Sarah Grieve and Ella Kozak are both in the hunt for a medal at the Western Canada Summer Games (WCSG) in Swift Current.

The Saskatoon and Yorkton products are tied for fourth place in the golf event at the Games going into the final round Sunday morning. The pair have shot identical rounds of 80 and 83 over the first two days of the event at the Chinook Golf Course. They are sitting at plus-19. Jenna Bruggeman of Edmonton leads the women’s championship at two-over par. Calgary’s Grace Bell is second at plus-nine. Brooke Brezovski is third at 11-over.

Regina’s Autumn Neiszner sits in ninth place at plus-35. Symone Ripley of Saskatoon is in 13^th at 80-over par.

As a team Saskatchewan is in third, just three shots back of Manitoba for a silver medal.

On the men’s side, Prince Albert’s TJ Baker is the top local at plus-nine. The Waskesiu Golf Club member is sitting in eighth place, nine strokes off the leader and seven shots back of a medal finish. Graeden Woodward and Cole Bergheim, both of Alberta lead the way at even-par for the 54-hole event.

Will Blake of Regina is tied for 10^th, he’s at plus-14. Alex Swinnerton is in 12^th place at 16-over. Jackson Wingert, also of the Bridge City is in 14^th at 23-over, Wawota’s Theoren West is in 16^th place, he’s plus-29 for the event.

Team Sask. is comfortably in third in the inter-province competition. They are at plus-eight, well behind second place Manitoba who is 14-under par. Alberta leads at minus-23.

Tee times for the final day of the tournament begin at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. All the results can be found here.

The first of three days of the golf championship at the Western Canada Summer Games (WCSG) is complete at the Chinook Golf Club,

Just two golfers shot under par during day one. Graedon Woodward, of Cardston, Alta. leads the field after carding a three-under, 69 during his opening round. Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz is in second place overall at one-under.

Edmonton’s Jenna Bruggeman leads the women’s field at plus-two. Yorkton’s Ella Kozak is in the hunt at eight-over par. She is tied for fifth.

Saskatoon’s Sarah Grieve is also tied for fifth at eight-over par. Reigning Saskatchewan junior champion Autumn Neiszner continues to battle a wrist injury, she posted a round of 94, 24-over. Saskatoon’s Symone Ripley is in 13^th place at plus-41.

Prince Albert’s TJ Baker is the top Sask. boy at the event, the Waskesiu Golf Course member posted a round of five-over, 77. Baker sits in a tie for ninth. Alex Swinnerton, also a Waskesiu player is a shot back at six-over par, 78. Regina’s Will Blake went to the tent with a seven-over, 79. Jackson Wingert carded a 10-over, 82 during the round, Theoren West sits in 14^th at 11-over.

As a team, the Saskatchewan girls are tied for second with Manitoba. The boy’s team is third.

Elmwood Golf & Country Club teaching professional Jeff Chambers is back in the win column, after a two year absence from the top of the leaderboard on the PGA of Saskatchewan summer circuit.

Chambers earned a win at the two-day Taylormade Pro-Am, held at Moon Lake Golf & Country Club outside of Saskatoon. He posted a two-under round of 70 on day one, and a one-under round of 71 on day two.

“I got off to a good start on day one and shot two-under, which I thought was pretty solid out on that golf course with the conditions,” he said. “We went into day two, I got off to a shaky start, missed a couple short putts which really bothered me, but just battled back.”

“The good news is I’m great at bounce-backs. I’m just going to bounce back with a birdie, and sure enough birdied that next hole. I played three-under from there, and played really solid. It was enough to take the victory. It felt really good.”

With Moon Lake boasting a partial links-style course, surprisingly swirling winds weren’t the reason for only two out of 19 professionals shooting under par over the final round.

“Day two started off perfectly calm, which I think freaked out a lot of people, because when you’re at Moon Lake, you’re always expecting wind,” Chambers admitted. “It was actually really calm, but the pins were on some pretty slippery slopes, and they had at least four or five that were really tough, tucked pins.”

The key for Chambers over his 36 holes atop the leaderboard was the ability to consistently put himself in prime locations for his second shot.

“I only hit one wayward tee shot – I made a bogey with my provisional which was great, but that was it. I know listening to a lot of the other guys, they have a lot more penalty strokes than that – that was a big key, just getting off the tee and giving myself a chance every single hole.”

The last time Chambers earned an event win was this exact same event in 2017 – the first of three straight years an Elmwood pro won at this event, with head pro Brennan Rumancik winning in 2018.

