Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg is looking back on another strong finish at a national championship with what should become fond memories.

Hallberg was the top local finisher at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship of the eight Saskatchewan golfers that competed in the tournament at Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Quebec.

Hallberg finished in a tie for 23^rd place at 18-over, 306 (73, 79, 79, 75). Overall, the Golf Kenosee member said the golf course provided unbelievable images.

“The four days were pretty good,” he said. “The golf course was in great shape; the conditions were really good. It was probably the most spectacular golf course scenery wise I’ve ever seen. The elevation changes were unreal. It’s like they built a golf course on a ski hill. It is a gorgeous golf course.”

Hallberg was one of three Saskatchewan players to make the cut including Rick Hillestad and Martin Ring. After being tied for third after the opening round Hallberg was stuck between clubs during the middle rounds.

“I had a hard time committing to a lot of my second shots, trying to factor in the elevation change and the wind, I just wasn’t fully committed swing a few times that cost me. The greens were difficult to read, I don’t think I did a bad job reading them, I just didn’t read them well enough to roll in the 10 to 15 footers you like to roll in every once in a while,” he added.

Hallberg is satisfied with capping his season with a finish inside the top-25 at nationals. He was also happy to reconnect with some golf colleagues across the country.

“There was a bunch of us on the same side of the draw, so we got to have a few meals with them and play practice round with Darren (Ritchie), Garth (Collings), and Timmy (Yorke), that was nice. Then the first two days of the tournament I got to play with Darren as well, he deserved the win. He played better than anyone else I saw and it was nice to see him come out on top,” Hallberg said.

Hillestad ended the championship in a tie for 38^th. The Riverside Country Club member was also seventh in the Super Senior (65 plus) age group. He was very happy with his 72-hole score of plus-24, 312.

“Yeah, absolutely I’m happy with the result,” Hillestad told Golf Saskatchewan. “Making the cut and playing that was a success.”

Hillestad said he was the highest finisher among players 70 and over as well. Much like Hallberg he was taken back by the elevation and beauty of the landscape while in Quebec.

“The course set up was pretty fair, but some people said it was a ski hill turned into a golf course, there was serious elevation changes,” he joked. “The third tee to the third green, 600 feet. It’s like Kenosee or Waskesiu on steroids.”

Hillestad was able to handle the conditions no shooting higher than 82, that came in the second round. His bookended the event with 77’s and added a 76 in day three. He has attended many large scale golf events in his amateur career and the 2021 will be looked back on positively.

“We really enjoyed it; the hospitality was terrific everywhere we went from the golf course to the community. It was really well done,” he concluded.

Carlyle’s Carter Morrison hasn’t played in many golf tournaments, but the 17-year-old already has a top-10 finish at a Golf Canada Canadian Championship.

 Morrison got his start in the sport via the common route of tagging along at the course with his dad and brother. He said he enjoyed the game early on and played as early as he can remember. When asked what created a like for the game Morrison said the individuality is unique.

“I like how it an individual game,” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “If you make a bad shot you can come back, you are always focusing on you not someone else.”

Morrison competed in the Saskatchewan Junior Champion in Moose Jaw this summer, he also entered the Moose Mountain Classic at Golf Kenosee, just eight kilometers from Carlyle. However the highlight for Morrison was a trip to Toronto to compete in the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship on Sept. 23 and 24.

He shot 80 in the first round and 86 in round two. His score of plus-26, 166 tied him for 10^th overall in a field of 29 players. Morrison said he was very happy with the result and experience.

“It’s an amazing course, one of the nicest I’ve ever played on. The week went well, I had my ups and downs, but I can’t complain, I finished top-10. That was my goal for the week,” he said.

The appearance in the championship, which came to fruition after his mother was notified of the event, has provided a spark to Morrison and elevated his golf goals.

“Now I am ranked (World Ranking for Golfers with Disability) and I am excited to hopefully play in some more tournaments around the world. I just have to improve and get better, get to the best I can be and maybe go back next year and win this tournament,” he added.

For more details on the All Abilities Championship click here.

You can hear more from Morrison below, he spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork after returning from the All Abilities Championship.

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak has capped her competitive golf season with a Saskatchewan High School Athletic Association championship.

The 2021 Saskatchewan Amateur Women’s champion added the high school win to her resume this season on Saturday at Valley Regional Park Golf Course in Rosthern.

“It was good, I am glad I went,” she told Golf Saskatchewan. “I haven’t been to a high school provincials, that was my first one that I’ve been old enough to go to because last year was cancelled. It was really nice to be there and play with new people. It was nice because there was lots of girls too. Everything came together that last round.”

