– Winner receives exemption into USGA’s 2020 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship –

– Eight past champions and three Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Honoured Members in the field –

TORONTO – The 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, conducted by Golf Canada, will be contested at Cedar Brae Golf Club from September 10-13, marking the 58^th playing of the national championship.

A full field of 156 competitors aged 55-and-over will take to Cedar Brae in hopes of joining the championship’s stellar list of notable winners. Returning to defend his Canadian Men’s Senior title is Brady Exber of Las Vegas, who cruised to a 7-stroke victory in 2018 with a score of 10-under par (278).

Also looking to hoist the John Rankin Memorial Trophy at Cedar Brae are seven additional past champions, including Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured members Gary Cowan of Kitchener, Ont., Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que. and Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver. Other past champions in the field include Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C.; David Schultz of Calgary; Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga; Michael Mercier of Juno Beach, Fla.; and Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, Ill.

“We have exceptionally talented and accomplished golfers who are ready to take on a stellar golf course in Cedar Brae,” said Tournament Director Akash Patel. “Our hosts at Cedar Brae Golf Club have pulled together a great team of volunteers and the course is sure to provide North America’s best senior golfers with a solid test of their skills. The 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will undoubtedly be an exciting competition.”

Practice rounds take place Monday, September 9. Championship play will be conducted Tuesday, September 10 through Friday, September 13, with 18 holes of stroke play each day. Following the opening two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. The champion receives an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at The Country Club of Detroit, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship will run concurrently throughout the championship, crowning a champion after 72 holes of play. In 2018, Doug Roxburgh claimed a two-shot victory in the division over Quebec City’s Michel Roy.

An inter-provincial team competition for the Phil Farley Memorial Trophy will also be contested over the tournament’s first two rounds. In 2018, Team British Columbia captured the inter-provincial team championship with a score of 9 over par. Team Alberta and Team Quebec finished a single shot back to tie for second.

Originally opened in 1922, Cedar Brae has proven itself a revered destination for golfers seeking one of the best golf course experiences in Toronto. The club has evolved from its early beginnings, moving locations and changing its name before spreading its roots at its current location. The course was designed by Mr. C.E. (Robbie) Robinson.

Visiting golfers regularly praise Cedar Brae’s layout, course conditioning and large fast greens that require a deft putting touch.

“Cedar Brae is proud and excited to host the 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior Golf Championship,” said Cedar Brae’s General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Martin Piché. “Our staff and member-based volunteer team have been working hard to prepare for the event. We know the players will enjoy the amenities and pure golf experience Cedar Brae has to offer.”

Additional information, including a full list of competitors, can be found here.

NOTABLE COMPETITORS

Gary Cowan of Kitchener, Ont.
Cowan, 80, was named the Canadian Male Golfer of the 20th Century in 2000 by Golf Canada – then known as the Royal Canadian Golf Association. A former Canadian Junior Boy’s (1956) and Canadian Amateur (1961) Champion, Cowan went on to win the United States Amateur Championship on two occasions (1966 and 1971). He turned professional at age 52 and played on the PGA TOUR Champions where he earned three top-10 finishes. Cowan’s amateur status was reinstated in October, 2018.

Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, Ill.
The 57-year-old won five titles in 2018. In addition, he finished 3^rd at last year’s Canadian Men’s Senior.

Brady Exber of Las Vegas, Nev.
The 63-year-old is back north of the border to defend his Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title. Exber, a member of the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame, was a quarterfinalist at the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur.

Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que.
The 72-year-old is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and has won the event four times (2001, 2002, 2008 and 2009). Cooke holds the record number of wins at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship with seven.

Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga.
The 62-year-old won the event in 2015 and finished 4^th last year. In 2018, he won both the National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame and the Georgia Senior Match Play Championships.

Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver B.C.
The 2014 winner of the event is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and was the Super Senior Champion in last year’s tournament. The 67-year-old won the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship four times (1972, 1974, 1982 and 1988). He also has the record for most wins at the B.C. Men’s Amateur Championship with 13.

