Saskatoon’s Don Mills usually plays a couple rounds a week, some at The Willows Club, and others around the area.

Nothing was out of the ordinary for his round with friends at The Willows Club on Monday, Sept. 26. However once hole four came the round that didn’t start well for Mills quickly turned. The 64-year-old hit his second career hole-in-one on Xena hole four. He then turned the trick again on Lakes 8.

The odds of two aces in one round in one in 52,000, Mills is the one.

Hear more from Mills who spoke to Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork about the rare accomplishment.

Regina’s Alex Schmidt helped the Lewis-Clarke State College Warriors to a second-place finish at this weeks Multnomah Invitational in Carson, Washington. The fifth-year student shot 77 and 82 at Elkridge Golf Course tying for 10^th overall.

The University of British Columbia won the event with the Warriors in second, next up for Schmidt and her teammates is the Ottawa Fall Invitational in Sunrise, Arizona on Oct. 3 and 4.

Holly Knudsen continued her impressive fall run with a 12^th place finish this week at the Watkins Invitational in Lake City, Minnesota. The Minot State junior shot 91 in round one at The Jewel but rebounded nicely with an 81 in round two to jump u the leaderboard to 12^th.

The Beavers team was fourth in the tournament. The team travels to Laurel, Montana on Oct. 3 for the Yellowjacket Invitational at the Laurel Golf Club.

In Concord, New Hampshire Jace Carlisle led the way for the Post University Eagles men’s golf team. The Estevan product went 71, 75 at the Penmen Fall Invitational at Beaver Meadow Golf Course this week. Carlisle finished tied for fifth in the tournament at 2-over par, the Eagles also placed fifth as a team.

Post’s next event is the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference at Watertown Golf Club in Connecticut on Oct. 3 and 4.

Saskatoon’s Caden Loeppky has a top-five finish on his resume this fall and a team win for Waldorf University. Competing at the Waldorf Invitational at Rice Lake Golf and Country Club in Lake Mills, Iowa the Willows Club member shot 76 and finished tied for fourth at the event. The Warriors won by two shots.

Next up is the Knox Invitational on Oct. 1 and 2 in Galesburg, Illinois.

Waskesiu Golf Course member Guillermo Salazar has his first career top-five college finish early in his career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Calgary product was competing as an individual at the King Invitational in Bristol, Tennessee this week and shot rounds of 73 and 67 to tie for fifth at even par.

Teammate Alex Swinnerton of Saskatoon was playing with the Crimson Hawk team at the event, the Saskatoon resident also placed well tying for 14^th at 5-over par thanks to rounds of 72 and 73 at the Bristol Country Club.

The team collected a bronze medal at the tournament. Next up for the Crimson Hawks is the Hal Hansen Invitational in Grove City, Pennsylvania on Oct. 2 and 3.

Regina’s Hunter Kutcher was in action this week for the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat in Bellingham, Washington for the Western Washington Invitational.

The 2021 Saskatchewan Junior Champion shot rounds of 73, 75, and 77 for a 54-hole total of 225, leaving Kutcher in a tie for 49^th.

The Heat were 10^th overall in the 17-school field. The Canada West Conference Championships are next on Oct. 3 in Victoria, British Columbia at Cordova Bay Golf Course.

The team from Regina’s Wascana Country Club (WCC) battled the wind Saturday in Warman and won the first ever Saskatchewan Champions Cup.

The Legends Golf Club hosted the event that included club champions or representatives from golf courses across that hosted an event at the local level.

Teams were comprised of up to eight players, one of each gender in the junior, amateur, senior, and super-senior categories.

The WCC team including (Deb Duncan, Mark Folk, Jason Galon, Harold Klempner, Kim Walker, Tayla Perry, and Jon Kozak accumulated 146 to claim the championship.

The Legends Golf Club was second, followed by the Royal Regina Golf Club.

Over 60 competitors played in the one-day 18 hole tournament from nine different clubs.

To see the complete results, including the individual winners click here.

Regina’s Luke Cote has his first college event under his belt. Competing for Southern Arkansas University, Cote was in Muskogee, Oklahoma for the 24^th annual NSU Golf Classic at the Muskogee Golf Club from Sept. 18 to 20. Cote finished with a solid score of 8-over par, 221 over 54 holes. He tied for 42^nd overall.

The Muleriders squad tied for eighth at the event. The team is in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Oct. 3 and 4 for the Battle for the Belt.

Waskesiu Golf Course competitors Alex Swinnerton and Guillermo Salazar were in North East, Pennsylvania with their Indiana University of Pennsylvania teammates on Sept. 16 – 17 for the Mercyhurst Fall Invitational at Lake View Country Club. Swinnerton carded rounds 74 and 76, the Saskatoon product tied for 27^th at 10-over par. Salazar shot 82 in round one and bounced back with a 74 in round two, the Calgary native tied for 36^th.

The Crimson Hawks finished second in the team competition, their next event is the King University Invitational at Golf Club of Bristol in Bristol, Tennessee.

Holly Knudsen of Chaplin continues her strong play this fall with another top-10 performance this week. Competing alongside her Minot State Beaver teammates at the Fall Hardrocker Invite in Rapid City, South Dakota, Knudsen finished in a tie for eighth at 27-over par, 171.

The Beavers placed fifth in the team event at The Golf Club at Red Rocks. Next up is the Watkins Invitational in Lake City, Minnesota on Sept. 26 and 27.

In Redlands, California at the Redlands Country Club on Sept. 19 and 20 Saskatoon product Connor Scissons was competing for Arizona Christian University. The fifth-year golfer shot rounds of 75, 76, and 77 to tie for 64^th. The Firestorm was eighth as a team despite Scisssons teammate Acikalin Leon winning the event.

Their next tournament is the OUAZ Invitational at the Sterling Grove Country Club in Sunrise, Arizona on Oct. 3 and 4.

Saskatoon’s Caden Loeppky was in Indianola, Iowa for a one-day event with Waldorf University. He tied for 18^th. No scores are available.

The Warriors will take on Iowa Wesleyan University for the 2022 Purple Cup starting Saturday in Forest City, Iowa.

On Sept. 19 and 20 the Valpo Fall Invitational in Chesterton, Indiana took place with Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy in the field. The Robert Morris Colonial senior placed 27^th in the tournament. Nagy shot 77, 75, and 73 to finish 9-over par.

The Colonials team was 13^th overall in a 17-team event. Their next event is the Tom Tontimonia Invitational in Westlake, Ohio on Oct. 3 and 4.

In Townsend, Massachusetts on Sept. 18 and 19 the FPU Men’s Fall Invite took place with Estevan’s Jace Carlisle in the field of 84 golfers. The Post University student shot 75 and 77 for a 36-hole total of 152, good enough for a tie for 31^st.

Post tied for fifth as a team, 16 schools were represented at the event. Next up for the Eagles is the Penmen Fall Invitational at Beaver Meadow Golf Club in Concord, New Hampshire on Sept. 26 and 27.

North of the border in Chilliwack, British Columbia, University of BC Okanagan students Symone Ripley (Saskatoon) and Hunter Kutcher (Regina) were in action in a match play event with the University of Fraser Valley (UFV). UFV won the event 16-12 held on Sept. 19 and 20 at the Chilliwack Golf Course. To see the results click here.

The Canada West Conference Championships are next beginning Oct. 3 in Victoria, British Columbia.

Six years ago, Shannon Scott was invited to a ladies ‘mystery golf day’ by Esterhazy resident Shari Forsythe-Holm, had a great time and decided to bring the idea to Regina.

Scott and the group that included 47 other women from around the Queen City recently wrapped up their fourth day at Willowbunch Golf Course. The group registers ahead of time and a bus picks the golfers up in the parking lot of the Royal Regina Golf Club with breakfast for the road. Before the players leave small wagers are made on where the group will end up. In years previous the day was hosted by Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Harbor Golf Resort in Elbow, and at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club in Estevan. Once at the destination the group plays and makes a day on the course.

“I don’t have any competition or proximities, it’s just you and your girlfriends out having fun, enjoying the day, having some laughs,” Scott said.

Over the years Scott said the host facilities have been very welcoming and this year Willowbunch was no different. She said the attendees, which was up 14 from the last get together before the COVID-19 pandemic enjoyed the nine hole “gem.”

“We all know Willowbunch is a hidden gem. The ladies really enjoyed it. They shut down the golf course for us, so we had a shotgun start. We had 10 members that let us use their carts, we had an awesome lunch, supper was great and strawberry cheesecake that was to die for,” Scott laughed.

The getaway is a highlight among the main group of Royal Regina golfers, that is Scott’s home course. She said with such a great response this year, and requests from the men at the Royal to organize a trip for them, Scott is pleased with the continued interest.

“You don’t think of that, you just want to spend time with your girlfriends. I am glad it is going off really well and everyone enjoyed it and we can keep doing it. It’s not just girls from the Royal, there are ladies from the Wascana Country Club and a few other courses, plus their friends,” she said.

On the road home Scott said they play games to pass the time as the group returns to Regina.

The destination wager (which nobody won) created a pot of $170 that was donated to the Royal’s Golf Fore a Cure event to boost the total for the annual cancer fundraiser.

Scott wouldn’t budge on where the day will be next year, but as an ambassador of the game in the province she is glad golf can provide a special day for everyone that attends.

“There are not many things that women can just go away and not have to worry about much. It’s a day for them,” she concluded.

With this year’s Synergy 8 Community Builders ‘Drive for Kids Campaign’ major fundraiser in the rearview mirror the group is looking back on one of the best events to date.

Over $3.3 million was raised through the golf tournament and gala in Saskatoon on Aug. 30.

Synergy 8 spokesman Troy Davies spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork about the return of a full days agenda, this years special guests and where the funds raised will go.

When Vito Iula hits the seventh tee box at Riverside Country Club during everyone of his roughly three rounds a week it’s safe to say he’s confident a good shot is coming.

Dating back to his first hole-in-one on the hole in 2012, the development project manager now has four aces on the hole.

According to the National Hole-in-One Registry, only three other people in the world have four on the same hole, none from Canada.

Iula joined Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork on the seventh green at Riverside to discuss the amazing feat.

Much like the Canadian Senior Women’s Championship in Winnipeg, all reports back from Red Deer is the men’s event was also fantastic.

The team of Rick Hallberg, Brent Wotypka, and Rick Hillestad finished in fourth place in the inter-provincial competition, just two shots off the bronze medal.

Hallberg led the locals with a tie for 17th, Wotypka and Colin Coben tied for 43rd overall, and sixth in the super senior category. Hillestad was 60th in the senior division and placed a respectable 13th in the super senior.

Marty Ring and Brad Phelps also competed in the event.

The complete results can be seen here.

Hallberg and Wotypka joined Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork to discuss the week at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club.

Regina’s Alex Schmidt has started her final golf season at Lewis-Clarke State College with a bang.

Schmidt, 22, led the lady Warriors to a team win at the opening event of the 2022 Fall season in Gleneden Beach, Oregon on Sept. 4 -6. Schmidt carded rounds of 77, 82, and 84 for a 54-hole total of 243, plus-33, good enough for second place behind Payton Canon of Oregon Tech.

The Warriors won the team championship by 21 strokes.

Schmidt followed her silver medal performance with a tie for 12^th at this week’s College of Idaho Invitational in Caldwell, Idaho on Monday, and Tuesday. She carded rounds of 81 and 76, the team placed third overall.

Next up for Lewis-Clarke is the Multnomah Invitational in Portland, Oregon on Sept. 26 and 27.

Chaplin’s Holly Knudsen has been on the course in the United States competing since August with the Minot State Beavers women’s golf team. Knudsen started the season great with a top-five showing at the MSUM Maverick Invitational in Faribault Golf Club in Minnesota. She posted rounds of 84 and 79 to lead the team. The Beavers placed sixth in the team standings.

Minot State just returned from Bemidji, Minnesota after competing in the Tracy Lane Memorial on Sept 12 and 13. Knudsen tied for 18^th at the event shooting 82 and 89. The team was seventh.

Next on the Beavers schedule is the Hardrocker Fall Invitational in Rapid City, South Dakota on Sept. 19 and 20.

Saskatoon product Will Danielson kicked off his sophomore season at Milsaps College with his best collegiate finish. Danielson tied for third at the SAA Preview in Dickson, Tennessee at the Greystone Golf Club thanks to rounds of 75 and 69. Danielson helped the Majors place third as a squad. They will now travel to Delhi, Louisiana for the Tri-Match at Black Bear Golf Club on Oct. 1.

Jace Carlisle and his Post University teammates kicked off their 2022 Fall season with a bronze medal performance at the Granite State Opener in Concord, New Hampshire on Sept. 12 – 13. The Estevan product finished in a tie for 32^nd at the event at the Beaver Meadow Golf Course. Carlisle opened with an 81 in round one but bounced back nicely with a 72 in round two.

The Eagles next action is the FPU Fall Invitational at Northern Spy Golf Club in Townsend, Massachusetts.

Robert Morris University competed in the Alex Lagowitz Memorial in Hamilton, New York in early September. Josh Nagy of Saskatoon kicked off his senior year with the Colonials finishing tied for 18^th at 2-over par. Nagy fired rounds of 76, 68, and 74 at the Seven Oaks Golf Club on Sept. 4 and 5.

The team was 10^th, they travel to Chesterton, Indiana on Sept. 19 for the Valparaiso Invitational.

Both Chase Gedak and TJ Baker were in action this week playing in the GAC Preview at the Lake Hefner Golf Club in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Gedak helped Arkansas – Monticello to a tie for fifth in the team event thanks to a tie for 24^th finish. The Estevan native shot 71 before firing back-to-back 73’s to close the 54-hole championship.

Baker was competing as an individual in the event. The Prince Albert product tied for 31^st at at 225 (75, 72, 78).

The Weevils next event is the annual Battle for the Belt in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Oct. 3 and 4.

Caden Loeppky has two events under his belt already this year for Waldorf University.

On Sept. 8 the team played in the one day, 18-hole Trojan Invitational and placed fifth out of 11 teams. Loeppky shot 78 and placed in a tie for 21^st.

The Warriors then travelled to Marion, Iowa for a 36-hole tournament at Hunters Ridge Golf Club on Sept. 10 and 11. The Saskatoon product tied for 34^th after rounds of 82 and 81. Waldorf tied for fourth as a team.

The Buena Vista Invitational is next up for Waldorf on Sept. 18 and 19 at Storm Lake, Iowa.

Alex Swinnerton of Saskatoon made his collegiate debut this week for Indiana University of Pennsylvania and showed he’s ready for the next level. Swinnerton tied for sixth overall at 142 thanks to rounds of 70 and 72 at the Edgewood Country Club in Charleston, West Virginia during the Golden Eagle Invitational.

Guillermo Salazar, also a Waskesiu Golf Course member with Swinnerton made his debut as well finishing in a tie for 32^nd at 148 (71, 77).

The team tied for first in the tournament with Glenville State College. The Hawks next scheduled tournament is the Mercyhurst Fall Invitational in North East, Pennsylvania on Sept. 16 – 17.

Also making his collegiate debut this week was Radville’s Davin Bourassa.

The Assiniboia Golf Course member tied for 13^th in his first college event at Eagle Bend Golf Club in Lawrence, Kansas. Bourassa shot 74 and 80 at the Ottawa University Fall Invite to help MidAmerica Nazarene University place in a tie for second overall.

Next up is the Northwest Iowa National Invitational at the Willow Creek Golf at Le Mars, Iowa on Sept. 18 – 20.

To see more details on all the Saskatchewan golfers playing college click here.

On Aug. 27 the community of Birch Hills was treated to the Richardson Pioneer Rider Nation Community Celebration with over 500 people taking in the days festivities.

Along with the day of events came a cheque worth $25,000 that will go towards a new clubhouse at the Birch Hills Golf Course.

Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork spoke with assistant clubhouse manager and longtime Birch Hills resident Iris Fjeld about the course, the clubhouse, the celebration day and the clubhouse fundraising progress.