Joey Eaton has “never gotten a hole-in-one, been close, or seen one live” until now. On Saturday, Aug. 10 the former Humboldt Bronco aced the second hole at the Humboldt Golf Club during the organizations Memorial Tournament using his seven iron and draining the 172 yard shot.

Eaton, who won a national championship with the Broncos in 2003 has returned to the city from his home in Carlyle to play the event all seven years with a team that has won the tournament three times. This year the group that includes Nathan and Joe Fischl and Al Smith didn’t win the overall title but Eaton will drive away in a new Jeep Compass from South 20 Dodge.

Eaton spoke about the shot and the day on the course.

From the conditions of the golf course, the amazing work of over 100 volunteers, and the elite level of golf, the Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship came as advertised last week.

Tyler Mawhinney, a 16-year-old from Florida won the event at Riverside on Aug. 8, but as Tournament Chair Craig Sled said after the championship, the winners are the countless people that made the first national amateur in Saskatchewan since 2007 a rousing success.

Photos from the event can be seen here.

For the second straight year, and fifth time overall, Linda Sokul and Cheryl Lawrence are the Saskatchewan Rosebowl Champions.

The two-day, 36-hole net team event was held at Harbor Golf and RV Park in Elbow on Aug. 14 and 15 with 16 teams taking part.

The Wynyard duo posted back-to-back rounds of 69 to fight from behind the first round leaders to take the 52nd edition of the historic championship.

After an opening day score of 71, Echo Ridge Golf Club members Patsy Flett and Brenda Olson posted the lowest round on the second day, carding a 68, vaulting the pair three spots up the leaderboard into second place.

Denise Treslan and Carol Galon from the Wascana Country Club tied for third at 140 with Tor Hill Ladies Club players Anita Ford and Jeanniene Kanciruk and the team of Lindsay Folk and Lynn Tulloch.

To see the complete results of the event, click here.

The fifth Women “Fore” Women golf tournament was held this past Saturday at Hillcrest Golf Club in Moose Jaw with a full 100 player field.

Cheryl Templeton is one of the originating members of the organizing committee and one of the “20 people or so that help out” with the annual event that started six years ago. Over five events (the group didn’t hold the event in 2020 due to COVID-19) the group has raised over $41,000. The idea of where the money raised should be directed was one of the early decisions made by the group. Seeing a need for financial assistance for female athletes was behind the choice as Templeton explains.

“Disproportion in the amounts of scholarships in the high schools, and I imagine it’s all over the province, going to female athletes that were succeeding in sports. There wasn’t the money available so that’s why we made it our goal,” she told Golf Saskatchewan.

In the first year of the event, the group started with a field of 80 players and was able to donate $500 for one scholarship. In June of this year Women “Fore” Women contributed $3,000 each to six Moose Jaw high school athletes moving onto college in Canada or United States. Templeton said the support of the Hillcrest Golf Club and the city of Moose Jaw has been outstanding and allowed the growth of their event.

“Our businesses and sponsors, and individuals in Moose Jaw have been overwhelming,” she said.

The group expects to be in the $20,000 range in profit from this past Saturday’s tournament, that money will be earmarked for next year’s recipients. Each student must meet the organizations criteria and write an essay. Templeton said this year there was 18 applicants.

She added that the benefactors have been very courteous over the six years.

“They are just so gracious, they are so overwhelmed with getting money at all,” Templeton added. “So appreciative, we get thank you cards back, we get videos back from all the girls. Oh, here I am at university, and this is the ball field I am playing on. They are just so grateful and thankful, a really nice group of girls we’ve given too.”

Templeton also wanted to thank all the players (including family members of recipients) and Jasmine Cameron for her work in organizing the event.

Aricin Franklin and Ryan Mosher of Saskatoon will continue at the Canadian Junior Boys’ Championships in Innisfail, Alta.

Franklin posted rounds of 71 and 73 on Tuesday and Wednesday, he entered the day tied for 23rd overall in the under-19 championship, Franklin is 11th in the under-17 age group.

Mosher, the Saskatchewan champion opened with a 78, but bounced back beautifully with a 72 in round two, jumping Mosher below the cut line of 8-over par. He is tied for 59th at the start of play for round three.