FAST FACTS
Conducted since 1962.

Golfers must be 55 and over to be eligible.

In 1995, the 70 and over Canadian Super Senior division was added and is contested through the first two rounds.

The 2018 playing marked the first time this competition was contested over 72 holes.

The inter-provincial competition, which began in 1977, occurs concurrently over the first two rounds.

The champion is awarded the John Rankin Memorial Trophy.

The winner of the Super Senior division is awarded the Governor’s Cup.

Calgary’s Bob Wylie has won the event seven times since 1985.

Nick Weslock won the event six times between 1973 and 1983.

Paul Simson became the first person to win the British, U.S. and Canadian senior titles in the same year in 2010.

The winner receives an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur Championship.

ABOUT THE COURSE
Located in the scenic Rouge Valley in the north east part of Toronto, Cedar Brae boasts a challenging and award winning 18-hole course designed by renowned golf course architect and Stanley Thompson disciple, CE (Robbie) Robinson.

Cedar Brae’s layout boasts mature trees and natural tranquility bordered to the east by Rouge National Urban Park – Canada’s only Urban National Park.

The club hosted the 1976 CP Women’s Open, then known as the Peter Jackson Classic, as well as other provincial championships and qualifiers.

Cedar Brae, par 71, will be set up to play 6,463 yards. Par 3s will average 192 yards, par 4s will average 380 yards and the par 5s will average 520 yards.

Regina’s Dr. Randy Gilewich will be honoured in a couple weeks for an illustrious amateur golf career that has spanned over four decades.

Gilewich, 58, has been active on the sports scene since his early days in the Queen City, hockey and curling in the winter, and baseball and golf occupying the summer months. Golf began at the Regent Par 3 course in Regina, Gilewich and his younger brother would pedal their bikes “halfway across the city” with three clubs in tow to play. After a couple years the pair, aged four years a part, Randy being the eldest, they began expanding their game at the Craig Golf Club near the Caledonian Curling Club, still a fair distance from their southeast Regina home.

In 1974, Gilewich’s parents got memberships at the Wascana Country Club (WCC), a “two-mile bike ride” from their house he said. From there the passion really developed. Gilewich said the brothers would ride their bikes to the course in the morning, play 18 holes, have lunch and play another 18 before venturing home. He said the Wascana was where he learned about golf, and the game.

“You got to learn the historical part of it and the protocol part of it,” he said. “The older guys had to wear a suit and tie to get into certain parts of the club, as kids you didn’t. They always sat us in the other part of the club. We certainly learned the history from those older guys.”

When learning of his 2019 Hall of Fame induction Gilewich’s mind floated back to those days and his mentors including other members such as Tom McNall (2017), Kirk McGregor (2018), Doug Mader (2011), and Keith Reever (2010). Gilewich also pointed out the likes of Ben Reid, Doug McAlpine, and Ross Reibling for their tutelage and life-long friendship.

Gilewich was part of a thriving junior program at the WCC with upwards of 150 kids taking part. He continued to play throughout high school and kept his membership during his university days in Saskatoon in the College of Dentistry, his current career. After graduating he was right back to Regina and back into the game playing on several Willingdon Cup teams. Gilewich was bound to revitalize the tournament scene in the city as well, he was a driving force behind the return of the Regina Men’s City Amateur after a 10-year hiatus, he also created the Saskatchewan Southern Senior Men’s Amateur this season. He has done extensive work with the long running Diamond in the Rough junior camp currently hosted at Deer Valley. Despite all the personal accomplishments Gilewich says his relationships are the mark of success.

“The biggest thing that I have gotten and tried to give back over the last 10 years is the people I’ve met along the way,” he said. “The relationships I have developed and are still here to this day. You might not remember your scores and you remember your teams and maybe some of the stuff you’ve did but, there’s no question you always remember the people you met along the way and the journey you’ve had.”

