Elmwood Golf Club professional Brennan Rumancik is still the low Saskatchewan golfer at the PGA Head Professional Championship after two rounds.

Rumancik followed his opening round of even par  shooting two-over, 74 on Wednesday to sit at plus-two after 36 holes at Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona. Rumancik is tied for 29^th, well above the cut line of the top 70 golfers.

Jeff Chambers, also out of Elmwood is tied for 56^th at nine-over par. He carded a six-over, 78 during round two.

Regina’s Kevin Dietz, playing out of Tor Hill Golf Course is at 10-over, he’s tied for 62 following a 76 in the second round.

John Greenough, the pro at Deer Valley Golf and Estates is at 11-over, he’s tied for 64^th.

All four golfers made the cut. Former Regina resident Lindsay Bernakevitch is at plus-one through 36 holes. He’s the head pro at Victoria Golf Club.

Ontario’s Gordon Burns continues to scorch the field and course, he leads at minus-17 going into Thursday’s championship round.

The Interzone competition concluded on Wednesday, Saskatchewan placed eighth.

The complete results can be seen here.

Swift Current’s Brennan Rumancik shot even par Tuesday at the PGA Head Professional Championship and sits tied for 22^nd after round one of the 54-hole event.

The Elmwood Golf & Country Club pro is the lead local of four Saskatchewan competitors in the 90-player field.

Jeff Chambers, also from Elmwood shot plus-three, 75 in round one, he is tied for 44^th.

Kevin Dietz (Tor Hill Golf Course) and John Greenough (Deer Valley Golf & Estates) both carded rounds of six-over, 78 at Wigwam Golf Resort in Arizona.

Former Regina resident, Lindsay Bernakevitch, Victoria Golf Club’s head professional is tied for 35^th after shooting 74.

Saskatchewan sits eighth in the Interzone competition.

Gordon burns leads the event at minus-10. Ontario is the Interzone leader after the first 18 holes.

Round two goes on Wednesday from Litchfield Park.

The full results can be found here.

Growing up in Melfort, and then Saskatoon, Troy Bulmer golfed, a lot, most of the time with his father.

Rod Bulmer was an accountant by day, by night a father on the course with his son as much as possible, and between the two of them, they were often found in the winner’s circle. The Melfort Men’s Open was a huge tournament for western Canadian golfers, the elder Bulmer won the event “several” times according to Troy. Rod was also the Saskatchewan amateur champion in 1984. Troy won the 2005 under-15 provincial title, a year later he was the under-17 victor.

Rod had a stellar amateur career, Troy was on his way to more wins, then everything changed.

In August of 2010, Rod was driving his son back to college in Misenheimer, N.C. when their car was toss from the road by a tornado in North Dakota. Rod was killed, Troy suffered serious injuries, but survived.

In July of 2011, Troy won the Saskatchewan amateur title as well putting his name on the same trophy as his late father.

“That’s obviously a huge point of personal pride as well as for my family and friends, that was a very significant moment,” Troy said to Golf Saskatchewan last week. “Twelve, thirteen months before that it didn’t look like I was going to be able to play golf again because of the damage I sustained. That was a huge piece. To have the same championship as my dad has, that’s hugely important, it’s very meaningful. Especially now, it’s something I can look back on and say as much as it was a point of satisfaction or goal I had, it was almost a personal reassurance that I was going to be ok. Regardless of losing dad or not, our names will be tied to a piece of history.”

The Bulmers joined the Stewarts (Ron and Dave) as the only other father-son combo to win the amateur championship.

(Troy with his dad, Rod in 2006)

Bulmer now calls Vernon, B.C. home and is still very involved in golf playing “as much, wherever possible.” He enters events in the Vancouver Golf Tour, State Opens and the McKenzie Tour keeping the 28-year-old busy. This past summer he won his first event as a professional, the storied Ogopogo at the Kelowna Golf & Country Club. The Predator Ridge member stormed back from four shots down on the final day to win the 68^th running of the tournament that had a field of 162. Bulmer said the win had significance thanks to Mike Smith, a long-time friend of his dad’s as his caddy during the championship.

