After a busy summer playing golf, meeting his new grandchild and camping trip our west, Ken Rodgers is finally now looking back on an impressive golf career with Acushnet.

The Regina resident started his sports retail career in Moose Jaw at Marathon Sports, eventually became a rep in the hockey industry in Alberta before landing his “dream job” in Saskatchewan.

“The Gambler” spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about his career at Acushnet that spanned 17 years.

Over the Remembrance Day weekend a bakers dozen of Saskatchewan juniors travelled to Kissimmee, Flo. for the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) National Championship.

Over 110 players from across Canada converged on the Orange Lake Golf Resort for the 54-hole event that started with the practice round on Thursday.

A trio of Saskatchewan women were competing in the 15 to 19 age group, Chloe Wills of Kyle led the locals with a three round score of 247 (84,82,81), the Saskatchewan Landing Golf Resort junior was fifth.

Tayla Perry of Regina and Niya Friesen of Swift Current tied for eighth, each shot 253.

In the men’s event, Kellen Hunter from Casa Rio was the lone Saskatchewan player in the peewee age group, he shot 92, 89, and 90 for a ninth place finish.

The bantam division contained two Saskatchewan players, Austin Nesbitt from Pilot Butte and Swift Current’s Matty Schmiess. Nesbitt, who plays at Wascana Country Club was 19th at 237 (76,82,79). Schmiess was 23rd at 247 after back-to-back rounds of 84 and a solid 79 in round three.

The largest field was the juvenile men’s group with 34 golfers including five locals.

Brady Guenther of Saskatoon led the way tying for ninth place. The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club player shot 77, 75, and 77 for a 54-hole total of 229. Ethan Hunter also claimed a top 10 finish at 232 (79,73,80).

Griffin Blanch (Saskatoon) was 23rd at 245 (79,86,80), Duck Lake golfer Dante Gamble finished tied for 29th (252), and Ayden Ross of Swift Current carded a 254, he tied for 31st.

Two Saskatchewan players were in the junior category, Saskatoon duo Brody Sawchyn and Ben Staines were 17th and 18th respectively. Sawchyn shot three rounds of 82, Staines carded an 82, 83, and 86.

The complete results can be found here.

Longtime Royal Regina Golf Club Head Professional Dean Brown was a two time winner at the PGA of Saskatchewan Awards held oct. 28 at Dakota Dunes.

Brown was awarded Retailer of the Year and Head Professional of the Year at the banquet which took place during the Buying Show.

Brown spoke to Golf Saskatchewan following the awards.

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) National Championship gets underway Friday at Orange Lake Golf Resort in Kissimmee, Flo.

The year 13 Saskatchewan juniors made the trip to compete in the 54-hole event.

In the field this year are:

Griffin Blanch (Saskatoon)
Niya Friesen (Swift Current)
Dante Gamble (Duck Lake)
Brady Guenther (Saskatoon)
Kellen Hunter (Casa Rio)
Ethan Hunter Casa Rio)
Austin Nesbitt (Pilot Butte)
Tayla Perry (Regina)
Ayden Ross (Swift Current)
Brody Sawchyn (Saskatoon)
Matty Schmiess (Swift Current)
Ben Staines (Saskatoon)
Chloe Wills (Kyle)

The championship round will be Sunday afternoon.

To follow along and see today’s tee times click here.

Symone Ripley’s fall season at the University of British Columbia Okanagan is done after a trip to Buckeye, AZ. this week with the Heat.

The Saskatoon product shot rounds of 81 and 82 at the Verrada Golf Club on Nov. 4 and 5, that left her tied for 27^th in the field. UBCO took home the silver medal in their final event of the season just four shots back of Rocky Mountain College.

Cole Taylor of Nipawin was also at Verrado in Buckeye competing for the Park University Buccaneers. The Evergreen Golf Course staffer posted a 79 in round one, she shot 83 in round two and carded an 82 in his final round of the season, Taylor tied for 48^th.

The Bucs were 11^th in the team competition.

Ella Kozak’s first fall season is over at Western Carolina University. The Catamounts were in Huntsville, Ala. on Oct. 25 to 27 for The Robbie at RTJ Hampton. The Deer Park Muunicipal Golf Course member shot 78, 77, and 79, that left the 2024 Saskatchewan junior champion in 25^th.

