Schmidt joins Golf Saskatchewan as manager of championships and rules

Following a fantastic five year college career at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Id, Regina’s Alex Schmidt is joining Golf Saskatchewan.

Schmidt, 22, won twice while competing for the LC Warriors and had several other top-five finishes.

Following her graduation she returned to Regina and will begin her position with Golf Saskatchewan on May 29.

She spoke with the organization ahead of her first day.

King of aces, Willows Club member drops ninth hole-in-one

In early May, Saskatoon's Cory King hit his ninth career hole-in-one at The Willows Club. (Cory King/Instagram)

Saskatoon’s Cory King feels there is some luck on his side when it comes to golf, but karma might be a wild card in the deck as well.

In early May, The Willows Club member became the first player of the 2023 hole-in-one club with an ace at a Saskatchewan course.

King is also behind the Pink Wig Foundation, started in honour of his girlfriend Tracy Dinh, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 26 in May of 2012.

Dinh was an avid golfer and her parents still play at The Willows Club today.

King spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork about his remarkable string of aces that began when he was 16 years old to how the sport of golf has allowed him to cope with Tracy’s loss, keep her memory alive, and his love for the sport.

Danielson and Crozier pick up first MJT wins of the season

Regina's Hallie Crozier is the 15-19 girl's champion following this past weekend's MJT event in Swift Current. (Submitted photo/Jeff Chambers)

Regina’s Hallie Crozier has her first Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) win of the season.

The 18-year-old Ferris State commit won the 15-19 girls age group at this past weekend’s 54-hole, three-day MJT event at Swift Current’s Elmwood Golf Club. A member at Royal Regina Golf Club, Crozier carded back-to-back rounds of 74 before finishing with a 76 for a three round total of 224.

Camrose. Alta. golfer Jayla Kucy was second at 245 (78, 86, 81) while Chloe Wills from nearby Kyle took third place at 252 (89, 85, 78).

In the under-15 girl’s division, it was Aliyah Hull from Chestermere. Alta. taking the top spot at 244 (81, 82, 81), just a shot better than Tayla Perry of Regina. The Wascana Country Club (WCC) junior member shot 79 on day one, 82 in the second round, and 84 on the final day on Monday.

Saskatoon’s Grace Odnokon was third at 248 (81, 87, 80).

Austin Nesbitt (Submitted Photo/Jeff Chambers)

On the boy’s side the winning ways continued for Pilot Butte golfer Austin Nesbitt.

Nesbitt, 11, won his second straight MJT event Monday taking the category by eight shots over Humboldt’s Tylan Wallin. Nesbitt shot 72, 76, and 79 during the tournament played at just over 5,900 yards for the peewee division. The WCC finished at 27, Wallin had 235 (76, 74, 85).

Assiniboia’s Caydin Karst was third at 277 (98, 87, 92).

Aricin Franklin (Submitted Photo/Jeff Chambers)

Aricin Franklin of Saskatoon has his second win of the season too after taking the bantam boys division again. The Riverside Country Club player held off a trio of out of province golfers for the win with a score of 228 (75, 74, 79).

Jayden Arnold of Calgary and Harrison Kiziak of Fort Saskatchewan tied for second at 232. In third was Brandon, Man. native Hunter Oakden.

Regina’s Kai Kriekle rounded out the top-five at 239 (81, 79, 79).

In the juvenile boy’s division Warman’s Dane Giebrecht was the top Saskatchewan player finishing in a tie for top spot through 54 holes, but Spruce Grove, Alta. product Peter Hlushak won the category in a playoff. Russel Quinn of St. Albert, Alta. also tied for first at 224.

Saskatoon’s Ryan Mosher and Jack Maharaj as well as Martensville’s Brayden Skene tied for fourth at 226.

Thomas Danielson (Submitted Photo/Jeff Chambers)

The overall winner of the event on the men’s bracket was Saskatoon’s Thomas Danielson. Making his season debut, the Riverside Country Club member went 72, 67, 70, on route to a two stroke win over both Myles Johnson and Chase Pochylko.

Ryan Garbutt of Edmonton was fourth while Max Regier of Saskatoon found himself in the top-five tied with Rocky View County, Alta. athlete Zachary Haydamack at 216.

The complete results can be found here. There was also 29 players competing at the MJT Mini-Tour event held at the same venue on May 20, click here to see the results.

The Saskatchewan Junior Order of Merit (OMT) standings are up to date after a pair of MJT events. The next tournament o the junior OMT schedule is The Willows Club Junior Open on June 10 and 11. To register click here.

Foam Lake Golf & Country Club launch New-19 Campaign

The Foam Lake Golf and Country Club has announced a fundraising campaign to build a new clubhouse.

New-19 Committee Chair Cheryl Gudmunson, a 10-year resident of Leslie Beach sits down with Golf Saskatchewan to discuss the history of the current clubhouse, flooding at the course, the hard work that’s been done to utilize the current facility and the drive to construct a brand new facility for the club.

To learn more about the initiative please CLICK HERE.

Scissons looks back on fantastic five years for Firestorm

Connor Scissons celebrates his graduation from Arizona Christian University with his father Scott in May. (Submitted photo/Connor Scissons)

Saskatoon’s Connor Scissons is heading back to Saskatchewan with a college degree and many memories after a five year college golf career at Arizona Christian University.

Shortly after the Riverside Country Club member graduated from the school he chatted with Golf Saskatchewan to look back on his start in the sport, his road to Arizona, the amazing moments over five years and what’s next heading into the summer.