“Moon Lake’s one of those places that I’ve always seemed to play well at,” he said. “The golf course just sets up, and I like that the greens roll terrific. I just like the layout, there’s some fun risk-reward holes.”

Chambers said the main reason behind a lack of strong results has just boiled down to a heavy focus on coaching and teaching the sport as evidenced by his 2018 PGA of Canada Coach of the Year award. Nevertheless, the ability to find himself a win at a familiar event provides the perfect building block for the remainder of his 2019 playing season.

“I’m a competitor, I’ve always tried to keep close there,” Chambers said. “Even though I don’t get to spend the time working on the game, I do love to compete and I love to win. It’s just a great feeling.”

Up next on the PGA of Sask event schedule is the Pro-Pro Best Ball tournament at Murray Golf Course in Regina. Chambers’ partner is a familiar face, and the reigning PGA of Sask. Player of the Year.

“I’ve got the best partner in the province for the Pro-Pro. I’m looking forward to partnering up with Brennan. We’re always cheering on one another. To be able to partner with him for the Pro-Pro is going to be so much fun.”

Before the 18-hole event is underway on September 4, though, Chambers assumes his comfortable role as a coach and teacher once again. He’s stepped in and is coaching Yukon’s golf team for the Western Canada Summer Games this week at Chinook Golf Course.

Story originally posted by Eric James, www.swiftcurrentonline.com
Syndicated with permission.

Saskatoon’s Steven Duchscher finished within the top 60 of the national junior golf championships, the Riverside Country Club player had slightly higher goals but is pleasantly pleased at his result in Hartland, New Brunswick.

Duchscher was the lone Saskatchewan golfer to play all four rounds at the event. He said playing the complete championship was a nice conclusion to his teenage years.

“I am super happy this year I got to make the cut this year being my last year of junior golf,” he said. “My game was in a really good spot throughout the whole tourney and I’m happy the way I finished out.”

Duchscher put together four solid rounds at Covered Bridge improving everyday. He carded a two-over, 74 during round one. Duchscher carded a stroke off his total during round two coming in at one-over, 73. In round three he posted an even-par round 72. He was set to put together another round with lower numbers but a bogey on hole 17 slowed his leaderboard advancement.  Duchscher finished in a tie for 59^th at seven-over.

Last year he competed in Medicine Hat as a Sask. team alternate and missed the cut. Duchscher looked back on that event for experience.

“Last year I took it easier and warmed up more and practiced a lot more instead of playing everyday,” he said. “I gave my body more time to rest, our first tournament last year I realized what I have to do to make the cut. Bogeys won’t kill your round, it’s the doubles that do. I just tried to stay away from those as much as I could.”

Last year’s champion, Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Quebec won the tournament for the second straight year.

To see the complete results click here.

You can hear more as Duchscher spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork from New Brunswick.

The Western Canada Summer Games (WCSG) are into day seven in Swift Current with plenty of events well underway or over, the three-round golf championship will begin Friday.

Chinook Golf Course is hosting the event, nine Saskatchewan competitors are going to compete for medals in both girls and boy’s categories as well as the team competition.

Competing in the girl’s division will be:

• Sarah Grieve, Saskatoon (Willows Golf and Country Club)
• Autumn Neiszner, Regina (Wascana Country Club)
• Ella Kozak, Yorkton (Deer Park Municipal Golf Course)
• Symone Ripley, Saskatoon (Willows Golf and Country Club)

Five boys will be playing in the field:

• Will Blake, Regina (Royal Regina Golf Club)
• TJ Baker, Prince Albert (Waskesiu Golf Course)
• Alex Swinnerton, Saskatoon (Waskesiu Golf Course)
• Theoren West, Wawota (Golf Kenosee)
• Jackson Wingert, Saskatoon (Riverside Country Club)

The WCSG are open to athletes under the age of 17. The golf teams were chosen based on the player’s results this season in both Golf Saskatchewan Order of Merit events, provincials, and Maple Leaf Junior Tour championships.

The province’s (Man., Alta., Yukon, and Sask.) will compete against each other over event, the top three scores on each hole will be counted towards the overall scores. The competition is 54 holes, there is no cut line.

You can follow the results here.

Steven Duchscher continues to improve at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Covered Bridge in Hartland, New Brunswick.

The Saskatoon product, and Riverside Country Club member chopped another stroke off his score today coming into the tent with an even, 72 in round three at the national championship. Duchscher started the tournament with a two—over, 74 in round one and followed that with a 73 on Tuesday. He was the lone Saskatchewan golfer to make the cut.

