Yorkton’s Ella Kozak is four shots off the podium going into the final round of the Maple Leaf Junior Tour National Championship in Kissimmee, Florida.

The 13-year-old Deer Park member shot 85 on Saturday at Reunion Resort for a two-day total of 164. She sits in fourth place in the under-15 girl’s category.

15 – 18 Girls

Autumn Neiszner was just a stroke higher during the second round of the event, the Regina athlete carded an 82 during the second round. Her 36-hole total of 163 leaves her in seventh in the division.

Collegiate

Saskatoon’s Keighton McNab holds onto the lead he held after the first day of the championship. The Dakota Dunes Golf Links player shot 80 during round two, combined with an opening round of 75, he is a stroke ahead of St. Albert’s Connor Ackroyd.

Peewee Boys

Dane Giesbrecht is in a medal position heading into Sunday’s final round. The Warman product’s 36-hole total of 162 after back-to-back 81’s is 10 strokes off combined leaders out of Vancouver. Giesbrecht is four shots clear of fourth.

La Ronge’s Dade Bernatchez is ninth overall in the division with a two-day score of 195 (97, 98). Elias Haukeness of Buena Vista is in 10^th at 198 (96, 102).

Bantam Boys

Tommy Danielson is also in a podium placing going into Sunday’s third round. The 14-year-old shot 79 for the second straight day and sits third at 158.

Danielson has another Saskatoon competitor chasing him down for a potential medal, Max Regier is tied for fourth at 166 (84, 82).

Derien Herlick of Weyburn is sixth overall at 175 thanks to an 87 on Saturday, a shot lower than round one.

The Bantam leader is at 146 (Aaron Huang, Vancouver).

Juvenile Boys

Saskatoon’s Chase Pochylko is the top local juvenile division player. He’s sitting in a tie for 16^th at 162. The 15-year-old carved two strokes off his opening round 82.

Alex Swinnerton shot 82 on Saturday, add his opening round score of 81, he sits tied for 19^th at 163.

Junior Boys

Prince Albert’s Noah Parent has a score of 160 through 36 holes. The 18-year-old opened with a 78 and stroked an 82 Saturday. He’s in 10^th place.

Adam Husli of Regina is tied for 17^th place at 166. He carded rounds of 82 and 84 over the first couple days. Prince Albert’s Cole Jenkins sits five back of Husli at 171. Jenkins is tied for 19^th with an 84 and 87 on his scorecard.

All the results can be found here.

The championship round will go Sunday.

Day one of the MJT Boston Pizza National Championship is in the books in Kissimmee, Florida.

Of the 14 Saskatchewan competitors Saskatoon’s Keighton McNab is sitting the best after round one at Reunion Resort. McNab, 20, leads the collegiate division after shooting three-over, 75 on Friday. He is two strokes up on Edmonton’s Dakota Smith for the lead.

Junior Boys

Noah Parent of Prince Albert is the top local in the junior boy’s category. Parent shot an opening round of 78 leaving him in eighth place in the group. 17-year-old Adam Husli of Regina sits tied for 12^th in the junior age group. Husli carded a round of 82. Cole Jenkins, also of Prince Albert shot an 84 in round one, he is tied for 18^th.

Bantam Boys

In the bantam boy’s division Saskatoon’s Tommy Danielson is right in the hunt. The 14-year-old shot 79 Friday and sits tied for second in the category, just six shots off the leader going into the second of three rounds. Saskatoon’s Max Regier, 14, fired an 84 and is tied for fourth. Derien Herlick of Weyburn is tied for eighth after an opening round score of 88.

Juvenile Boys

Two Saskatoon products are competing in the juvenile boy’s division, Alex Swinnerton and Chase Pochylko. Swinnerton, 15, shot 81 Friday and is in a tie for 17^th. Pochylko, also 15-years-old carded an 82, he’s in tie for 18^th.

Peewee Boys

Warman’s Dane Giesbrecht put himself near the top of the top of the peewee boy’s division with an opening round score of 81. He sits in third-place five strokes back of the leader. Buena Vista golfer Elias Haukeness posted an opening round of 96, he’s in ninth place. La Ronge’s Dade Bernatchez (pictured above) is in 10^th with a round one score of 97.

Under-15 Girls

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak is sitting in a good spot after day one in the under-15 girl’s category. The Deer Park member shot 79 on Friday putting herself in a tie for second three shots behind the leader, Anna Huang of Vancouver.

15 – 18 Girls

Reigning Saskatchewan junior girl’s champion Autumn Neiszner is the lone Saskatchewan competitor in the girls 15 to 18 division. The Regina golfer fired a round of 81 and sits in ninth place. She will try to close the gap on leader Sarah Gallagher who shot 75.