Kozak opened with a 78 on Friday before using much more favourable weather conditions on Saturday to shoot 70 for a 36-hole total of 148. Kozak said winning the championship was important to her and is meaningful.

“I’d say it’s pretty special to win a high school provincial championship. I am really proud of myself, I thinks it’s a big accomplishment,” she said.

Sarah Henderson of Saskatoon was second at 170 (89, 81) while Hallie Crozier of Regina won the bronze medal with a two-day score of 174 (88, 86).

On the boy’s side, Estevan’s Ryan Chernoff was the champion with a score of 142 (74, 68). Chernoff said he’s happy with how he played on route to the championship.

“I just played my game,” he said. “I hit my driver good, I gave myself good spots to stick my wedge shots close and putts were going down. The game just finally clicked together; it was a good feeling.”

Much like Kozak and most of the field, Chernoff’s score was better on day two with the near perfect conditions. He said using some motivation from a fellow competitor also helped him shoot 68, the low round of the day.

“At the start of the round, one of my buddies from Warman came up to me and was like, ‘oh Ryan you better play a good round today or Team Warman is going to beat you.’ That fired me up a bit, I wanted to help Southeast win, so I knew I had to play a good round. I hit 17 greens in the second round, that was the difference,” Chernoff explained.

Martensville’s Myles Johnson was second at 149 (73, 76). There was a tie for third overall, Darien Herlick of Weyburn and Keaton Cote of Kindersley each shot 36-hole totals of 151.

Chernoff admitted that without Saskatoon golfers being in the field as they have their own high school athletic association the event was missing some top juniors from that centre but he’s still proud of the victory.

“It’s a provincial event, obviously its not Golf Saskatchewan provincials but it’s a provincial event and a big achievement,” he said. “To get a win under my before Maple Leaf Junior Tour nationals it’s a good feeling.”

The complete results of the tournaments can be seen here.

Carlyle’s Carter Morrison is returning from the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship in Toronto with a top-10 finish and possibly the experience of a lifetime.

Morrison shot rounds of 80 and 86 to for a 36-hole, two-day total of 166. He tied for 10th at plus-26 at Humber Valley Golf Club in Toronto.

The national golf championship featured players from across Canada with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. 

Originally scheduled to launch in 2020, but delayed due to restrictions from the pandemic, the Canadian All Abilities Championship supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.

*Golf Saskatchewan will hear from Morrison after he returns to Carlyle.

The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship has concluded in La Malbaie, Quebec.

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg will finish the 72-hole championship as the top local golfer in a tie for 23rd at 18-over, 306. The Golf Kenosee member fired a 75 on Friday in the final round at the Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu.

Rick Hillestad of Saskatoon tied for 38 after a 77 in the fourth round. He finished at 24-over, 312.

Prince Albert’s Martin Ring also shot a 77 in his final round to conclude the championship at 30-over, 318. Ring was tied for 56th.

The complete results can be seen here.

Golf Saskatchewan will hear from several of the competitors when they return to the province.

Day three of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship wrapped up earlier Thursday after a weather delay postponed the start of the third round.

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg continues to lead the Saskatchewan contingent as he sits in a tie for 22nd place. He fired his second straight 79 at Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu following an opening round of 73. He’s at 15-over par, 14 shots behind leader Darren Ritchie.

Saskatoon’s Rick Hillestad had a good day Thursday shooting 76. He’s tied for 35th at 19-over par.

Martin Ring of Prince Albert is 25-over par going into Friday’s final round. Ring shot 80 in round three.

Hillestad tees off at 5:30 a.m. Saskatchewan time Friday for the last round. Hallberg goes at 6 a.m. and Ring’s group will tee off at 7 a.m.

The complete leaderboard is here.

Carlyle’s Carter Morrison had a great opening day at the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship at Toronto’s Humber Valley Golf Course on Thursday.

Morrison shot a 10-over, 80 during round one of the two day, 36-hole tournament. He sits in a tie for fifth going into Friday’s final round.

He will tee off at 7:44 a.m. Saskatchewan time.

The leader, Kurtis Barkley, is at one-under par.

To se more details on the event hosted by Golf Canada click here.

Regina’s Autumn Neiszner has her first university golf tournament on her resume at Keiser University.

Neiszner competed in the SEU 2021 Fall Invitational for the Seahawks ‘B’ team at the Grasslands Golf and Country Club in Lakeland, Florida on Sept. 20 and 21. She improved in every round of the 54-hole tournament finishing at 29-over, 245 with rounds of 86, 82, and 77. Neiszner placed 23^rd overall in her debut.

The Seahawks ‘A’ team, the defending National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics women’s golf champions won the event with a team score 895, two strokes ahead of Southeastern University. The ‘B’ team placed fourth overall.