Gilewich was a Saskatchewan junior team member in 1979, played at seven Canadian amateur events, four of those as a member of the provincial team. He played in five national mid-amateur championships plus participated in the Canadian Club Champions’ Championship in 1996 and the Canadian Crown Life Championship in 1984. He’s also a two-time provincial mixed winner with Kim Walker. The resume is lengthy for Gilewich but even he said it’s hard to say what he’s prouder of, the on-course accolades or off-course triumphs.

“It’s a different sense of accomplishment,” he admitted. “If I had to honestly answer it, I’m very happy and excited for my playing stuff and I’d love to get back to that level and make some senior teams but the fact we have the city amateur going, the senior tournament that’s coming along, the ladies’ tournament, the involvement with the LPGA, the involvement with the mid-amateur at Wascana, I’m as proud of that.”

Gilewich will be inducted alongside Gary Brandon and fellow Wascana player Tyler Wright. When he received the call from Hall of Fame Secretary Brian Lee, he thought someone was playing a prank.

“What are you doing on the 21^st? I thought there is the kiss of death because he didn’t tell me. I said nothing. Brian said you better get up to Saskatoon because you are being inducted with Tyler. Of course I said I’m being punked here right?” Gilewich laughed. “He said no, and it was just goose bumps. It was unbelievable, the two words I have is I was very humbled and honoured.”

Another key portion of Gilewich’s non-playing career was his 25-year involvement with Canada’s chapter of the Bobby Jones Scholarship Foundation. He became entrenched in the organization after meeting another mentor, Roger Thompson in Hamilton during a national championship tournament. Thompson was an acquaintance of another Wascana member and took Gilewich out for a practice round at his Hamilton club. By the time the week was over Gilewich was recruited for the Foundation. During his time he was able to take two boys to St. Andrews in Scotland and received spectacular treatment at the college on the “Home of Golf.” He said the best thing about the Bobby Jones Foundation is the focus isn’t 100 per cent on golf, the participants were given other experiences including a “royal tour” of the grounds.

As Gilewich scrambles for tickets to the gala on Sept. 21 at the Riverside Country Club the moment is still surreal to him and he’s looking forward to a wonderful night.

“You never get into the game for anything like this,” he added. “As my dad said, do what you love and love what you do. It’s just such an honour. I’m so thankful.”

Tickets for the gala can be purchased here.

You can hear plenty more from Gilewich who spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork.

The PGA of Saskatchewan has announced their annual award nominees ahead of their buying show and year-end celebration in late October.

The Saskatchewan zone honours were first established in 1992 and have seen some minor alterations over the years according to the organization’s website. The buying show and awards gala will be held on Oct. 29 and 30 at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park.

Here is the list of categories and nominees:

Professional of the Year
Dean Brown – Royal Regina Golf Club
Craig Prentice – Willows Golf & Country Club
Gus Vogelsang – Murray Golf Course

Assistant of the Year – Class A
Sloane Harder – Saskatoon Golf & Country Club
David Semko – Riverside Country Club
Ryan Wells – Cooke Municipal Golf Course

Assistant of the Year – Apprentice
Mark Sheardown – Willows Golf & Country Club
Sam Wills – Deer Valley Golf Club
Cole Zawislak – Royal Regina Golf Club

Junior Leader of the Year
Jeff Chambers – Elmwood Golf Club
Paul Schatz – Tor Hill Golf Course
Jason Schneider – Wildwood Golf Course

Teacher of the Year
Jeff Chambers – Elmwood Golf Club
Kevin Dietz – Tor Hill Golf Course
Clinton Schmaltz – Willows Golf  & Country Club

Coach of the Year
Kevin Dietz – Tor Hill Golf Course
Jeff Chambers – Elmwood Golf Club
Jason Schneider – Wildwood Golf Course 

