Roman Timmerman has kicked off his final spring college golf season with a solid showing at the Houston Classic.

The Southern Arkansas University (SAU) senior put a 54-hole score of 223 together to finish in a tie for 14^th at the event that concluded on Tuesday. The Saskatoon product and 2021 Saskatchewan Men’s Amateur champion shot 75 in the opening round Monday morning. Timmerman followed that with a 78 in round two, also on Monday. Tuesday he caped the event with a 70 to help lead the Muleriders to a seventh-place finish as a team at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.

The SAU men’s golf team will compete again on Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Broncho Invitational in Oklahoma City.

Several other Saskatchewan student-athletes will begin their spring seasons in the next few weeks.

For more details on the players competing south of the border click here.

The governing body of amateur golf in Saskatchewan is announcing another event for the 2022 schedule.

Golf Saskatchewan will hold a 36-hole, Four-Ball championship on May 21 and 22 at Valley Regional Park and Golf Course. Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Championships Steve Ryde said the organization is excited to launch this team event.

“For over half a century, Golf Saskatchewan has run successful team events such as the Women’s Rosebowl and the Mixed Championships. To bring back another team event, open to all genders, is great for golf in the province. Our individual stroke-play events focus on high level golf but opening a new avenue to compete for a provincial title with someone close to you is extra special,” Ryde said.

The stroke play format for the two-day event over the Victoria Day weekend consists of a two-person team, with the lowest score from either team member counting for their team score.

“Similar provincial events have been played in the past, but this is a new focus on a popular format. You now have the ability to lean on your partner.” Executive Director Brian Lee said.

Valley Regional Head Professional Conner McGill worked in collaboration with Ryde on the finalizing of the event. McGill said he’s wanted to bring a Golf Saskatchewan tournament to the course that’s highly regarding among the Saskatchewan golf community.

“Obviously it’s exciting to host a new event,” McGill said to Golf Saskatchewan. “We always hear people say, I’ve never played there before, so it’s nice to try to attract a few people that haven’t played Valley Regional before. I’ve always wanted to host a Golf Saskatchewan event; I just wasn’t sure if it was possible without a driving range. It’s something a little more, not just a one-player stroke-play event, it’s kind of perfect.”

Valley Regional is a “hidden gem” located between Saskatoon and Prince Albert. The course features tree lined fairways, rolling terrain, and a “peaceful” atmosphere of a small Saskatchewan town. Camping is available at the park. McGill said players will be pleased with spending the May long weekend at Valley Regional.

“We’re going to try to have the course in as good as shape as possible for such a big event. We will just keep doing what we do daily with the customer service and hopefully the weather holds off and it’s good in May,” McGill said.

Registration opens for all events on April 15.

Sask Sport has named Chase Pochylko their 2021 Youth Male Athlete of the Year.

Nominated by Golf Saskatchewan, the 17-year-old Saskatoon product was named the winner during the amateur sport association’s virtual awards gala on Thursday. Pochylko had several people to thank upon receiving the honour.

“A huge thanks to my parents for their endless support throughout my journey in golf,” Pochylko said. “They’ve just helped me so much through the years. I’d like to thank all my coaches in my junior golf career. I’d like to thank Sask Sport for putting on this ceremony and just helping grow the amateur sports scene here in Saskatchewan.”

Pochylko capped a great season that included a trip to both the amateur and junior Canadian championships, an appearance at the Elk Ridge Open, a win at the Maple Leaf Junior Tour National Championship, and the 2021 Saskatchewan Order of Merit junior men’s championship.

“I’d like to thank all my friends and family who have supported me so much over the years. It really helps me stay motivated in pursuing my dream,” Pochylko concluded.

As announced last week by the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) and Golf Saskatchewan, the nationwide junior tour is returning to the province.

The CJGA last held an event in Saskatchewan in May of 2017. This year the CJGA Prairie Championship will be held from June 17 to 19 at Yorkton’s Deer Park Municipal Golf Course. CJGA Director of Tour Operations Tyler Torrieri said part of his goal within his role at the association was to bring an event back to the province.

“We’ve been out of it for three or four years now, the pandemic kind of messed with things but even before that we just weren’t seeing the players out there,” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “I really wanted to get back into Saskatchewan and give players another avenue to play.”