Max Regier, the third member of Team Saskatchewan shot 76 and 77, the team placed fifth overall.

Aiden Walker of Regina posted an 83 in round one and 76 during the second round, he missed the cut to conclude his busy summer which included the 2024 Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship.

Darien Herlick of Weyburn was the fifth Saskatchewan player in the field, he shot 83 and 81 to end the event.

To see all the results, click here.

Blind Golf Canada hosted a couple events out in British Columbia back in mid-July with several Saskatchewan athletes placing well.

From July 7 to 9, the ISPS Handa Canadian Blind Open took place at Bootleg Gap Golf in Kimberley, B.C.

Garth Hiltz was the B4 low gross runner up in the event.

The Mutual Fire Insurance Western Canadian Open Championships were held at Eugene Golf Resort in Cranbrook, B.C. from July 10 to 12.

The overall Stableford Scoring champion was Curtis Parenteau. He also took the B3 title.

Parenteau also captured the team title with Jeff Skemer. Rod Milic and Diane Wilson were team runner ups.

The ladies Stableford runner up was Kathy Mudrey.

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) was in Elk Ridge this week for a 36 hole event ahead of the Junior Lobstick at Waskesiu.

The overall women’s champion was Grace Odnokon of Saskatoon. The 14-year-old shot 80 and 76 on Saturday and Sunday for a two round total of 156. The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member won the under-15 girls age group by 16 shots. She was also six strokes lower than Chloe Wills, who was the under-19 age division champion at 162 with back-to-back 81’s.

Sienna Taylor of Saskatoon was second in the under-15 age group, Zhu Youran was third.

Sarah Henderson of Saskatoon placed second in the under-19 age group, Li Ino was third.

In the men’s championships, Ayden Ross of Swift Current paced the field and won with a two round score 147 (76, 71). Ross was the under-17 champion, and held off under-19 champion Ben Staines to take the overall victory.

Brady Guenther (Saskatoon) and Ethan Hunter (Casa Rio) tied for second overall, just a shot behind Ross.

Staines was two strokes behind Ross while winning the under-19 age group.

Dante Gamble of Duck Lake and Griffin Blanch from Saskatoon each shot 150, they tied for fifth overall and fourth in the juvenile age division.

Justin Miller of Saskatoon was third in the under-19 category, Hudson Heistad of Avonlea rounded out the top three of the junior division.

In the under-15 age group, 13-year-old Pilot Butte shooter Austin Nesbitt snagged his first bantam win of the year. The Wascana Country Club member shot impressive rounds of 71 and 69 to edge out North Battleford player Shae Maunula.

Swift Current’s Matty Schmiess rounded out the top three.

In the under-13 age group, Adam Stepaniuk of Georgetown, Grand Cayman won the event with a score of 158, Craik product Dalton Stephens was second.

The complete results can be found here. The Junior Order of Merit Tour (OMT) standings are also up to date.

The Junior OMT continues this week with the Junior Lobstick in Waskesiu that started on Monday, Aug. 12.

*All photos courtesy Jeff Chambers

156 of Canada’s top junior golfers will compete for the Junior title along with a U16 Juvenile division and an inter-provincial team competition

Innisfail, Alta. – The 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO is set for August 13-16 with a field of 156 junior golfers competing over four rounds at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta.

This year’s field competing for the Canadian Junior Boys Trophy, also known as the Silver Cup, features a talented field of Canadian players, including five 2024 NextGen tournament winners, Charlie Gillespie of Calgary, Alta. (NextGen Western), Ryan Mosher of Saskatoon, Sask. (NextGen Prairie), Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. (NextGen Ontario), Bode Stephen of Kingston, Ont. (NextGen Atlantic) and Matthew Wilson of Nanaimo, B.C. (NextGen Pacific).

Joining Mosher, who is also the Saskatchewan Junior Champion on the inter-provincial team is Max Regier and Aricin Franklin, all three Saskatoon players are coming off performances at the Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship last week at Riverside Country Club.

Aiden Walker (Regina) and Darien Herlick (Weyburn) are also in the field.

Walker, Mosher, and Franklin are eligible for the under-17 championship too.