Retailer of the Year
Dean Brown – Royal Regina Golf Club
Craig Prentice – Willows Golf & Country Club
Randy Volk – Saskatoon Golf & Country Club

Category Dropping

Nearest Point of Complete Relief

1. How do I find the nearest point of complete relief and when is it used?
2. The nearest point of complete relief is used for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition, a dangerous animal condition, a wrong green or a no play zone. It is the estimated point where the ball would lie that is nearest to the ball’s original spot, not closer to the hole than that spot, in the required area of the course, and in a position where the condition you are taking relief from doesn’t interfere with the stroke you would have made from the original spot if the condition was not there (see Definition of Nearest Point of Complete Relief à Shown below).

Definition: Nearest Point of Complete Relief

Your reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.

It is the estimated point where your ball would lie that is:

• Nearest to your ball’s original spot, but not nearer the hole than that spot,
• In the required area of the course, and
• Where the condition does not interfere with the stroke you would have made from the original spot if the condition was not there.

Estimating this reference point requires you to identify the choice of club, stance, swing and line of play you would have used for that stroke.

As Saskatoon’s Anna Young continues to chase her LPGA dream, the five-time Saskatchewan amateur champion is giving back to the sport as well.

On Wednesday, coincidently or not, the day the Humboldt Golf Club (HGC) celebrated their 75^th anniversary, Young hosted a free, junior golf putting and chipping clinic with the help of 2018 provincial mid-amateur champion Mike Herperger, an HGC member. Young has hosted junior clinics in Saskatoon on previous occasions as well, she said the game has offered her so much it’s time to pay back.

“I love what golf has done for my life,” she said. “I love golfing and I love doing it as my job but, I just think there’s such a big opportunity for family orientation, hanging out with your friends outside away from technology. I think it’s good to get outside and not be on your phone. Golf has given me a lot of good things outside the game that I would love for future generations in Saskatchewan to enjoy the game and get into it, it’s easier to start when you are nine or 12.”

Over 20 kids showed up for the 90-minute lesson on the HGC practice green. The attendees appeared to enjoy the clinic that was fuelled by Fuzzy Peach prizes throughout the afternoon.

The Humboldt course also has some special meaning to Young, her mom was a Humboldt resident, she won her fourth of five amateur titles at the course and she was still proudly wearing her green and yellow ribbon showing support for the Humboldt Broncos, the same ribbon she wore at the CP Women’s Open in Regina last August.

“There’s always good vibes winning a tournament at a course, always good vibes. It’s really nice, I remember the range and clubhouse and course, but I was having trouble picturing the putting green. I had to come early so I could figure out where everyone had to chip from and not be in anyone’s way. I’m hoping to get a round in to,” she said.

The last time Golf Saskatchewan spoke to Young was following the Open at the Wascana Country Club. She continues to reside in Florida playing golf on a regular basis.

“I’ve been playing Mini-Tour events, state opens and Monday qualifiers,” she explained. Since I had to choose between LPGA qualifying last year and the Canadian Open which is a blessing in disguise to not have status because I was able to plan an entire schedule the way I wanted to. Hopefully it will be good preparation for next year if I have full status on the LPGA or Symetra Tour it would be good to plan every week instead of running last minute to tournaments.”

The 26-year-old is currently through stage one of the three phase process to receive an LPGA card. The next two stages will take place in October and November. She said she’s confident in her game and ability and isn’t going to do much different following the first step.

“I’m going to do exactly what I have been doing all year, I’ve been playing really well. What I have learned from my golf game I play better one shot at a time, basically living life one day at a time in preparation of that,” she said.

Regina born golfer Shannon McGeady is being enshrined in the Queen City’s Sports Hall of Fame.

The 2007 provincial amateur champion and current professional at Tobiano Golf Course in Kamloops, B.C. is one of six 2019 inductees into the Hall of Fame. McGeady said her career path in the sport got started when her family built a house near the Wascana Country Club.