The complete results can be found here.

Round two will again be a shotgun start with all players on the tees at 7 a.m. Saskatchewan time. The champions will be crowned after Sunday’s 54^th hole.

Whether you’re a club member, an avid public player or a new enthusiast to the game, spending on the sport of golf drives massive benefit to communities across Canada.

The impact of golf on the Canadian economy is enormous—an economic impact in excess of $14B is only part of the story. Golf courses and the industry at large account for hundreds of thousands of jobs. Canadians and international visitors plan golf vacations to communities that market themselves as golf destinations and resorts offer golf packages that result in millions of tourism dollars. Tens of thousands of charitable causes use golf as the platform to general $500M annually for worthwhile causes. The golf industry—including more than 5M golfers, nearly 2,300 facilities and local retailers plus countless superintendents, PGA of Canada professionals and industry stakeholders—play a vital role in the continued growth and health of the sport.

Understanding the full scope of Canadian golf including the economic, employment, environmental, tourism and charitable impact of the game in communities from coast to coast is critical. Evaluating that impact is why We Are Golf, a coalition of Canadian golf associations, are inviting Canadians to participate in the latest iteration of the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY

The survey, which takes approximately 12-15 minutes to complete, will generate incredible insights, spending trends and meaningful data towards understanding the current impact of golf in Canada.

As part of the survey, We Are Golf wants to know how much you have or expect to spend on golf and golf related activities or purchases. From green fees and equipment to trips or other golf related spending, the confidential information and insights you share will help estimate the economic impact of golf in your community.

The Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study will be carried out by Group ATN Consulting and your privacy as well as any personal or proprietary information shared will be protected in strict confidence. Results of the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study will be reported in early 2020 and the information gathered will only be used to report aggregate results both at the national and provincial level.

We Are Golf includes Golf Canada, the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, the PGA of Canada, the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and the Canadian Society of Club Managers. The results of the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study will be shared across the Canadian golf community and used to advocate the benefits of our sport.

Thank you for your participation in the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study.

MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia – Ernie Els has selected British Columbia’s Adam Hadwin as one of his final four picks for the International Team at next month’s Presidents Cup, the captain announced today via teleconference. Hadwin joins Jason Day of Australia, Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Sungjae Im of South Korea as the final international representatives.

The Presidents Cup returns to Melbourne, Australia and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time, December 9-15, when the International Team will take on the U.S. Team led by Captain Tiger Woods.

Hadwin will make his second consecutive Presidents Cup appearance and first as a captain’s pick. The 31-year-old finished with five top-10 finishes during the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season but made his best case for a captain’s pick after finishing runner-up in his first start of the 2019-20 season at the Safeway Open. That was followed up with a T4 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

“With this Presidents Cup approaching and me starting to play some good golf again, I was just hungry for a second chance,” Hadwin said. “That’s not how I would like my contribution to The Presidents Cup to be remembered and I’m looking forward to having a second chance down at Royal Melbourne, a part of an incredible International Team, and hopefully we can right some of the wrongs that we’ve had in the past and do Captain Els proud.”

The Abbotsford, British Columbia, native is just one of three Canadians to compete in the Presidents Cup, joining 2019 captain’s assistant Mike Weir and Graham DeLaet.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

BIG congrats to Canada’s @ahadwingolf on earning a captain’s selection to the #PresidentsCup International Team. Play well, Adam! ??? #TeamRBC

A post shared by RBC Canadian Open (@rbccanadianopen) on Nov 6, 2019 at 5:13pm PST

Hadwin finished with a 0-2-1 record in his Presidents Cup debut at Liberty National.

The International Team has 22 previous Presidents Cup appearances amongst its members with six players making their Presidents Cup debuts, which matches the second-most first-timers in team history (7, 2013).

Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen, Marc Leishman, Abraham Ancer, Haotong Li, Cameron Smith and C.T. Pan round out the rest of the international team. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., was strongly considered by Els to join the team but just missed the final cut.

“Between (Hadwin) and Corey Conners, it was a very, very tight race,” said Els. “One of the difficult calls I had to make was to Corey. He was very gracious and he wished us good luck heading into these matches.

“But Adam, I love his game. He’s just very solid all around. There’s not really any weakness there.”

Conners missed the cut at the Sanderson Farms Championship but then tied for 13th at the Safeway Open, tied for 12th at the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges, tied for sixth at the ZOZO Championship and tied for 20th at the World Golf Championship-HSBC Champions. He’s ranked 55th in the world _ one spot below Niemann _ and 24th on the FedExCup rankings.

Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Matt Kuchar, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay will represent the United States. Tiger Woods will announce his four captain’s picks _ potentially including himself _ on Thursday.

Captain Els will lead the youngest International Team in Presidents Cup history, with the average age of his 12 players totaling just over 29 years old. This is the fourth consecutive International Team that has been younger than the previous team.

Let’s get it! ??#PresidentsCup https://t.co/UeKUYkoBKe

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) November 7, 2019

Canadians in the Presidents Cup

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., and ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (Nov. 4, 2019) – The World Handicap System (WHS) is ready to be launched in January 2020 and will provide golfers with a unified and more inclusive handicapping system for the first time.

Though many countries are planning to adopt the new system in January, the system will go live in other parts of the world throughout the year to accommodate different implementation plans and variations in the golf calendar.

Developed by the USGA and The R&A in close coordination with existing handicapping authorities, the WHS will provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability, with handicaps calculated in the same way wherever they are in the world.

A key objective of the initiative was to develop a modern system, enabling as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a Handicap Index. Golfers will be able to transport their Handicap Index globally and compete or play a casual round with players from other regions on a fair basis. It will also indicate the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving the next time they go out to play.

The table lists the estimated implementation timeframes for a selection of countries:

The WHS has two main components – the Rules of Handicapping and the Course Rating System. The Rules of Handicapping are encompassed within seven Rules to inform administrators and golfers on how an official Handicap Index is calculated and administered, with some flexibility given to national associations based on how the sport is played and enjoyed in their region. The Course Rating System, based on the USGA Course Rating System first adopted nearly 50 years ago and already adopted on nearly every continent, sets out a consistent method of determining a course’s difficulty. Together, these components become the foundational elements in determining a golfer’s Handicap Index.

“When the golf community works together, everyone benefits,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA.  “We have seen the benefit that handicapping has provided for decades, providing greater enjoyment for all who play. To have a single set of Rules of Handicapping for the game will connect golfers from country to country, and we are excited to bring the best of all worlds together through this initiative.

“It is one of the many ways we are investing in golf’s future, to strengthen and foster growth of the entire game for years to come.”

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “The game of golf is transforming to meet the needs of the modern-day golfer; modernizing the Rules this year was an important step forward in that regard and the World Handicap System will be another.

“Our hope is that the launch of the WHS will be a catalyst for change; signalling the start of a new era of golfer engagement, being inclusive by embracing all golfers, whatever their level of ability, and broadening its appeal to a much wider audience.”

“Change also means opportunity and, managed appropriately, this can only be good for the game. It does mean there will be a period of adjustment, as we saw with the new Rules, but once it beds in golfers and golf clubs will benefit in many ways from the new system.”

In preparation for the launch of the WHS, more than 3,000 golf courses have been rated for the first time and an extensive education program has been delivered. By the end of 2019, more than 90 National Associations will have attended an educational seminar and a robust library of resources is hosted on WHS.com to support regional education.

Rules of Handicapping books are being produced and will be translated and delivered through national associations.

In addition, the USGA and The R&A have developed a series of golfer-focused materials, including videos, infographics and posters, which can be used by national associations and shared with golf clubs for the benefit of golfers.

This includes a promotional video which can be seen here featuring Annika Sorenstam, Gary Player and voices of recreational golfers from around the world to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a handicap.

The materials explain the system’s key features, including:

• Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes and ensuring that a Handicap Index reflects demonstrated ability
• A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap; with the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap being 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds (with some discretion available for national or regional associations)
• An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores and factoring in memory of demonstrated ability for better responsiveness/control
• A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day
• Timely handicap revisions
• A limit of Net Double Bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only)
• A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game
• The formation of a World Handicap System was first conceived in 2011 between the USGA and The R&A in an effort to engage more golfers in the game and promote equity, no matter where golf is played. The effort unites six existing handicapping systems into one, while embracing the many ways the game is played across cultures.

Beginning in 2020, the new WHS will be governed by the USGA and The R&A and administered by national and regional golf associations around the world.

The existing six handicapping authorities, Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA, represent approximately 15 million golfers in 80 countries who currently maintain a golf handicap.

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support the USGA’s and The R&A’s efforts to implement the World Handicap System.

Now that the golf season has officially ended in Saskatchewan (Oct. 31 was last day to record rounds for handicapping purposes) the question becomes, what do I do for the winter to keep my game up to my standards?

Winnipeg based Derek Ingram, the coach for Canada’s National Amateur Team and the Canadian Young Pro Squad said taking advantage of indoor facilities over the winter months will definitely keep your game at your level.