Six players pass PGA playability test

(Submitted photos/Sloane Harder)

Six golfers took to the links on Monday at the Willows Club in Saskatoon for the PGA of Saskatchewan’s playability test and the right to continue their path to joining the professional organization.

Leading the way was British Columbia product Steven Lee who scorched the course to a tune of 65 to easily break the 80-point passing barrier.

Saskatoon players Carson Olson and Brandon Ho shot 77 to finish three shots under the threshold.

Prince Albert’s Colton Dow carded a 78, Lloydminster resident Paul Mennie and B.C. player Haiyong Ziao both shot 80 to secure their pass as well.

For more on Saskatchewan’s PGA of Canada members click here.

Johnson commits to University of Victoria

Warman's Myles Johnson has committed to play college golf at the University of Victoria next year. (Submitted photo/Myles Johnson)

Another Saskatchewan golfer is going to play the game and get a post secondary education.

Martensville’s Myles Johnson, 18, announced late last week he will attend the University of Victoria and play golf on the programs USports golf team.

Johnson spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about his start in the sport, elevation in his skills, his choice on staying north of the border, his goals in the classroom and what the Legends Golf Club staffer wants to accomplish on the course this summer before heading west.

Swinnerton, Salazar heading to nationals; Cote and Muleriders also advance

Alex Swinnerton and Guillermo Salazar are heading to the DII National Championship later this month. (iupathletics.com)

Waskesiu Golf Course players Alex Swinerton and Guillermo Salazar and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Crimson Hawks, and Regina’s Luke Cote are off to the NCAA Div. II National Golf Championship.

The team earned their way to the national championship in Warren. Oh. thanks to a third place finish at the NCAA DII Atlantic/East Super Regional Championship from May 11 to 13 in Lebanon, Penn. Competing at the Iron Valley Golf Club, the team was just eight shots off the overall pace as Davis & Elkins College won the championship with a score of 892.

Swinnerton tied for 18th in the tournament thanks to rounds of 78, 73, and 74. The Saskatoon product said reaching the national event has been the mindset all year for the team.

“Our goal at the start of the year was to be in the position we are now. It is a very nice feeling to accomplish that goal. We are all super pumped to see what we can do at the national level,” Swinnerton said.

Salazar tied for 78th after posting an opening day score of 84, but the Calgary product rebounded with back-to-back 77’s to finish at 225. The Calgary product said he’s excited for the team’s success and the chance at a national championship.

“This is a huge accomplishment for us and the program. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to go to nationals,” he added.

In Winona, Minn. on May 11 to 13 the NCAA Midwest/Central Regionals took place at The Bridges Golf Course. Regina’s Luke Cote and Southern Arkansas University (SAU) also punched their ticket to the national division II championship event! Cote finished in 103rd after rounds of 77, 83, and 78. The Muleriders tied for fifth, but won the right to head to the national championship in a playoff.

(Muleriderathletics.com)

Golf Saskatchewan will speak with Swinnerton, Salazar, and Cote after the event that runs from May 22 to 26.

Estevan’s Jace Carlisle was also in the field looking to return to the national event he played in last year while attending Post University. The TS&M Woodlawn staffer shot rounds of 78, 82, and 79 to place in a tie for 81st. Post as a team was 18.

Team Saskatchewan names NAIG golf squad

Team Saskatchewan has announced the eight players that will make up the roster for the golf event at the North American Indigenous Games in Nova Scotia later this summer.

Competing in the under-16 women’s category is Hailey Thunderchild of Kawacatoose First Nation and Onion Lake golfer Ada Dillon; Gabrielle Paskemin of North Battleford and Punnichy’s Cassidy Strongarm will play in the under-19 division.

Mya Whitecap (U-16) and Julia McCarthy (U-19) are the alternates.

On the men’s side, Sucker River product Dade Bernatchez and Dante Gamble of Duck Lake will represent Saskatchewan in the under-16 division while Warman’s Jagger Bitz and Solomon Ness of Saskatoon will compete for golf in the under-19 category.

Tyson Naytowhow is the lone alternate in the under-19 age group.

The golf championship will be held at the Links at Brunnello from July 18 – 20.

The last time NAIG was held was 2017 in Toronto. Almost 5,0000 competitors took part in 15 sports that year, over 5,000 are expected in Halifax and Dartmouth, and the Millbrook First Nation in 16 disciplines.

Team Saskatchewan has won the overall medal count in six of the nine times NAIG has been held. The first year of the Games was 1990 in Edmonton, Alta.

For all the details on this year’s competition click here.

Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open; PGA Tour Canada announce event exemptions

Three amateur golfers from Saskatchewan will receive exemptions into the 2023 Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open.

Elk Ridge Resort junior golf member and current Robert Morris University senior Josh Nagy, 2022 Golf Saskatchewan men’s Order of Merit Tour champion Danny Klughart of Prince Albert and Regina product and current NHL star with the Columbus Blue Jackets Cole Sillinger will all be included in the field.

Nagy Bio | Sillinger Bio | Klughart Bio

One more spot is available and that is reserved for the champion of the upcoming Scotia Wealth Open in Nipawin on June 3 – 4 at the Evergreen Golf Course. Nagy is the defending champion.

The Elk Ridge Open is slated for Elk Ridge Golf Resort from June 19 – 25. This will be the third scheduling of the event, in 2021 the first running of the event was scaled down due to COVID-19 restrictions. The 2022 event was rained out.