The CJGA holds 120 events across Canada for junior golfers up to the age 24. The organization has the customary junior competitive circuit as well as their “Linkster” program for players four to 14. Deer Park last hosted a large-scale junior event in 2019 when Golf Canada hosted the then Future Links [now NextGen] Prairie Championship. Torrieri said he’s looking forward to bringing the event to the east-central city.

“We’re very excited to provide another avenue for these golfers out there because you guys have some fantastic junior golfers that we want to provide that opportunity to and provide notoriety for them too with some of the ranking associations and put their names on the map,” he said.

The 54-hole tournament is also one of five events that will be used to determine Team Saskatchewan that will represent the province at the Canada Summer Games in August. He added that the incentive the event provides is fantastic.

“Absolutely, we’re excited that you guys (Golf Saskatchewan) have offered that opportunity to us as well to be a qualifier for the Canada Games and provide this opportunity for players because you guys deserve it out there,” Torrieri said.

For more details on the CJGA you can visit their website.

You can hear more below in Torrieri’s interview with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork.

Golf Saskatchewan has announced the criteria that will outline who will compete for the province at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara this summer.

The golf competition at the Games will be held at the Legends on the Niagara (Battlefield) from Aug. 17 to 20. Team Saskatchewan will be made up of two females and two males under the age of 19. Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Sport Steve Ryde said the internal competition to be a part of Team Saskatchewan will be fun to follow along this upcoming season.

“Saskatchewan is rich in talent, there are at least a dozen or more talented, male players that could possibly make the team. On the female side, we have a handful of competitors ready to represent the green and gold on the national stage. As the coach for the golf team, my goal is to create a team atmosphere leading up to the games that expands through the entire process to the final hole in late August,” Ryde said.

The teams will be announced following the Saskatchewan Junior Championships at the Royal Regina Golf Club from July 5 to 7. Four other tournaments leading up to the provincial championships will also be used to determine the team. Ryde added that despite the fact the Games are still over seven months away, preparation for players is underway for a chance to compete in this potential once in a lifetime opportunity.

“We are months away from the Canada Games however, golfers in Saskatchewan are already training and planning their competitive schedules. Our organization wanted to finalize the details regarding the process, so all the players are ready when registration for all the events are open,” Ryde said.

“There are so many PGA professionals, fitness experts, and coaches that help in the development of our junior golfers in Saskatchewan, I am proud to say that we are all Team Saskatchewan. The excitement is building towards another amazing season for our juniors and all golfers,” Ryde concluded.

For the complete Junior Order of Merit Schedule click here.

Saskatoon’s Chase Pochylko is being recognized by Sask Sport Inc. for his tremendous season on the golf course.

On Wednesday the 17-year-old was named one of the finalists for Youth Male Athlete of the Year for 2021.

Pochylko competed at both the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship. He missed the cut by just one stroke in the men’s event and finished in 69^th place at the boy’s national event.

He was the winner of the Saskatchewan Junior Order of Merit Tour in 2021 and had his season capped by winning his age group at the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) National Championship in British Columbia over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Pochylko is a finalist alongside baseball player Carson Hindmarsh.

You can read more on the finalists here.

Sask Sport will announce the winners virtually on Jan. 27.

Saskatoon’s Scott Allan is the new executive director of the PGA of Saskatchewan.

Allan has had a long career in golf in the province and elsewhere and admits he’s a “lifer” in the industry following his latest appointment.

Allan sat down with Golf Saskatchewan to discuss the position and the industry overall on both a professional and an amateur.

The PGA of Canada has announced their finalists for the 2021 National Awards.

“We are blessed to have a family of over 3,600 professionals who proudly share their passion and expertise with golfers from coast-to-coast,” Teejay Alderdice, the association’s president said in a news release on the organization’s website.

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

Patty Jonas, who teaches out of Jonas Golf Academy at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club is among the nominees in the George Knudson Teacher of the Year Award.

Paul Schatz, a Regina based PGA professional based out of the Joanne Goulet Golf Course is nominated for the Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year Award.

Wildwood Golf Course based PGA of Canada professional Jason Schneider is among seven nominees for the Ben Kern Coach of the Year Award for his work in Saskatoon and area.