In addition, five members of Team Canada NextGen will be competing in Innisfail including, Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont., Matthew Javier of Toronto, Ont., Luke Smith of Toronto, Ont., defending champion Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. and Eric Zhao of North York, Ont. Last year at North Bay Golf and Country Club, Zhang won the national championship beating out two others by one shot.

“We have a great field ready to compete for our prestigious Canadian Junior Boys Championship,” said Sam Brown, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “We’d like to thank the staff and volunteers at Innisfail Golf Club for all the work they’ve put in to prepare the golf course as we welcome some of Canada’s best young talent to Innisfail. The club has great experience hosting a number of provincial championships and we are excited to get play underway.”

Innisfail Golf Club is hosting the Canadian Junior Boys Championship while celebrating its centennial year. Established in 1924, the Bill Robinson designed course features 27 holes with three different 9-hole courses each with a scenic and diverse experience. The tournament will be contested on the Aspen and Spruce nines. Innisfail Golf Club has previously hosted the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship on three occasions as well as the Alberta Senior Ladies Championship.

“We are so proud to be hosting an event like this with the best young talent in the field from across the nation.  The club has been around for 100 years and can be challenging for many. Diligent strategy is required to play well here or may find some of the tough shots out there in a hurry. Subtle, yet distinct…pictures don’t the contours or elevation changes justice,” said Jeff McDowall, Head Professional, Innisfail Golf Club. “We hope those who are playing enjoy the experience at Innisfail Golf Club and all competitors do their best in the pursuit for a national championship title.”

Established in 1938 with the first championship played at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont., the Canadian Junior Boys Championship has given Canadians a glimpse into the future glory that many of its champions have gone on to enjoy. Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Doug Silverberg, George Knudson, Gary Cowan, and Doug Roxburgh have all won the Silver Cup before moving on to amateur and professional careers.

2023 RBC Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor won the Junior in 2006, the only Canadian male golfer to win the trifecta of national championships comprised of the Canadian Junior Boys, Canadian Men’s Amateur, and Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. Brooke Henderson who is the lone female Canadian golfer to win the Canadian Junior Girls, Canadian Women’s Amateur, and the CPKC Women’s Open.

In addition to the 18-and-under Junior Championship, the 16-and-under Juvenile Championship was added in 1970, with the winner receiving the Jack Bailey Trophy. Since its inception, only 11 golfers have won both the Juvenile and Junior titles — Jim Rutledge, Jeff Makahon, Rob McMillan, Jesse Collinson, Dustin Risdon, Gord Scutt, Rafael Lee, Mitch Sutton, Charles-Éric Bélanger, Christopher Vandette and Alex Zhang.

There will be a final qualifier held on Friday, August 9 at Innisfail Golf Club where 45 golfers will be competing for the final four spots into the national championship. Following the qualifier, practice rounds will take place on Saturday, August 10. The Junior and Juvenile championship rounds are played concurrently over four rounds, with the low 70 players plus ties in the Junior division and a minimum of ten players in the Juvenile division advancing to the final 36 holes. The Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship will be played over the first 36 holes, where teams will compete for the Junior Inter-Provincial Championship Trophy. Last year, Team Ontario finished three shots clear of Team British Columbia to win the championship.

The Junior champion of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship earns an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship as well as the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

For the full player field competing in the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

The popular Frametech Classic was held at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club over the August long weekend.

In the women’s division, Estevan golfer Paige Wheeler was the champion with a 36-hole score of 167. She earned 500 points on the Order of Merit Tour.

Joyce Kuchinka was second overall (31-over par, 175), Tenille Wilhelm was third at 42-over par, 186.

The full ladies results can be found here.

Taking the men’s championship was Regina resident Mitch Matichuk in a playoff over local shooter Jace Carlisle. Each player shot 215 over 54-holes, but the Royal Regina Golf Club member ended up claiming the title.

Shawn McNall of Regina and Dallas Lequyer from Carlisle rounded out the podium tied for third at 216.

Matichuk picked up 750 points in the men’s OMT race.

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg ran away from the field in the seniors championship winning by an unimaginable 24 shots picking up 750 OMT points in the process.