“A lot of facilities in Manitoba, and I’m sure in Saskatchewan as well provide an opportunity to play virtual golf, golf domes, or indoor golf schools, I think those are good options to keep swinging,” Ingram told Golf Saskatchewan. “Not only are they social they allow you to work with your local pro or practice on your own. It’s a long cold winter so it can help make it more fun and interesting. It can also help you make progress with your game.”

Ingram has been in the golf simulator business in the past going back to the mid-to-late 1990’s. He is a firm believer playing virtual golf can fill the void for players that feel the urge to play during a six-month offseason. It cures the bug to swing and you can also improve your game according to Ingram.

“The technology on those simulators now is really good, they are very impressive,” he said. “It’s fun to play a round of virtual golf, it’s so similar to a round of real golf. Obviously you are not outside, and you don’t hear the real birds chirping or walk quite as much. It’s still some exercise and there is some benefits to the game in terms of how far you are carrying the ball and depending on the simulator and the information they have you can get a tonne of valuable information on your swing that you can work on and improve.”

Another way Ingram encouraged players to get better is a product called SuperSpeed Golf. The company, that Ingram has no connection to, provides a time manageable training program to help golfers improve club speed. Ingram said he’s used the SuperSpeed model with many professionals and top-notch amateurs in his coaching lessons.

“One of the great things in the winter is to try and get longer and get a bit more speed,” he explained. “SuperSpeed is a fairly inexpensive product that really works well in terms of learning to hit the golf ball further. There’s additional benefits as well in terms of subtly and athletically improving people’s technique without even realizing it by doing the SuperSpeed exercise protocol.”

If you live in a market where visiting an indoor facility isn’t an option, Ingram said working on your game in the comfort of your own home can be an alternative. He added that practicing your short game and putting is beneficial and fun during the cold days.

“For juniors and amateurs there has to be a room in the house where you can get your sand wedge out and pitch a few balls into a laundry basket. If you have a carpet or a putting mat which I think as well if you are watching golf or bored, it’s a lot of fun. That can help as well, you learn to pitch a little higher and softer, putting is always good, plus it is a lot of fun,” Ingram said.

The weather in Canada essentially closes courses from Halloween to early May except for some British Columbia facilities and others across the nation. For the prairies, working on your game indoors is the only option. Ingram encourages the tips and tricks he explained but also said taking some time off can be a benefit as well.

“I do encourage players to take a break. I have no issue with players taking November and December off, but then I think it’s time to start training. If you are a competitive golfer or just somebody that loves the game and wants to get better it’s time to start getting to your dome or getting to hit balls, seeing your pro, or hitting your simulators, or just getting some clubs out in the basement. I love the SuperSpeed Golf because you can workout to get longer and stronger and it feels good,” Ingram said.

“There’s certainly lots to do,” he concluded.

A record field of 112 players will compete at the Maple Leaf Junior (MJT) Boston Pizza National Championship in Florida this weekend including 14 from Saskatchewan.

Trent Matson, the Director of National Operations said the number of players qualifying for the event shows the strength of junior golf in Canada.

“The field attending shows that junior golf is thriving in Canada. We are very proud to continue as the number-one played junior tour in the country and look forward to hosting everyone,” Matson said in a news release.

The players will compete in seven different age groups for 54 holes at Reunion Resort in Kissimmee, Florida. The competitors received members-only invitations based on performance during the season, and the high caliber field includes 2019 MJT Players of the Year, regional Order of Merit winners, MJT Team Canada members and individual tournament champions.

Saskatchewan athletes competing are:

• Dade Bernatchez, 12, La Ronge
• Tommy Danielson, 14, Saskatoon
• Dane Giesbrecht, 12, Warman
• Elias Haukeness, 11, Buena Vista
• Darien Herlick, 14, Weyburn
• Adam Husli, 17, Regina
• Cole Jenkins, 18, Prince Albert
• Ella Kozak, 13, Yorkton
• Keighton McNab, 20, Saskatoon
• Autumn Neiszner, 15, Regina
• Noah Parent, 18, Prince Albert
• Chase Pochylko, 15, Saskatoon
• Max Regier, 14, Saskatoon
• Alex Swinnerton, 15, Saskatoon

(Autumn Neiszner plays a practice round on Wednesday at Reunion Resort.)

The official practice round goes Thursday, the competition starts on Friday with a 7 a.m. (Sask. time) shotgun start.

The MJT is excited to confirm that Sean Foley, one of the biggest names in golf instruction who coaches the likes of Justin Rose, Danny Willett, Cameron Champ and was formerly the coach of Tiger Woods, will be in attendance during the opening reception on Thursday to the participants.