“By proxy that’s the closest thing that I could get to having dad around, it was really nice having Mike out there caddying. Someone to talk with and after the completion of the event basically realizing it would be my trophy and my tournament that I had won, it was very nice of him to say, your dad would be very proud of you. It was very nice for Mike to remind me of that,” Bulmer said.

Still healing from his injuries after the amateur win, Bulmer felt a warmer climate would be beneficial for his health, and his game. Only practicing a couple times per week, he started to play more in the B.C. and had success pushing him on.

“Over a span of a couple weeks I set five course records, and that was without practicing or playing that much,” Bulmer explained. “I figured I would go down south and play a couple Mini-Tour events and just see where the game is actually at. Those Mini-Tour guys grinders are good. Whatever the mental hang-up or getting out of their comfort zone, whatever the case me be that they don’t progress further, those guys that have made money on the Mini-Tour are good golfers.”

Chasing a PGA TOUR card is still the goal for Bulmer. He will continue to play through the qualifying school of the McKenzie Tour and work from there. He did admit that as determined as he is to make the dream work, time doesn’t stop.

“It’s something that is within grasp, but at the same time you need to see it in a timely matter,” Bulmer explained. “You can’t spend three, four years grinding it out on the McKenzie Tour and another handful on the Korn Ferry Tour. Playing professional golf isn’t a cheap thing to do, so it’s going to be one of those with results and success becomes that much more exposure to yourself and that much more opportunity to pursue it. Right now I’m all in on progressing my game.”

Saskatchewan currently has about ten players, both men and women playing college golf in Canada and the United States. Some may have professional aspirations; others might be using the game to get their education. Whatever the reason and their goals, Bulmer said his eyes were opened once he climbed to the higher level after his college career was complete.

“When you go out and play, yeah your short game, your putting can be great, but you are not shooting 63 each day hitting it to 25 feet or putting it up-and-down for par all day. My greatest recommendation which when I was first out there I caught on really quick, we’re finding ball striking and trying to get closer to the hole is. Sixty-nine isn’t good golf anymore at this level. If you are shooting 69 or 70 everyday you are going to go awfully hungry,” he said.

Bulmer works at Predator Ridge during the season and has a girlfriend who also plays golf out of the Okanagan course. In the off-season Bulmer works for one of the resorts in the Vernon area.

You can hear more from Bulmer below in his interview with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork.

Almost 100 of Canada’s top golf professionals have converged on Wigwam Golf in Litchfield Park, Arizona for the annual PGA Head Professional Championship this week.

The 54-hole stroke play championship opens Tuesday with the players chasing a $55,000 prize purse for the next few days. Moose Jaw born Adam Hadwin, a rising star on the PGA Tour was on hand for the practice round on Monday.

Saskatchewan has four players in the field of 90 players. Brennan Rumancik, Jeff Chambers, Kevin Dietz, and John Greenough. Former Regina resident and four-time Saskatchewan amateur champion Lindsay Bernakevitch is also in the field. Rumancik tees off at 11:33 a.m., Chambers is in the 11:42 a.m. group, Dietz will begin at 11:51 a.m., and Greenough starts at noon.

Aside from the individual championship, the event features a two-day Interzone competition. The club’s represented in that portion of the tournament are the Elmwood Golf Club (Chambers, Rumancik), Tor Hill Golf Course (Dietz) and Deer Valley Golf & Estates (Greenough).

The leaderboard can be found here.

We recently received a Rules inquiry about substituting a ball on the putting surface from a reader.

“I have seen golfers use a different golf ball on the greens; is this allowed? He asked.

ANSWER: No. You may not substitute a ball on the putting green unless your ball is cut, cracked or out of shape (see Rule 4.2c(2)).

Rule 4-2 The Ball:

Rule 4-2 c. Ball Becomes Cut or Cracked While Playing Hole

(2) When Another Ball May Be Substituted. The player may only substitute another ball if it can be clearly seen that the original ball is cut or cracked and this damage happened during the hole being played – but not if it is only scratched or scraped or its paint is only damaged or discoloured.

• If the original ball is cut or cracked, the player must replace either another ball or the original ball on the original spot (see Rule 14.2).
• If the original ball is not cut or cracked, the player must replace it on its original spot (see Rule 14.2).