The Golf Kenosee member was 7-under par for the event, Tony Heath was the next closest player at 17-over par.

James Gordon and Dean Lequyer tied for third.

The complete men’s results can be found here.

Mawhinney’s late charge enough to hold off
defending champion Ashton McCulloch

Saskatoon, Sask. – The final round of the 119^th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO was one to remember on Thursday at Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon, Sask.

The leaderboard had more twists and turns than a rollercoaster throughout the day with five players holding a piece of the lead at various points and numerous lead changes on the back nine. In the end, the name a top the leaderboard is the one that was there all week as Tyler Mawhinney of Fleming Island, Fla claimed the Earl Grey Cup as the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion.

“Don’t have much to say right now, kinda sinking in but proud I could finish it off after some great golf,” said a visibly emotional Mawhinney.

Mawhinney began the day one ahead of defending champion Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. He began his round with a birdie and followed it up with an eagle to pull three shots ahead. However, a triple bogey on the par 4 third hole saw McCulloch pull ahead by one following a birdie of his own.

Mawhinney pulled level with McCulloch on the fifth hole at 12-under. The two matched birdies on six before Mawhinney took the solo lead with another birdie on the eighth hole. Making a charge in front of the lead group was Garrett Rank of Waterloo, Ont. Rank, an NHL referee during the season, collected three birdies and a par to close the front nine one back of Mawhinney who sat at 14-under.

The back nine continued to provide drama fitting of a national championship as Rank and Mawhinney were joined by Rylan Shim of Centreville, Va. as co-leaders at 13-under through 11 holes. Mawhinney birdied no. 12 to move back to a one-shot lead but bogeyed no. 13, bringing Shim back into the co-lead.

More twists and turns following no.14 as Rank birded to get to 13-under to pull level with Mawhinney and joining them was Declan O’Donovan from New South Wales, Australia following his birdie on 14. The co-lead was short lived as both Rank and O’Donovan bogeyed no. 15, giving the lead back to Mawhinney with three to play.

Rank birdied no. 16 as Mawhinney approached the tee, where a crucial decision was made.

“Decided to hit 3-wood off 16 which was the first time we did that this week and that kept us back and didn’t have to turn it around the corner and you could still make birdie that way. I think I had 205 into the green and hit it middle of the green and two-putt,” said Mawhinney on his birdie to retake the lead by one.

Rank closed with two pars to take the clubhouse lead at 13-under. Mawhinney responded with what he described as “the greatest shot I’ve ever hit in my life” on no. 17 as he stuck it to within one foot from 178 yards out and tapped in for birdie to move to 15-under and a two-shot lead.

“The winds we think switched and it was 178 downhill. I have to change for elevation because I am sea level, and it was about a 72 shot with the wind and a perfect 8-iron and hit it right at the flag and it was the right number,” said Mawhinney.

McCulloch was making the finish even more interesting as he continued to battle and moved to 13-under following another eagle on no. 16, his third consecutive day doing so. McCulloch went on to birdie the 18th to finish at 14-under.

Mawhinney played no. 18 as he had all week with a 3-iron off the tee followed by a pitching wedge into the green and two-putted for the win. Mawhinney shot rounds of 65-69-70-69-273 to claim the national championship.

As he finished speaking with the media, the 16-year-old asked what was next?

“A couple people said I’ll see you at Hazeltine, so I guess that’s what’s next, but we’ll figure it out when we get there,” he responded.

With the win, Mawhinney receives an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. and the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. from August 12-18. He will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championship and $1,200 CAD.

McCulloch finished solo second at 14-under and Shim and Braxton Kuntz of Winnipeg, Man. finished tied for third at 12-under. Rank finished the tournament at 13-under which was solo third place but was unfortunately disqualified following his round for signing an incorrect score card.

On Tuesday, Team British Columbia claimed the Willingdon Cup as Inter-Provincial Team champions. Team British Columbia shot a collective 9-under and was represented by Wyatt Brook of Heffley Creek, B.C., James Fahy of Vancouver, B.C. and Team Canada NextGen member Cooper Humphreys of Vernon, B.C. Team Ontario finished second with a collective 5-under, with Team Manitoba rounding out the top three at even par.

For the final leaderboard following the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.