“I was a member when I was ten and started playing there with my family,” she explained to Golf Saskatchewan following the announcement. “It was a great place, they would pretty much drop me off at the golf course on their way to work and pick me up on their way home, it was a pretty good way to spend a summer as a kid.”

McGeady didn’t start playing competitively until her mid to late teens. When she was about 15 years old she started competing on the junior Saskatchewan circuit and the provincial championships. She won three Regina high school girl’s championships during her days at Leboldus High School. She had a chance to attend Marshall University in the United States following graduation but made the choice to stay home, something McGeady still stands by.

“I am so lucky where I am today that if I think I would have gone my life would have taken a completely different path,” she explained. “It could have been equally as good but I’m just very happy where I am today. No regrets.”

McGeady went on to post-secondary education in Lethbridge and studied under the Professional Golf Management (PGM) program in hopes to pursue a career in the industry. In 2007, after four consecutive Regina women’s championships McGeady claimed the Saskatchewan amateur title.

“It was surreal moment, I was going to school at the time taking the PGM program to be a professional and it was my last summer before I finished school so I knew it would be my last summer of amateur golf if I wanted to pursue the professional route,” she explained. “It was a pretty cool experience to know it was my last big summer as an amateur and I was able to play well enough in Swift Current that year to get the win so that was pretty cool.”

The Regina Sports Hall of Fame made the induction announcement in early August. Her credentials include one junior national experience and six Canadian Amateur Championship appearances. Long-time Rider Neal Hughes, famed University of Regina basketball coach James Hillis and athletics great Georgette Reed are among the class. McGeady said when she received the phone call with the news it was hard to believe.

“At first I thought it was a joke,” she laughed. “I didn’t expect it and when I realized it wasn’t I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say. I was honoured and grateful and it still feels surreal. It’s weird to think of myself with those other amazing people, I can’t even find words for it.”

McGeady and the rest of the 2019 class will be enshrined at a gala event in Regina on Oct. 12 at Evraz Place.

Looking back, McGeady knows this honour wouldn’t have been possible without positive support from her family and the Regina golf community, especially the Wascana. She hopes future junior golfers continue to grow and excel at the game.

“Kids at a young age just want to have that, I go to a golf course and I have fun,” she said. “As they get older they will want to play more and hit balls more. It’s all about parents bringing them to the course and creating a positive environment where they get to run around outside with their friends or mom and dad and as they get older they want to do what dad is doing or see what mom is doing. They will then create it on their own as to I want to play this, I want to compete, I want to be this person.”

McGeady is optimistic with the way women’s golf is headed, she said the sport is much more popular now than it was when she was young growing up in Saskatchewan. She credits Brooke Henderson for a large part of the growth but also the other five female pros in B.C. as well as the women she grew up with in Saskatchewan.

“I’m just grateful and honoured about the induction, it’s very surreal. Golf in Saskatchewan shaped and molded me for the profession that I’ve chosen,” she concluded.

McGeady spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork after the announcement.

It’s been approximately four years since the Jon Barber family took over the lease at the Regina Beach Golf Club and the group’s hard work is starting to pay off.

The land the nine-hole course is on just outside the resort town is federal reserve land managed by the Kinookimaw Beach Association. The Barbers operate the course and the reviews are coming back positive. The most glaring change at the course is remarkable upgrades to the late 1950’s-built clubhouse that were undertaken about a year and a half ago.

“There had been no improvements made since then,” said Debbie Giesenger, the clubhouse manger told Golf Saskatchewan during a recent course visit. “It was time to give it a facelift and have a place that people enjoy to come to. When they are done golf they can sit and enjoy a meal or have a couple drinks.”

The newly renovated building features a restaurant and lounge as well as a new deck overlooking the first fairway. The clubhouse is completely winterized as well and for the first-time last year was open all year round. Giesenger said word was slow getting around that they were open despite the golf season ending but overall the venture was a success.

“Our chef has a very good reputation,” she said. “I would say that since we were open through the winter and our social media promotion our restaurant revenues are up about least 30 percent from last year. Our restaurant is very highly rated.”

The town of Regina Beach is highly regarded as a resort community just a short drive from Regina on Highway 11. The year-round population including nearby Buena Vista is about 1,400, in the summer months that swells to 5,000 along the shores of Last Mountain Lake. Giesenger said even with plenty of other family activities in the community the golf course is a huge benefactor.

“Most businesses make or break in the summer, most of them close in the winter but a few of us stay open. For the golf especially, we have a lot of people spend their summers here. We also have a lot of people that camp all summer, I think they do that because of the golf. It’s convenient, they are adjacent to us in the campground,” Giesenger added.

With the clubhouse upgraded and flourishing lots have work has now focused on the course itself which like the building has been neglected. The maintenance crew has been diligent working for nearly a half of a decade to get the course to a passable grade. Giesenger said they have done much better than that.

“I am not sure what they’ve done or how they’ve done it but right from the very start of the season people marvelled what excellent condition the greens are in,” she beamed. “According to golfers they have been excellent, and they’ve stayed that way all year. I’ve had numerous golfers say the greens have never looked so nice.”

Assistant greenskeeper Harry Watts has been alongside Jon on the maintenance staff since the lease signing. He took one summer off but considers the course his second home. He said even the crew is shocked by the condition of the putting surfaces this season.

“We were surprised because our sprayer blew half of our chemical out at the end of the year last year and we had to do some calculations and use our heads,’ he explained. “We managed to get the right amount of chemical on all the greens still. We took the sand off and it was like we didn’t even have a winter.”

Watts said getting ahead on the course hasn’t been easy but everyday the crew seems to become more efficient thanks to lots of underground work that is allowing for the course to become more attractive for players of all levels.

“Last year we started getting our fairways on automatic sprinklers with timers, two years ago we got all the greens and tee boxes on timed, pop up sprinklers so we don’t have to hand water those,” Watts explained. “We have three fairways that are all on automatic sprinklers now too. We don’t have to worry about them getting enough or too much water. We come in the morning, the greens and boxes are nice and damp, we don’t have to worry about it.”

Even with the headway the family has made at the club Watts said there is more to do.

“I have been here four years and I don’t think I’ve gone a year without a water break. I’ve probably fixed 80 some years. Some are a foot break, some of them are 20, it just depends,” he added.

With the improved conditions and increased traffic both in the clubhouse and on the course the family has been able to focus on the future. They hired a proshop staff member that is also a coach. That allowed the course to focus on a junior program. They had spring lessons and any junior golfer that paid the lesson fee was able to put that towards a membership. The club hosted weekly lessons over the summer as well with much success. The year-end family fun event was packed. Every Monday the juniors played with the coach following along providing tips.

Regina Beach has a couple designated ladies’ time slots for both nine-hole players and 18. There is the customary busy men’s nights and couple’s have a league as well. The year-end couple’s tournament is one of their larger events. Overall they club has approximately 200 members.

The season is winding down across Saskatchewan, but the staff looks forward to the winter traffic whether it’s on their potentially groomed cross-country ski trails, snowmobilers, or ice fishers, the future is bright at the Regina Beach Golf Club.

“It’s just a nice easy day out, it doesn’t take five hours, you can come in normal nice clothes,” Watts promoted. “You don’t have to book two days in advance, it’s very affordable, family orientated, I recommend it to everyone.”

Six golf courses in Saskatchewan are celebrating milestones this year, the Humboldt Golf Club’s 75^th anniversary is one of the lengthiest of the bunch.

Wednesday night a crowd of members and onlookers gathered at the course for the celebration emceed by long-time member and current board executive Dave Hill. A member since 1986, Hill said the event was special to everyone currently or formerly involved with the club.

“We are really excited to celebrate 75 years,” Hill said after the event. “The mayor mentioned in his greetings that it wasn’t too long ago we had an emergency meeting about our finances and future of the course. Things have really turned around, a lot more play at the golf course, a lot more use of the facility, it’s been a really great year.”