Nothing in this Rule prohibits a player from substituting another ball under any other Rule or changing balls between two holes.

Penalty for Playing Incorrectly Substituted Ball or Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 4.2c: General Penalty Under Rule 6.3b or 14.7a.

Therefore, if a player on the putting green changes her/his ball to their “lucky ball,” it will cost them the general penalty (two strokes) in match play. Therefore, it is not recommended they do such an action.

Remember, the Rules matter!

NAPLES, FLA. (Golf Canada) – ​The success of the 2019 CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., was recently recognized as the Tournament Partners of the LPGA presented Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) with two Gold Driver Awards for delivering best-in-class elements among all LPGA Tour events.

The annual Gold Driver Awards were hosted in conjunction with the LPGA Tour’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Fla. The Tournament Partners of the LPGA (formally Tournament Owners Association) have a long standing tradition of recognizing best in class tournaments with Gold Driver Awards at the season ending event on the LPGA Tour calendar.

At the formal ceremony, the CP Women’s Open received Gold Driver Awards for Best Community and Charity Engagement and Best Sponsor Activation.

The award for Best Community and Charity Engagement was earned for the CP Has Heart community investment campaign, which raised nearly $2.5 million for children’s charities in the Greater Toronto Area – the largest donation in the history of the CP Women’s Open. As part of the program, $2.2 million was presented to the SickKids Foundation in Toronto, while a $250,000 donation was made to Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket, Ont., to support paediatric cardiac care. In the six years of CP’s title sponsorship of the CP Women’s Open, more than $10.5 million has now been raised to support children’s heart health in Canada. This is the second time in the last three years that the CP Women’s Open was awarded the Gold Driver for Best Community and Charity Engagement.

The CP Women’s Open netted Best Sponsor Activation for the Levelwear Caddy Lounge. Headed by Canadian apparel company and Golf Canada partner, Levelwear, the activation delivered a first of its kind hangout for LPGA Tour caddies. The Lounge featured a host of amenities, from food and drinks to post-round massages, haircuts, games and more.

“It is humbling to see the CP Women’s Open honoured with two Gold Driver Awards,” said CP Women’s Open Tournament Director, Ryan Paul. “This year’s event was a true team effort. Thanks to tremendous fan, player and partner support, the 2019 CP Women’s Open was a resounding success and it is rewarding to be recognized with these meaningful awards.”

In August, Rolex World No. 1 Jin Young Ko fired a 26-under 262 over four rounds to best a stellar field of golfers, including 96 of the top 100 golfers in the world and become the 2019 CP Women’s Open champion. By doing so, she would take home US$337,500 of the US$2.25 million purse, the largest purse on the LPGA Tour outside Major Championships and the CME Group Tour Championship.

The 2019 CP Women’s Open enjoyed record walk-up and corporate hospitality sales and was the third-most attended CP Women’s Open in history.

The stars of the LPGA Tour are headed back to Vancouver as the 2020 CP Women’s Open will be contested at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club from August 31- September 6, 2020. The championship will mark the sixth time that the province of British Columbia has hosted Canada’s Women’s Open Championship, with the last time being 2015 at The Vancouver Golf Club, where Lydia Ko won her third CP Women’s Open title.

Information regarding tickets and corporate hospitality for 2020 can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com/tickets.

VANCOUVER (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor Canadian Pacific (CP), are pleased to announce that tickets are now available for the 2020 CP Women’s Open, taking place August 31 to September 6 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. 

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the CP Women’s Open features miles of front row seating for golf fans to experience Canada’s lone stop on the LPGA Tour. Cheer on Canadian sensation and CP Ambassador Brooke Henderson as she leads the stars of the LPGA Tour back to Vancouver alongside defending champion and world No. 1 Jin Young Ko, past champions Ariya Jutanugarn, Sung Hyun Park and So Yeon Ryu and rising stars Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Jessica Korda, Danielle Kang and Minjee Lee.  

The 2020 CP Women’s Open will mark the sixth time that the province of British Columbia has hosted Canada’s Women’s Open Golf Championship, with the last time being 2015 at The Vancouver Golf Club, where Lydia Ko won her third CP Women’s Open title.  

CLICK HERE to get your tickets for the 2020 CP Women’s Open 

General admission tickets, starting at just $20 for early week admission, provide access to the grounds to get an up-close look at the stars of the LPGA Tour. 

Tournament rounds for Thursday, Friday and Saturday are just $50; a Sunday final-round ticket is $60; and a week–long, fully transferable badge is $130. A $60 Anyday Grounds ticket is also available for those looking for ticket flexibility.  

A specially-priced youth ticket (13-17 years old) is also available while juniors aged 12-and-under gain FREE grounds admission all week long.  

In addition to general admission tickets and corporate hospitality products, the CP Women’s Open also offers a premium ticket product – The Heritage Lounge. 

The Heritage Lounge delivers an elevated fan experience within the Clubhouse of the prestigious Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club. This premium destination is the perfect home base to sit, relax and map out your experience following the stars of the LPGA Tour! It offers upgraded food and beverage for purchase, ample televisions with a live feed of the broadcast and private washrooms.  Heritage Lounge tickets cost $100 for single day access or $250 for a fully transferable tournament (Thursday – Sunday) pass.

Volunteer opportunities to be a part of the 2020 CP Women’s Open are also available with a full listing of committee positions here. 

For an elevated experience, the CP Women’s Open offers many great hospitality packages to fit any budget. All corporate hospitality comes with private seating on one of Shaughnessy’s closing holes and all-inclusive food & beverage. A full list of offerings can be found here.   

The CP Women’s Open is so much more than a sporting event. Enjoy world-class golf and a premium hospitality experience at a signature Canadian sporting event that will leave a meaningful charitable legacy through CP Has Heart in support of children’s heart health.

Get your tickets today at www.cpwomensopen.com/tickets.

* Prices do not include applicable taxes or Ticketmaster fees.

The road to The 149th Open at Royal St George’s will stop in Canada once again, as the 2020 RBC Canadian at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto will be among 16 events in 11 countries to make up The Open Qualifying Series for 2020.

The Emirates Australian Open, which is being played from 5-8 December at The Australian in Sydney, will be the first opportunity for players to secure their place at Royal St George’s next year.

The Open Qualifying Series will visit Morocco for the first time with the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II event offering one qualifying place for golf’s original championship, while the Travelers Championship on the PGA TOUR returns to the schedule for the first time since 2015 with two qualifying spots available.

A minimum of 46 places in The Open are available through the Series, which provides golfers with opportunities to qualify at events around the world on the PGA TOUR, the European Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour, the Korean Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said, “We have agreed an exciting schedule of events with our colleagues at the leading professional tours around the world and we will look forward to finding out which golfers qualify for Royal St George’s.

“We know there is real excitement among fans at the prospect of The Open returning to Royal St George’s which will undoubtedly spur on players to qualify to compete over the famous Kent links come July next year.”

The South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg will be played at Randpark, Johannesburg from 9-12 January and three qualifying places will be on offer.

Four places in The Open will be available at both the SMBC Singapore Open, which is being played at Sentosa Golf Club, and The Mizuno Open taking place at The Royal Golf Club in Japan.

On the PGA TOUR, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and RBC Canadian Open will each have three qualifying places, while the last qualifying place will be confirmed at the John Deere Classic on the eve of The 149th Open.

On the European Tour, four places at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open will be available.

Two places will also be available at the KOLON Korea Open in June.

Regional Qualifying events will take place throughout Great Britain and Ireland with Caldy, Rochester & Cobham Park and Moor Park confirmed as three new venues for 2020. A minimum of 12 places will then be available at Final Qualifying events taking place at Fairmont St Andrews, Notts (Hollinwell), Prince’s and St Annes Old Links.

David Larwood’s golf experiences have substantially evolved from his “homemade” three-hole course near Porcupine Plain to rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s best.

Larwood told Golf Saskatchewan he used his parent’s pasture to hit the ball around growing up. Joking the greens were “grazing height” and broken hockey sticks were utilized as flag sticks Larwood’s love of golf grew. Now a retired teacher he has taken up the game again and volunteers annually for the PGA TOUR’s Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Larwood said he’s taken on more responsibility with his continued attendance.

