth overall.
It’s believed that this is the first time since 1991 that two women from Saskatchewan competed at the college level since Kathy Ziglo and Kim Brozer were in the LSU Invitational together.
Both Wills and Henderson have concluded their first fall seasons and will be off until the new year.
Yorkton’s Ella Kozak was able to conclude her first season at the University of Idaho with a trip to Hawaii. The Vandals just wrapped up the Rainbow Wahine Invitational at Hokuala Golf Club in Lihue. Kozak shot 79, 80 and 77 in three rounds finishing in 99th place.
The Vandals were 19th as a team.
Regina’s Adam Husli has also wrapped up his fall season at the University of Providence. The Spartans were in Lewiston, Idaho on Oct. 20 and 21 for the LC State Invite. Playing 36 holes at Lewiston Golf and Country Club, Husli shot rounds of 80 and 78 tying for 34th overall.
Providence was eighth as a team.
The Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders fall season continued in Afton, Oklahoma on Oct. 20 and 21. Regina’s Luke Cote and Saskatoon product Carter Bell were at Shangri La Golf Resort playing in the MSSU Fall Invite. Cote led the team tying for 16th. The reigning Saskatchewan amateur champ shot 75, 73, and 74 over three rounds. Bell posted scores of 78, 74, and 77, he was tied for 42nd overall.
The Muleriders were 11th out of 18 schools at the tournament. SAU travels to Rockwall, Texas for the DBU Classic on Oct. 27 and 28 to close their season.
Waskesiu Golf Course junior graduates Alex Swinnerton and Guillermo Salazar put on a show for the Indianna University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks this week. In Lebanon, Pennsylvania at the Iron Valley Golf Club on Oct. 20 and 21, Salazar was awarded second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championship due to darkness. After shooting rounds of 72, 73, and 74, the Calgary product competed in a six hole playoff. Neither player got an advantage and due to darkness Eli Ropietski of Pitt-Johnson was awarded the win due to retrogression.
Swinnerton moved up five spots on the leaderboard in the final round thanks to a 72 in round three. Along with his 74 and 75 in the first rounds, the Saskatoon native ended tied for fifth place.
The Crimson Hawks ended up fourth as a team concluding their fall season.
Chase Pochylko’s fall season is also over. The Nicholls State University Colonels played the LaTour Intercollegiate at LaTour Golf Club on Oct. 20 and 21. Pochylko carded rounds of 77, 78, and 79 to place 69th.
The Colonels ‘A’ team which had Pochylko was seventh out of 15 schools at the event.
University of Regina competes in first Can-West Championship
The University of Regina golf team competed in their first USports Canada-West Championships this week at Chilliwack Golf Club.
Launched in 2023, the Cougars have competed in limited events but have built their program and expanded the roster including a women’s team. The ladies didn’t compete in Chilliwack on Oct. 20 and 21, but Micah Tangjerd (Saskatoon), Jackson Wingert (Saskatoon), Reece Kuski (Gray), Jordan Heller (Regina), and Carter Bell (Regina) were all in the field.
Tangjerd led the team placing 22nd with rounds of 76 and 70. Kuski was 151 (73, 78) in 33rd, Wingert shot 79 and 76, good enough for 37th, Heller was 40th at 161 (81, 80) and Bell was 45th at 170 (82, 88).
The Cougars were eighth overall in their Can West debut.
Another dozen players are scheduled to participate in events next week.
MJT names 2025 Order of Merit winners
The Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) announced their 2025 Order of Merit winners across the country.
Under-15 Women | Yoyo Zhu (Saskatoon) | The Willows Club
Under-19 Women | Tayla Perry (Regina) | Royal Regina Golf Club
Under-13 Men | Hudson Deibert (Regina) | Royal Regina Golf Club
Under-15 Men | Austin Nesbitt (Pilot Butte) | Wascana Country Club
Under-17 Men | Dante Gamble (Duck Lake) | Golf Saskatchewan Public Player
Under-19 Men | Brady Guenther (Saskatoon) | Saskatoon Golf & Country Club
To see the complete OOM standings, click here.
The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour National Championships will be held at Orange Lake Golf Resort in Kissimmee, Florida from Nov. 6 – 9.