The next action for the Seahawks is the FAU Invite at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Florida on Oct. 4 and 5.

North of the border, Saskatoon’s Symone Ripley has begun her college golf career with the Okanagan Heat. The Heat competed in the Cascades Invitational at the Chilliwack Golf Club on Sept. 20 and 21. Ripley shot 22-over, 165 over 36 holes to finish in 21^st place.

The team will compete in the Dinos Invitational at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club on Sept. 25 and 26.

Reigning Saskatchewan amateur champion Roman Timmerman started his senior season at Southern Arkansas University.

Timmerman continued his strong play with a eighth place tie in his season debut for the Muleriders in the NSU Classic at the Muskogee Golf Club in Oklahoma. He shot 72 in round, followed that with a sparking 65 (school program all-time low) in round two and 73 in the final round to finish at three-under par.

As a team the Muleriders placed fourth out of 18 squads. Their next action is Sept. 27 and 28 at the MSSU Fall Invitational in Monkey Island, Oklahoma.

Saskatoon’s Caden Loeppky is making the most of his rookie season at Waldorf University. Loeppky has already played in three events since starting his career with Warriors.

In a one-day tournament on Wednesday Loeppky shot 11-over, 82 at the Simpson Invite in Indianola, Indiana. He finished in a tie for 19^th at the Indianola Country Club.

Prince Albert’s TJ Baker competed this week for the University of Arkansas at Monticello at the Derrall Foreman Invitational.

Baker tied for 43^rd with a score of two-over, 218 (73, 73, 72) over 54 holes. As a team the Weevils placed ninth out of 10 squads. Their next event is the Battle for the Belt hosted by Henderson State in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Oct. 4 and 5.

Over in Ontario, LeRoy golfer Carter Timmerman was on the course at the Crimson Ridge Golf Club in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario from Sept. 20 to 22. The first year Sault College player was competing in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Championship.

Timmerman shot rounds of 88, 83, and 95 to finish the 54-hole event at 50-over par. He finished in a tie for 32^nd.

As a team Sault placed third in the Div. II flight at plus-191.

Several players from the province will be competing from Sept. 25 to 27 in various locations across the United States and British Columbia.

For more information on Saskatchewan’s student-athletes click here.

Three Saskatchewan golfers will make the cut and play two more days at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in La Malbaie, Quebec.

After being tied for third at the conclusion of round one on Tuesday, Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg slipped 12 spots down the leaderboard to 14th position, well under the cut line. The Golf Kenosee member followed his opening round of 73 with a 79 on Wednesday at Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu. Hallberg sits at eight-over, 11 shots under the cut.

Saskatoon’s Rick Hillestad and Prince Albert player Martin Ring will join Hallberg for the third and fourth rounds. Hillestad shot 77 and 82, he’s tied for 54th place at 15-over.. Ring chopped seven shots off his opening 84 with a 77 on Wednesday. He made the cut on the line at 17-over.

Chuck Hainsworth, Lavern Arndt, Brent Wotypka, Paul Grimes, and Don Monson all missed the cut at the championship. Hainsworth finished at 22-over (83, 83), Arndt was 24-over (82, 84), Wotypka was 27-over (87, 84), Grimes shot 90 and 86 to concluded the event at 32-over, Monson was 37-over (85, 96).

Hallberg will tee off at 6:40 a.m. Saskatchewan time for round three on Thursday. Hillestad begins at 6:30 a.m. and Ring will begin his third round at 7:30 a.m.

The complete results can be seen here.

Round one of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship is in the books at Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu in La Malbaie, Quebec.

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg, the two-time reigning Saskatchewan senior men’s champion shot 73 on Tuesday and is tied for second place, just a shot behind the leader. The Golf Kenosee member steadily moved himself around the 6,300-yard course carding a couple birdies, a trio of bogeys with the rest pars.

Hallberg will tee off for round two at 10:40 a.m. Saskatchewan time on Wednesday.

Saskatoon’s Rick Hillestad is tied for 17^th place after the opening round of the event. Hillestad is five-over par.

Lavern Arndt of Furdale is in a tie for 77^th after the Riverside Country Club golfer shot 10-over, 82 Tuesday.

Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member Chuck Hainsworth is 86^th overall at 83. Martin Ring of Prince Albert opened with an 84, he’s tied for 97^th.

The Willows golfer Don Monson shot 13-over, 85 in the first round, he’s tied for 109^th. Swift Current’s Brent Wotypka carded a 15-over, 87 and sits in a tie for 124^th going into the second round.

Paul Grimes of Arcola is tied for 146^th at 18-over par.

The complete results and tee times for round two can be found here.