With his even round today he climbed nine positions on the leaderboard into a tie for 60^th.

Duchscher will tee of Friday at 7:28 a.m. for his final round.

2018 champion Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Quebec continues to lead the event.

Saskatoon’s Steven Duchscher has put together two solid rounds in Hartland, New Brunswick and will play on at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

The Riverside Country Club member followed his opening round of two-over, 74 with a plus-one, 73 on Tuesday landing him just in front of the cut line of three-over par. Overall Duchscher is tied for 69^th in the field. He is the lone Saskatchewan competitor to make the final couple rounds at the event taking place at Covered Bridge.

Duchscher, along with Saskatchewan teammates Jace Carlisle and Cort Tunall battled from 10^th in the inter-provincial race to finish in seventh place.

Estevan’s Carlisle finished the event at plus-six. Tunall, of Kindersley capped his tournament with a score of 11-over par. Brody Istace, also of Kindersley was the team alternate, he concluded the championship at plus-eight.

Josh Nagy of Saskatoon qualified for the national championship via the Future Links event in Yorkton earlier this season, he was also six-over par. Estevan’s Chase Gedak was also in the field, he carded a two-round total of five-over par.

The full results can be seen here.

Duchscher will tee off for round three on Wednesday at 7:12 a.m. Saskatchewan time.

Last year’s winner, Christopher Vandette continues to lead at minus-13. The Beaconsfield, Quebec product shot a course record 62 on Monday.

The Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship experience has set in now for both Roman Timmerman and Justin Wood with both Riverside Country Club members satisfied with their results.

The pair were the lone Saskatchewan representatives to make the cut at the event in Nova Scotia. Timmerman finished the four rounds at plus-14 and in a tie for 52^nd. Wood closed the championship at 21-over par, tied for 71^st. Timmerman said heading into the tournament making the cut was a goal.

“It was an awesome experience,” he said. “Halifax is a beautiful place and we got to play two really nice courses, really tough courses. I felt like my game was good, it was definitely a goal of mine to make the cut. I know it was one of Woody’s goals as well, it was nice to make the cut with him. It was awesome.”

The tournament was hosted by two different golf courses, Glen Arbor Golf Course was the main host, the Links at Brunello was secondary hosting half the golfers for one of the two first rounds. Statistically the Links at Brunello was much tougher, the average score there was just under 82, at Glen Arbor the average dropped to just shy of 75. Timmerman carded a 74 on the track during round two helping him stick around all four days.

“The Links at Brunello was definitely the tougher course,” he explained. “If you got some wind blowing out there you are going to make some big numbers, especially if you are missing fairways. Glen Arbor wasn’t too easy either, the greens were tough. It was a little more forgiving than the Brunello, but it was still a tough test.”

Timmerman shot 76 on day one at Glen Arbor. Rounds three and four were both played there as well, he fired back to back rounds of 73 to finish the event at 296. He was 20 strokes better than the lowest player who stuck around all four rounds. Overall Timmerman is happy with his play during the week and over the summer. He missed the start of the Order of Merit season due to an injury, but he said he’s close to 100 per cent as he gets set for his third season at Southern Arkansas University.

“Taking that time off was a blessing in disguise. I feel like my game is solid and I’m looking forward to a solid year down south,” he said.

Timmerman will leave Saskatoon on Wednesday.

Wood is also basking in making the cut and playing all four days at the national championship. This was his sixth Canadian championship and the first time he’s made the final couple rounds.

“It’s nice to play in all four rounds, this is my first cut made,” he said to Golf Saskatchewan. “I’ve had some close calls, I’ve missed by one, I’ve missed by two, this time to actually do it and make it by a few was nice. I had one really good round in there at the tougher golf course where I think only nine of the 130 guys playing that day at that course beat me. That part was good, and it was nice to play all four rounds.”

Wood started his national experience at Brunello and finished with a 76, six strokes below the overall scoring average. He followed that performance with rounds of 73, 78, and 76. Much like Timmerman, he felt the Brunello did provide the tougher challenge but both clubs were tricky.

“I thought they were both challenging, Glen Arbor was definitely more forgiving off the tee, thats where the Links at Brunello really punished you. The members play a hazard all the way around so if it goes in the bush you drop it where it goes in, but Golf Canada made it tougher for us obviously. If you missed the fairways on a lot of holes you are right in the bush, so you had to be good with your tee shots. The greens were quite quick, the day I played there it was quite windy, it was not easy out there,” Wood explained.