Saskatoon Golf & Country Club Head Professional Brennen Gee is in the final group vying for the Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year Award.

Brent Eikelenboom is nominated in the Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year Award category through his work at The Legends Golf Club as the proshop manager and teacher in Warman.

Each year, a National Selection Committee evaluates nominations from professionals across Canada. Winners for each national award are traditionally recognized during PGA of Canada Night at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., however, this year will see winners revealed live during the association’s virtual National Award Ceremony on Jan. 27, 2022. 

Early in 2022, the registration for the PGA of Canada’s National Award Ceremony will be live. 

It’s no secret golf has had a couple of booming seasons since the COVID-19 pandemic was first declared in March of 2020. After lobbying from industry stakeholders, golf started May 15, 2020 in Saskatchewan by being recognized as a safe, social distant outdoor activity.

Numbers grew but nothing like what was recorded for the 2021 season.

The Numbers

In Saskatchewan, scores posted into the Golf Canada Score Centre were up 21 percent from 2020 for the year. Early season round posting (players posting in warmer climates) was down drastically due to travel restrictions, between December of 2020 and February of 2021.

Rounds posted was down an average of 65 percent, there would be people that still travelled to southern homes. April’s uptake is monumental for this year, in April of 2020 courses were not allowed to be open in Saskatchewan due to health regulations, this year clubs hit the ground running and saw an increase of 10,592 percent for the month. There were 106 scores posted in April 2020 in the province, again likely by Golf Saskatchewan members playing elsewhere. Once the weather cooperated this year, 11,334 rounds were counted. The numbers tapered from the hot start but stayed well above last year’s marks.

Deer Valley Golf Resort Head Professional John Greenough said the second they opened their doors at the start of the 2021 season people were flocking to their club.

Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert also saw a huge upswing in play. In 2020 Cooke registered just over 5,000 rounds being entered in the Score Centre, that number ballooned to almost 8,900, the sixth most in Saskatchewan. General Manager Darcy Myers said their course appreciated the increased play.

“Unreal, it was fantastic,” Myers said. “It’s nice to rebound after things were flat for a while.”

Some players even managed to play for essentially days this summer. A male Riverside member posted 248 rounds this past season which was the ninth highest total in Canada. The top female golfer posted 206 rounds, she is also a member at Riverside Country Club.

Waskesiu Golf Club employee and longtime junior at the course, Guillermo Salazar has committed to play golf at Indiana University of Pennsylvania next season.

The 18-year-old Calgary product spent most of his youth playing hockey and used golf in Waskesiu, where his family has a cottage, as a release from the sport in the summers. A couple years ago Salazar saw a future in golf and altered his athletic focus.

“Last September is when I got my first golf coach,” he said to Golf Saskatchewan on Tuesday. “I took things to the next level, I started to win some tournaments and that’s when things took off.”

Salazar finished fourth at the Junior Lobstick in 2018, peaking his competitive interest. In 2020 he finished fifth at the Saskatchewan Junior Men’s Championship in Swift Current. This past year he won the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour event at Elk Ridge Resort, he also took home the championship of the Junior Lobstick. With plenty of junior success on his resume, Salazar said travel restrictions due to COVID-19 supplanted him in the province.

“Once we got into Saskatchewan we couldn’t leave it,” he explained. “That’s when I started playing most of my tournaments in Saskatchewan and I started meeting all the boys they. I really kind of settled into golf in Saskatchewan.”

Salazar will be joined by Alex Swinnerton at the school. The two are longtime friends from their time at the course where Swinnerton also works in the summer months. Salazar said having his friend along for the ride will create some great memories and teach himself about the world outside Calgary and Prince Albert National Park.

“I want to grow some qualities within myself, just some individualism, stuff like that. It’s the qualities you grow being a couple thousand kilometres away from your family. I’m really excited about learning different lifestyles across the continent,” he said.

Salazar is toggling between finance or accounting but highlighted the programs at the Division II school about 100 kilometres north of Pittsburgh.

He is still playing hockey, at a less grueling level in Calgary and preparing for next season. Salazar said he wants to play more men’s events in preparation of his college career.

You can hear more from Salazar in his interview with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork.