TORONTO, Ont. — Canadian golf star Nick Taylor is no stranger to thrilling golf fans and inspiring the next generation of players. All it took was draining a historic 72-foot putt on a fourth playoff hole to become the first Canadian in 69 years to win Canada’s National Open Golf Championship.

Now the five-time PGA TOUR winner and 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion is giving back to youth golf, becoming an official ambassador for First Tee – Canada and taking on a leading role alongside his wife Andie and their family in inspiring children from all backgrounds to experience the sport and its core values.

As the program’s newest ambassador, the 2024 Olympian will carry the First Tee – Canada logo on his TOUR bag in support of the national youth development program delivered by Golf Canada which has introduced nearly 200,000 youth to the sport since launching in 2021.

“Being part of First Tee – Canada is an incredible opportunity to give back to the game that has given me so much,” said Taylor, the only Canadian male golfer to have won the Canadian Junior, Amateur and National Open trifecta. “Golf has shaped my life in many ways, and I want kids across our country to experience the values of discipline, friendship, integrity and the joy of competing which they can carry into everything they do. Andie and I are humbled to be able to support First Tee – Canada through our annual charity event.”

First Tee – Canada, a program designed to make golf more accessible by providing equipment, coaching and inclusive spaces, has quickly expanded into schools, community centres and golf facilities nationwide. Many of the program’s nearly 200,000 youth participants have joined from communities that would not otherwise have the opportunity to play the sport. Along with golf instruction, participants learn about perseverance, integrity, teamwork and respect — skills that reach beyond the fairway.

With First Tee – British Columbia as one of the charitable beneficiaries of the Nick Taylor Charity Classic since 2024, Taylor strives to make the sport he loves more accessible and inclusive for youth. His support for the program has helped the BC chapter expand no-cost programming to Cultus Lake Golf Club, reaching hundreds of participants near his hometown of Abbotsford, B.C.

Fundraising for First Tee – Canada is led by the Golf Canada Foundation, and the program is proudly supported by RBC and other contributing partners.

As a member of Team RBC, Taylor’s ambassador role also builds on his involvement with the RBC Community Junior Golf initiative, launched by RBC in partnership with Golf Canada in 2022, which brings affordable and community-based golf opportunities to children across Canada.

“Golf Canada has been fortunate to know Nick and the Taylor family since he was a young teenager,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “He has excelled at every level of golf, from junior through his amateur young pro career and now being one of the top professionals on the PGA TOUR. What has been equally amazing to witness is Nick’s commitment to making an impact when he’s off the golf course. In becoming a First Tee – Canada ambassador, it further demonstrates Nick’s incredible contribution to golf, to Canada and to the youth and families whose lives he will shape and inspire.”

With the shared commitment of Taylor as a proud ambassador, Golf Canada will continue to expand the First Tee – Canada program across the country, encouraging more equity-deserving youth to discover the game, embrace its values and develop skills for life.

For more information about First Tee – Canada, visit firstteecanada.ca.

The final Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) event in Saskatchewan of 2025 has wrapped up at The Legends Golf Club in Warman.

Highlighting the sold out event with 132 players entered was 14-year-old Ryder Bourassa acing hole 17 on Sunday during round two.

Yuna Lee of Regina was the winner of the 15-19 girls age group with rounds of 86 and 82. Onion Lake golfer Ada Dillon was second in the category (177), Miranda Merriman of La Ronge was third.

In the under-15 girls division Yoyo Zhu of Saskatoon was the champion. Zhu, currently competing in Pitt Meadows, B.C. in the Canadian U15 Championships, shot rounds of 79 and 80 at the Legends winning by 12 shots over Natalie Maunula of North Battleford. Alyxa Melsted of Wynyard was third.

The overall champion on the boys’ side was Brady Guenther of Saskatoon. He won the junior (U19) age group with back-to-back rounds of 69. Griffin Blanch, also of Saskatoon was seven strokes back. Prince Albert’s Lincoln Rogers was third.

The under-17 age group champion is Kai Kriekle of Regina. The Wascana Country Club player opened with a 75 on Saturday and shot 70 on Sunday to claim the win by two shots. Humboldt junior Tryce Wallin and Swift Current player Matty Schmiess were tied for second at 147.

The under-15 boys champion is Jun Lee. The 12-year-old was five shots better than Austin Nesbitt of Pilot Butte. Lee shot 71 and 70, Nesbitt carded two rounds of 73. Both Lee and Nesbitt are also in Pitt Meadows at the bantam national event.

Rounding our the championship was the under-13 boys division. Hudson Deibert of Regina capped his impressive season with another win. The Royal Regina Golf Club star shot 76 and 72 to win the age group by seven shots. Caleb O’Brien of Melville was second (155), Corman Park’s Cohen Bridge was third.

To see the complete results click here.

Next up for the MJT is the national championship in Kissimmee, Flo. from Nov. 6-9.

Earlier this month Jackie McEwen of Regina was the first Saskatchewan competitor ever at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Masters Championships.

Golf Canada expanded the age groups a couple years ago and Golf Saskatchewan followed alongside other provinces. The first year the 25 and over age group was available was 2023, Saskatchewan had two competitors entered, in 2024 at Regina, McEwen’s first provincial event there was 10 players, this season in Humboldt seven players competed.

McEwen was the lone Saskatchewan representative at nationals in Lachute, Que. and placed tied for 42nd in the mid-am division and tied for 26th in the 40 and over age category.

The Wascana Country Club player had high praise for the national event and encourages more women to try competitive golf and grow the game.

McEwen spoke to Golf Saskatchewan about the experience and making the jump back into tournament play.

For the second year in a row Alex Schmidt is a mixed champion, but the Regina product had a new partner in the co-ed formatted event this year.

Last summer Schmidt won the event at Golf Kenosee alongside her father Wayne, this year Joergen Viken joined the Royal Regina Golf Club member and the duo won the event by a whopping 16 strokes.

Schmidt and Viken shot a 7-under par 65 on day one at North Battleford Golf and Country Club (NBGCC), during the second round Sunday they shot 5-under 67 to claim the 26th Saskatchewan Mixed Championship.

Second place was much more dramatic, a four hole playoff was needed between Elanne Krainyk and Colton McAllister and Holly Knudsen and Keaton Kelln. Krainyk and McAllister were able to earn second place thanks to a par on hole three after two attempts to break it on hole 18 at NBGCC and one try on three where they finally decided the silver medalists.

There were 32 teams in the field this year with 64 players in the alternate shot format championship.

To see the compete results click here.

It’s been nine years between championships, but Abra Thompson is a Ladies Lobstick winner again.

The Saskatoon golfer was the third seed this passed week at Waskesiu and defeated Beth Davis, Kathy Ziglo, and Kim Brown to win her second Ladies’ Lobstick and first since 2016.

The final match against Brown went to a playoff that Thompson won with a birdie on the first hole, 17 at the Waskesiu Golf Course. Brown started the match up two after the first couple holes, but Thompson bounced back even being down by three holes at one point. Brown tied the match on hole 18 to force a playoff Thompson won.

To see the complete results of the Ladies’ Lobstick click here.

Thompson spoke to Golf Saskatchewan after the win.

Ethan Hunter will be bringing home some hardware from the Canada Summer Games (CSG).

In St. John’s, Nfld., the Casa Rio, Sask. product carded rounds of 74, 75, 80, and 74 to finish third in the men’s golf championship hosted at Bally Haly Golf and Country Club, good enough to reach the podium. Hunter’s achievement is the first medal for a Saskatchewan player at the CSG since golf’s inception in 2009.

Ryan Mosher of Saskatoon placed eighth in the championship.

In the women’s event Saskatoon’s Grace Odnokon was eighth at 322 (81,86,77,78) while Tayla Perry of Regina was 15th at 351 (94,89,88,80).

In the overall team championship Saskatchewan was sixth.

To see all the results click here.

A fundraising initiative started in 2015 in the United States is coming to Saskatoon in support of Golf Canada’s Youth on Course program.

Youth on Course is an program that allows members to play participating courses for just $5. On August 28 at Silverwood Golf Course, participants will raise funds and walk 100 holes all in support of Youth on Course. Golf Canada’s National Manager of Youth on Course and Events, Nathalie Mihalek said the program helps provide youth with access to affordable golf.

“The funds raised support Youth on Course, helping to break down financial barriers by subsidizing rounds of golf for youth. All the funds raised will support Youth on Course on the prairies,” she said.

The par-3 course in Saskatoon’s northeast end will open their front nine holes for the day. Participants will play 11 rounds and then all attendees will conclude the event with the 100^th hole.

“Hikers will rally support from their network to help raise funds and donate to their challenge of playing 100 holes. This is all to support the mission of making golf more affordable and accessible.” Mihalek added.

Three golf courses in Saskatchewan currently offer Youth on Course. Valleyview Golf Club in Delisle, Deer Valley Golf Club north of Regina and Harbor Golf and RV Park in Elbow. Mihalek said the long-term benefit for clubs is juniors continuing to play into their adult years.

“For clubs, the benefit is to create positive relationships with juniors so when they age out of Youth on Course, they will continue to play the track with friends and family,” she said.

To register for the 100 Hole Hike click here.

Dade Bernatchez has been attending the Junior Lobstick at Waskesiu for eight years, now the Sucker River is a champion.

Bernatchez, 18, was the 12th seed after the qualifier earlier this week. He went on to Greyson de Padua, Braeden Kozak, Wyatt Nelson, and Bennett Scissons to win the historic championship.

He spoke Friday after the championship.

To see the complete result of the junior men’s Lobstick click here.

This year’s winners of the Saskatchewan Women’s Rosebowl is the Regina area team of Karen Weisbrod and Karen Mario.

The long running women’s 4-ball event was hosted by Lynbrook Golf Club in Moose Jaw on Aug. 13 and 14 with 36 players and 18 teams registered. That’s the largest field in the event since 2021.

Using the Stableford Scoring System, Weisbrod and Mario earned 148 points over 36 holes to win the 53rd Rosebowl.

Diana Kerr of Regina and Lori Bernt of Moose Jaw placed second with 139 points, Karen Lowe and Daph Kenville, both of Regina took third place just behind at 138 points.

To see the complete results click here.

Golf Saskatchewan is once again happy to announce the annual Saskatchewan Academic and Golf Excellence (SAGE) Scholarship recipients.

The SAGE Scholarship program annually presents scholarships to assist deserving member golfers in their pursuit of high school and post-secondary academic excellence. 

The successful Golf Saskatchewan recipients were selected based:

1. academic average | grade point average (GPA), and
2. a small percentage based on the individual’s sports excellence.

The 2025 SAGE & High School Bursary recipients include:

Graham DeLaet Scholarship (valued at $1,000) | Will Blake (Regina) Royal Regina Golf Club

Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship #1 (Valued at $1,000) | Cole Taylor (Nipawin) Evergreen Golf Course

Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship #2 (Valued at $1,000) | Luke Cote (Regina) Royal Regina Golf Club

Fletcher-Reid Scholarship (valued at $1,000) | Carter Bell (Saskatoon) Riverside Country Club

Ron Young Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,000) | Chase Pochylko (Saskatoon) Riverside Country Club

Cooke-Kinnear Scholarship (values at $1,000) | Aiden Walker (Regina) Royal Regina Golf Club

Kozy Scholarship (valued at $1,000) | Alex Swinnerton (Saskatoon) Riverside Country Club

Leddy-Heywood Scholarship (valued at $1,000) | Mitchell Minier (Prince Albert) Cooke Municipal Golf Course

Dr. Garry Hayes Memorial Scholarship (valued at an amount TBD by SCF) | Chloe Wills (Kyle) Saskatchewan Landing Golf Resort | Hudson Heistad (Avonlea) Long Creek Golf and Country Club  

Meredith MacPherson-Stalwick Memorial Scholarship (valued at an amount TBD by SCF) | Dane Giesbrecht (Warman) Saskatoon Golf & Country Club

Golf Saskatchewan High School Bursary (valued at $400)

• Tayla Perry (Regina) Royal Regina Golf Club
  • Kealy Mitchell (Regina) Royal Regina Golf Club

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.

*SCF – Saskatoon Community Foundation