Wood was part of Team Saskatchewan along with Danny Klughart and Jehremy Ryde, the trio finished sixth in the race for the Willingdon Cup. So far this season that’s the top provincial showing at any national event. Overall Wood was proud of his performance and the Saskatchewan representatives. He already has his sights set on next season and more national appearances.

“It was a nice way to cap off the summer,” he said. “I had a couple of good tournaments here in Saskatchewan and to get to go to the Canadian Am to a place I haven’t been before and to play well and get to hang out with the guys it made it a fun time. I’m already looking forward to next year to be honest.”

Started in 1993 by Mark Greenough, the Diamond in the Rough golf camp has come and gone over the years, but the event returned to Deer Valley Golf Club this month under the guidance of another Greenough, Deer Valley professional, John.

The junior camp was operated by John’s parents for three years before Emerald Park took over and transitioned the tutelage to basic lessons. In 2013 John resurrected the event to commemorate 20 years. He ran the camp for three years and then took a couple years off due to time restraints as he was president of the PGA of Saskatchewan for two years. With that role commencing he decided to bring the camp back to his home course north of Regina.

“It was always a fun experience, but you forget how fun it is,” Greenough told Golf Saskatchewan. “Having that two-year break reinvigorated things, we are super excited. We had a couple new instructors this year, we had Sam Wills who is the assistant out at Deer Valley and was a junior in the camp. It was cool to have him come teach for the first time. We had Brad Lovatt, he’s out in Avonlea, he’d never done it before. He said sign me up for a life subscription, this is pretty awesome.”

At the camp the attendees, between the ages of 11 and 18 are provided with various aspects of the sport including etiquette, understanding of the Rules of Golf, nutrition, strength and conditioning, plus the elements of the game. Greenough stressed that the camp isn’t for beginners or elite junior players. Dating back to 1993 his father realized there is a gap when it comes to up and coming golfers.

“We’re looking for kids that have had some experience with golf so it’s not necessarily a beginners camp,” he said. “There is lots of beginner programs out there, it’s not an elite camp, Golf Saskatchewan and some clubs in the province do a great job with elite groups and kids they work with. We found there is a gap in the middle where kids can benefit from working with a PGA pro for a reasonable rate. It’s worked well.”

This year the camp had 16 kids participate. Greenough said that number is down but expected after a two-year absence. The camp provides one instructor per every six golfers. It lasts three days with the kids playing a round each day coupled with their instruction and guest speakers. Keeping the kids engaged and active is more of the camp’s goal. Preparing them for a lifelong game rather than winning championships is the mantra according to Greenough.

“We’re not trying to create the best golfer; we’re trying to create a passion for the game. People can golf until they’re 90, we’re trying to create golfers,” he said.

The instructors hand out awards at the end of the camp as well including most dedicated and leadership type honours. The awards are geared more towards the mentality of the kids rather than a skill set. Greenough said the awards create some of the best memories for not only the attendees but the pros running the camp.

“We had lots of really great comments from parents and kids saying how much they enjoyed it,” Greenough explained. “One of my favourite comments, most dedicated is one of the awards we hand out, the awards were done, and the parents were there, and everyone was leaving. I hear one of the younger kids say, I want to win that most dedicated award next year, that was really cool.”

That young golfer will have the chance to do so, Greenough is already planning to run the camp again next summer. Information will be available over the winter as they finalize dates and instructors. For more information you can view the Diamond in the Rough website.

Round one of the four-day Canadian Junior Boys Championship in New Brunswick is coming to a close.

The six Saskatchewan players in the 156-competitor field are done their first round with mixed results.

Kindersley’s Brody Istace and Steven Duchsher of Saskatoon are the top players from the province sitting at plus-two. Their rounds of 74 leave them tied for 73^rd.

Saskatoon product Josh Nagy and Estevan’s Chase Gedak are also tied, both players finished their rounds with a score of four-over, 76. They are tied for 105^th.

2019 Saskatchewan junior champion Jace Carlisle of Estevan is in a tie for 134^th after carding a round of 78 on Monday. Cort Tunall shot an opening round of 79, he’s in a tie for 143^rd.

As a team Saskatchewan is 10^th at eight-over par. The team consists of Carlisle, Duchscher, and Tunall. Istace is the alternate. The inter-provincial competition concludes after round two when the cut is determined. The top 70 golfers and ties will move onto the final two days in Hartland, New Brunswick.

Last year’s winner, Christopher Vandette of Quebec shot the lights out to jump out to the lead, he carded a 10-under, 62.

The complete results can be found here.