The team wrapped their season with a fourth place performance.

Lastly, Will Blake’s third fall season concluded in late October. The Regina product was in Tulsa, Okla. for the Tulsa Cup at Indian Springs Country Club on Oct. 28 and 29. The Royal Regina Golf Club member shot 81 in round one but bounced back beautifully with back-to-back 76’s to climb eight spots on the leaderboard for a 36^th place finish.

The Muleriders were 13^th in the team competition.

With the college season over and players wrapping up their semesters, Golf Saskatchewan wishes to keep their thoughts with the Crozier family during Hallie’s current battle. To support the Crozier’s click here.

Hannah MacNeil has been a professional since 2022 and now the Willows Club based pro has her first PGA of Saskatchewan award.

The product of Shaunavon was named the Apprentice of the Year at the recent awards banquet and Buying Show at Dakota Dunes Resort.

MacNeil spoke about the award, her first couple years as a professional, and the support from The Willows Club.

The Saskatchewan golf community is rallying in support of Hallie Crozier.

The Regina resident is currently a student at Ferris State University, but is dealing with health concerns that abruptly occurred a day after her 20th birthday.

Hallie’s family has launched a Facebook page to provide accurate updates on Hallie in her journey to recovery.

A GoFundMe page has also been created to support the Crozier family.

Golf Saskatchewan is behind the Crozier family and will support them upon request and wish nothing but the best for Carla, Trevor, and Hallie.

The 2024 PGA of Saskatchewan’s annual Buying Show has come and gone this year with another successful couple days.

On Oct. 28 the association held their annual general meeting where McLaren Taylor became the new president taking over for Dean Brown. Both were also award winners at the evening’s banquet.

The show floor was “jammed pack’ over to days as well. Executive Director Sloane Harder spoke with Golf Saskatchewan on night one of the show.

Three Saskatchewan university students are among the 2024 Pat Fletcher Scholarship Foundation recipients announced recently.

Cole Taylor of Nipawin attends Park University – Gilbert and plays for the Buccaneers men’s golf team. Currently wrapping up the fall season of his sophomore year, the Evergreen Golf Club staffer said receiving one of the Pat Fletcher Scholarship Foundation bursaries is appreciated immensely.

“I am very grateful to receive this amazing scholarship, it really makes me feel like my hard work is paying off,” he said. “I am always reminding myself of how amazing of an opportunity I have playing collegiate golf. It’s great being able to put my game up against some great golfers from all around the world, but it also has taught me how to be a better person.”

Taylor’s last event of the season in Nov. 4 and 5 in Buckeye, Ari.

Also receiving scholarships in the province was Christine Kwon of Ituna and Prince Albert resident Colin Sosnowski. Both are students at the University of Saskatchewan.

The PGA of Saskatchewan Buying Show has concluded for another year with the awards banquet a highlight of the two day tradeshow held Oct. 28 and 29.

Golf Saskatchewan spoke with some of the winners and will have reaction from several of the winners including the only non-playing multi-winner Dean Brown from the Royal Regina Golf Club. He took home the Retailer of the Year Award and Graham Coulter Head Professional of the Year.

Phil Jonas also collected an armful of awards with his annual superb play. The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club based pro won the Frank Fowler (Lowest stroke average), Peter Cushner (Order of Merit), and the Scott Knapp (Player of the Year) Awards.

Hannah MacNeil at The Willows Club won her first professional award being named Apprentice of the Year.

Dana Johnson, the head professional at North Battleford Golf and Country Club was absent from the banquet due to a commitment at the club, he was honoured with the Junior Leader of the Year Award.

Other winners include (in no particular order)

Bill Taylor Award | Roger Hogle | PGA of Saskatchewan

Sales Representative of the Year | Ryan Sommerfeld | Cobra/Puma Golf

Coach of the Year | Jeff Chambers | Elmwood Golf Club

Teacher of the Year | Garrett McMillan | Wascana Country Club

Class ‘A’ Assistant Professional of the Year | Brad Lovatt | Wascana Country Club

Executive of the Year | McLaren Tayor | Saskatoon Golf & Country Club