“We spend a few months each winter in Maui and I volunteered for the PGA Tournament of Champions,” he explained. “I started as a marshall in a very low-profile role, over the last five years being available and not saying no, I have moved into a chairman role. It’s still a volunteer role but comes with a few more perks.”

Now known as a chairman at large, Larwood is the “floater” of the group of nine chair people. One person leads the group, seven other volunteers look after a certain committee and Larwood provides support where needed. He is also a mentor to incoming chairs. He said his overall job description is “loose” and his tasks are everchanging. He admitted the volunteering brings along neat experiences.

“Dustin Johnson (and all other golfers) couldn’t tee off on hole six until the guy from Saskatchewan who had never read a rule book or shot under 100 said he could,” he chuckled. “I waved a flag to show the sixth green was clear.”

He mentioned the time he was asked to switch out Johnson’s vehicle he was using for the week.

“I got to park his new SUV in the VIP section, last year winner’s parking spot. I did have to move the seat ahead 18 inches to reach the pedal,” Larwood joked.

He said meeting other volunteers from across North America and sharing short conversations with the players is part of the perks. He said they are all very appreciative of what the volunteers do at the events.

Larwood wanted to share his story and experiences with potential volunteers, perhaps from Saskatchewan. If you are going to be spending your January on the island state volunteering could be for you. He said they never reach a full capacity of helpers and the roles and shifts vary. Volunteers hold “quiet” signs, scan tickets at admission, shuttle players and their families, or can work on a computer to assist the spectators or broadcasters with their analysis. More details can be seen here.

Larwood said events in Saskatchewan such as the Brier or World Junior Hockey Championships, people may have to provide some financial contribution for your uniform or other fees. The volunteer process in Hawaii is much different and the TOUR makes it worth your while.

“In Maui, the volunteering is completely free. Five days of volunteering gets you a hat, two shirts, daily meal and a free round of golf on the Kapalua Bay Course,” he explained. “You also get a week pass to attend the tournament when you are not working. Maui isn’t Saskatchewan, there isn’t much money for public recreation and facilities. The sponsors of the tournament put huge dollars into public service groups and infrastructure. As a retired teacher, this is a win-win situation for volunteers.”

For anyone potentially thinking about volunteering, Larwood encouraged them to reach out to him, he can be contacted via email at larwoodd@gmail.com.

Golf Saskatchewan has signed off on the championship host sites for the 2020 season.

The provincial amateur golf governing body will host nine Saskatchewan championships at six different clubs across the province. Manager of Sport Development and Championships Steve Ryde said the players will get a chance to compete at some of the province’s top facilities.

“We are very excited to release our championship schedule for 2020, Ryde said. “Saskatchewan is full of great golf courses and we feel that the venues we chose for the events are among some of the best.”

The Amateur Women’s Championship at The Willows Golf & Country Club will kick the season off, the final tournament will be the ever-popular Mixed Championship at Candle Lake Golf Resort. Ryde said planning the schedule and finding hosts is a pleasant process as clubs look forward to showcasing their facilities to locals and newcomers.

“Kudos to the managers and golf professionals for working together on selecting dates that fit both parties’ schedules. We continue to work towards solidifying future sites and hope to share these venues so competitors and facilities can plan their busy summers well in advance,” he said.

102^nd Women’s Amateur Championship – The Willows Golf & Country Club, Saskatoon (July 9 – 11)

94^th Junior Men’s and 70^th Junior Women’s Championships – Elmwood Golf & Country Club, Swift Current (July 14 – 16)

109^th Men’s Amateur Championship and 34^th Mid-Amateur Championship – Legends Golf Club,, Warman (July 21 – 23)

101^st Senior Men’s Championship and 57^th Senior Women’s Championship – Cooke Municipal Golf Course, Prince Albert (July 28 – 30)

50^th Women’s Rosebowl – Katepwa Beach Golf Club, Katepwa Beach (Aug. 12 – 13)

22^nd Mixed Championship – Candle Lake Golf Course, Candle Lake (Aug. 22 – 23)

Registration for the events will open in April.

Other events coming up this season include the Saskatchewan Summer Games in Lloydminster, the golf takes place from July 29 to Aug. 1. The North American Indigenous Games are scheduled for July 12 -18 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.