During the program board president Kirk Plemel presented a history of the facility. The course opened at its current site in 1944 as a nine-hole club with sand greens. The greens were changed to grass in 1969. With the community growing and nine holes becoming too congested the community invested a million dollars and expanded to 18 holes. During the original days a round would cost $0.25 and an annual membership was $7.50. Hill said during the summer months the course is a beehive of activity in the east-central Saskatchewan city.

“It brings a lot of traffic into our town,” he said. “A lot of people come for tournaments, not just for tournaments although we get lots for those. We get all kinds of visitors from all over. We had some people from B.C. just playing their way through and going to all sorts of towns, it’s great to see those people. We see a lot of the community here, some of them golf twice a year, some are here everyday, it’s great to meet them all.”

During the celebration two ceremonial tee offs took place on the first hole. One of the oldest members, Mike Sowtis, 89, hit as did the youngest member, three-year-old Jack Unrau. Hill has two sons who have been life-long members as is his wife Jackie who has volunteered countless hours working on the board and helping with the bookkeeping. Hill said those memories flashed back when Unrau took his swing.

“Golf is a lifetime sport, when Jack was teeing off I was thinking about the first time my sons teed off. Our whole family are golfers here, we’re still enjoying it and hope to be enjoying it when we’re Mike’s age,” he said.

Five-time Saskatchewan women’s amateur champion Anna Young was also in Humboldt Wednesday. She hosted a free putting and chipping clinic for junior golfers with the assistance from 2018 mid-amateur champion and Humboldt resident Mike Herperger. Young won her fifth amateur title at the Humboldt course. Golf Saskatchewan will have more regarding Young’s clinic Friday.

The other courses celebrating milestones in 2019 are Swift Current’s Elmwood and the Weyburn Golf Club, both are 100 years old this year. Shaunavon’s course turned 50 this summer and Mainprize and Lashburn are each 25.

Regina’s Deb Duncan was encouraged to enter the provincial senior women’s golf championship with no idea what was in store for the next couple weeks.

The Wascana Country Club member entered the event at the Royal Regina Golf Club and ended up shooting a 54-hole total of 252, plus-39. Her score was good enough for fourth place and a spot as an alternate on the provincial team at the Canadian championship. With winner and second place finishers Kim Walker and Tammy Bezaire not being able to travel to Osoyoos, B.C. for the event Duncan was ecstatic to be part of Team Saskatchewan for the first time.

“It was cool to finish off and be one stroke off third-place at the provincials,” Duncan said. “They were like you might be going to nationals as an alternate and I was like, what does that mean? Maybe it was the ignorance that got me there. No pressure.”

Duncan is a busy realtor in Regina along with her spouse, Craig Adam. Their busy work schedule doesn’t allow her to play much competitive golf or even practice regularly but, when the opportunity came knocking to represent Saskatchewan she wanted to have the experience.

“It was a super opportunity, again such a surprise,” she added. “I said I have to make this work. Craig was able to get some coverage for some of our clients and he was able to join me and caddy. It was fun, we generally don’t get away in the summer because of work.”

Duncan was able to have 2019 junior women’s champion and fellow Wascana member Autumn Neiszner caddy for her at the Saskatchewan championship. The pairing made sense after it was Neiszner pushing her to enter.

“Autumn has some really good tips because she has a coach, kids absorb so much. She is so good at reading greens and she’s very confident. She has that way to relay that to you. She would say hit it here, hit it firm. If I listened and executed it worked out quite well,” Duncan said.

At the Canadian Senior Championship she not only played well enough to make the cut, she finished in a tie for 44^th. She said she was very happy with the result.

“I can go to my home course and I can shoot a 78 or a 91 depending on what golfer shows up that day,” Duncan explained. “Here I am at a mountain course that I haven’t played before with tricky greens. They are so fast and tough to read; I didn’t want to embarrass myself and bring whoever I was playing with down.”