This is the 21^st edition of the tournament. More details including the results can be found here.

The excitement level in Wynyard these days is at an elevated rate.

The town recently cut the ribbon to celebrate the grand opening of their new multi-purpose sports facility plus a fundraiser for the golf course is becoming the talk of the east-central Saskatchewan community.

The $11.4 million facility is home to the town’s new arena as well as the clubhouse for the Wynyard Golf Club. Director of Leisure Services Sigourney Hoytfox said the buzz around the community is evident.

“Everyone is really excited,” she said. “We just started our arena season, so we haven’t actually had a chance to use the facility for anything golf related but I think everyone is excited and looking forward to it.”

The former clubhouse, that officially closed a couple weeks ago was previously an old school house. Hoytfox said it was outdated and needed to be replaced. The new Co-operative place features a full-service kitchen, lounge, and change rooms. She said putting the clubhouse into the building will put the Wynayrd Golf Club near the top of courses in Saskatchewan.

“We are so lucky to have the course we do. The caretakers and greenskeepers that look after the course are very talented and passionate about what they do. That’s the heart of what makes our course so great,” Hoytfox said.

The golf club is currently holding a chase the ace fundraising campaign that’s bringing in thousands of dollars for the club and soon someone will win a handsome pot. The weekly drawing of cards takes place on Tuesday, this week the nightly pot was over $1,300, the person who draws the ace will take home, as of print time an estimated $25,000. The group is down to about 10 cards. Hoytfox said the funds raised will go into planned projects for the course.

“We’re possibly moving the practice green, right now it’s by the old clubhouse and the new facility isn’t in the same spot,” she explained. “It’s nice to have it by the facility, so there’s that cost we’re looking at. There’s a couple greens we’d like to replace as well as a second-floor deck on the facility overlooking the course.”

The former clubhouse was playing host to the weekly chase the ace draw, but it’s been held at the new facility for the last couple weeks. That has allowed the public to visit the facility, enjoy the menu and socialize. Hoytfox said someone is going to be happy with a big win but overall the golf club is the big winner.

“It’s so much support for our golf course,” she said. “Obviously people are buying because they want to win but, think about all that money going back into the course.”

Tickets are available at the facility as well as Golden Scissors and at Wynyard Pharmacy. You can also purchase them online here.

Wynyard Minor Baseball will also use the facility in the summer months. Hoytfox said the town has worked extremely hard to have the initiative come to fruition and everyone is going to benefit.

“There’s not a separate space in the building for golf or for our arena, it’s all mingled together. If you are upstairs you will see golf, hockey, or ball photos. Same as downstairs, we will have a golf, hockey, and ball feel down there too,” she concluded.

Saskatoon’s Marc Sweeney and Regina’s Alex Schmidt are the last two Saskatchewan golfers playing college golf to have their fall season end.

Sweeney and the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB) Sand Sharks were in Doral, Florida on Oct. 28 and 29 competing in the Dave Adamonis Senior Invitational. Sweeney posted a 54-hole score of plus-12, 228 (79, 74, 75) at Trump National. He tied for 35th overall.

The USBC team placed fifth out of eight.

Schmidt’s season concluded with a friendly match-play event in Lewiston, Idaho. The current Lewis-Clark State golf team took on alumni of the school on Nov. 2 and 3.

The 45-hole match-play event was won by the alumni men by a score of 10 and 6. The women’s teams squared at eight.

The students will enjoy a break before the spring season gets underway early in the new year.

We’re going to use an unfortunate incident on the LPGA Q-Series for this edition of the Rule of the Week.

Christina Kim was playing with two players vying for their Tour cards, on the 17th hole at Pinehurst No. 9’s par-3. While Dewi Weber was teeing off, Kendall Dye asked Webar’s caddie what club she was using. Without much thought Jacqueline Schram confirmed that Weber was using her eight iron, breaking Rule 10 – 2.

According to the Rule; “During a round, a player must not give advice to anyone in the competition who is playing on the course, ask anyone for advice, other than the player’s caddie, or touch another player’s equipment to learn information that would be advice if given by or asked of the other player (such as touching the other player’s clubs or bag to see what club is being used).”

As a player you can veer into a competitor’s bag to see what club is missing but you can’t seek advice or ask for confirmation. The penalty is two strokes.

Kim went on to secure her LPGA playing card, neither Webar or Dye qualified.

A reminder to all players, you are not a “tattle tale” if you call out an infraction on the rules. You have an obligation to protect the field and integrity of the event.

Remember, the Rules matter!