Over the three days Duncan shot plus-32 (81, 83, 87). Not only was she pleased with her score, simply the experience on the national stage was memorable.

“All the women I met were so supportive with it me being my first time, they want you to do well. They want more women to come so they are encouraging you to come again,” she said.

Jo-Anne Schiller also made the cut at the event. Kathy Hopfner was just a shot back of the cut line. The team finished in eighth place in the inter-provincial championship.

Now that the season is over and Duncan has allowed the whirlwind couple weeks to set in, there may be more national championships in her future.

“For sure, it’s given a fire in me to do it again and maybe even start practicing,” she chuckled.

With some time to recollect, the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship at Summit Golf Club in Toronto was a successful tournament for Saskatchewan golf.

Five of the 12 local competitors made the cut at the national championship and as team Saskatchewan finished fourth overall, just one stroke behind British Columbia for a medal spot. Provincial mid-amateur champion Danny Klughart was the high Saskatchewan player finishing tied for 17^th. The Cooke Municipal Golf Course member said a little lower score would have been nice, but his placement was satisfactory.

“I would have liked to stayed in the top-10 after the first couple days but I had a bad stretch during the third round, I couldn’t get off the bogey train,” he said. “Overall it was pretty good, I was happy.”

Klughart won both the Saskatchewan amateur and mid-amateur championships allowing him to represent the province at both national events. He didn’t make the cut at the Canadian Amateur Championship in Nova Scotia. Admittedly the two events are outlined for different players and the points of their amateur careers.

“Goal one is you want to play but I felt like the mid is something I felt I can compete and be in the top ten. It’s a smaller field and you don’t have as many college players. Most of the guys in the mid-am have jobs and are in my situation. I guess you feel more comfortable playing in the mid-am (25 years +),” Klughart said.

The national championship concludes the Order of Merit (OMT) schedule for Klughart as well, he’s going to play a couple club events before the season closes but the Prince Albert product has put together an unstoppable season. He will walk away with the men’s OMT trophy by a large margin. Klughart said he’s worked hard all year to improve his game and the win feels great.

“I had lots of success this year, I think I won four times, so I have to be happy with that,” he said. “The way I played all summer, it was very consistent. I focused on weaknesses even at the start of summer, I addressed them and got better. They are in the best place they’ve been all summer, so I feel I’ve accomplished something that way.”

Despite not being part of Team Sask. David Stewart is proud of the fourth-place finish for the group. The 2018 men’s OMT champion was in Toronto with an exemption position, the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club (SGCC) member finished the national event in a tie for 32^nd at plus-18. Stewart said overall the province’s showing was very positive.

“I thought we were really close to being one of the better teams this year,” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “It’s hard to be consistent over 72 holes without making any boneheaded mistakes like everyone does. I think all in all we showed ourselves well, guys were professional. The course stood the test, it was tough.”

Admittedly Stewart didn’t have a typical year results wise, he will finish in the range of 14^th overall in the OMT standings. He said the Saskatchewan Amateur and Mid-Am Championships at his home course didn’t go his way, but the national event result relieved some sting from the season.

“First and foremost the provincial championships were disappointing for me especially at my home course to not play like I felt I could at my ability,” the two-time Sask. amateur champion said. “From time to time that happens, life gets in the way and you don’t have the time to prepare like you normally would. It wasn’t from a lack of trying or want, it’s just a funny game sometimes and it doesn’t work out the way you want but, 32^nd at a national championship, I will take it.”

Stewart said he is going to try and balance his family, work and life more accordingly over the offseason to me more prepared for the 2020 amateur season. He said players have to if they want to compete with the likes of Klughart which is good for Saskatchewan golf.

“He definitely set the bar at a different level so hopefully that motivates guys to use the time they have to prepare as well as they can and next year the competition goes up a level,” Stewart said.