Saskatoon’s Roy Pavely found the right combination of ten golfers and won the 2019 Rotary Club’s Masters pool.

Pavely selected Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Marc Leishman, Hideki Matsuyama, Fransesco Molinari, and Tiger Woods. In total, the group collected $5,624,355 which landed the $5,000 first place prize. The retired Bridge City resident said there wasn’t a real formula behind his selections.

“There’s not much of a story behind how I picked,” Pavely laughed. “Just a case of how they have been playing and where they rank.”

Pavely has been entering the Rotary Club of Saskatoon’s annual fundraiser for almost a decade and has finished as high as eighth and 14^th in years past. He said he’s also finished near the bottom too. Going into Sunday’s final round Pavely figured he had a decent shot but there was no way to really know where you stand.

“That Tony Finau had me worried there. I think him and Schauffele tied so it worked out good for me,” he said.

Pavely used to play the game often but he admits it’s harder to get out to the course. He said he likes to participate in the pool for a couple reasons.

“I used to be an avid golfer, I don’t have quite as much energy as I used to, but it makes watching the tournament that much more interesting and I think the money goes to a great cause,” he said.

Ray Salmon finished in second place and wins $1,000. His team was almost $154,000 back of Pavely’s. In third place, Avis Hardy will receive $500. Paul Watson, Bryan Renwick, Roger Huston, Woody Milne, and the Klassen family round out the prize winners taking home $100 for finishing in the top eight.

All the winners and standings can be found on the Rotary Club’s website.

Synergy 8 Community Builders has announced their 2019 keynote speakers for their annual “Drive for Kids Campaign” later this summer in Saskatoon.

Former professional golfer and current analyst, Darren Clarke and professional and Golf Channel host Blair O’Neal will be in the Bridge City on Aug. 27 for the 11^th year of the event. Campaign chair Troy Davies said Clarke comes highly regarded by previous golf attendees at the fundraiser.

“Darren comes highly recommended from Retief Goosen and Colin Montgomerie, two former guests we’ve had over the last two years. They just pointed out to us, with our event and the uniqueness of it having the dinner the same night Darren would be a huge hit to the audience. They’ve got a feel for the Saskatchewan folk, so we took their word. We reached out to Darren and he was more than willing to come,” Davies said.

Having O’Neal make an appearance is important to the committee as well Davies explained.

“She is highly regarded on the Golf Channel and their Morning Drive and she’s also a professional golfer which a lot of people don’t know,” he said. “To bring in a female professional is important to us because we think golf is making an impact. Even after the huge win by Tiger Woods I’d say more people are going to pick up clubs. It won’t be just men; it will be females as well and we want to promote both sides of the golf.”

National Hockey League players Cam Talbot and Eric Gryba will also be back this year to help raise money for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. Synergy took advantage of the growing golf market in Saskatoon back in 2011 when they brought John Daly to the city for the event. Since then they have reached out to other PGA Tour players and it’s helped them raise over $4 million Davies said.

“It’s really turned out to be a homerun for us with some of the names we’ve brought into the city. The feedback we’ve received from our corporate sponsors is that it’s been a success thanks to them. It takes corporate support to make this event happen. We’ve raised over $4 million and made a huge impact to the community,” he said.

The province’s children’s hospital is slated to open later this year. Then premier, Brad Wall announced the construction of the much-needed facility at Synergy’s event in 2010. This year the organization is hoping current Premier Scott Moe will attend and potentially make an opening date announcement. The group is still in discussion with his office. Whether that comes to fruition is still in the works, overall Davies said they have been blessed to work in conjunction with the foundation over the years.

“It’s a great fit for us, we have the same beliefs. Our goal this year is to purchase all the pediatric equipment in the trauma room, that’s what we will be focusing on,” Davies said.

The golf tournament is held at The Willows, the banquet takes place at Prairieland Park. Anyone who purchases a golf foursome receives a table of eight for the gala. Ticket and sponsorship details can be found on the Synergy 8 website.

The Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current is preparing for a once in a lifetime celebration in 2019. The 18-hole newly renovated course is celebrating their 100^th anniversary this year.

Already open for the season, the club is set for a memorable year. Another aspect of the highly anticipated summer is the course is revamped under the guidance of Les Furber. General manager Sheldon Reinhart said the course had a long-term plan to redevelop the layout and the upgrades went quicker than expected.

“We were expected to kind of alternate years with the work we were doing but our members were happy with just keeping 18 holes in play. We had some shorter par threes over the last few years but overall the renovations went great. We rebuilt all 18 greens and essentially took pasture land and built five new holes,” Reinhart said.

Part of the redevelopment is an 82-lot residential subdivision called Cypress Point. Reinhart said sales have gone well with that too.

On the weekend of July 6 and 7, coinciding with the annual W.W. Smith Mixed Tournament, the course will hold a centennial banquet, tournament, and cabaret. Details are still being finalized but Reinhart expects the celebration to be special.

“We’ve got lots planned and the weekend is going to be great for not only our members but the entire city and region,” he said.

The club is also offering a new member special for the centennial season. A new member can join the club for $695 and if they are referred by a current member, that person will receive a $400 credit. Reinhart said the hope is to get people on the “new” course and hopefully they come back.

“That’s the goal, hopefully new members, and current members love what we’ve done here, and they continue to come play Elmwood for years to come,” Reinhart said.

Also, on the Elmwood schedule this season is a Maple Leaf Junior Tour event on May 19 and 20. The senior men’s Golf Saskatchewan Order of Merit tour will stop at the Elmwood too for the Mercator Financial Southwest Senior Men’s Championship from July 8 to 10.

Not only is registration open for the provincial amateur golf championships in Saskatchewan but the PGA of Sask. has announced their schedule.

Their 13-event line up begins on May 27 at the Royal Regina Golf Club with the Ken Rodgers Pro Partner.

The Evergreen Golf Course in Nipawin plays host to the Northeast Open on June 1 and 2. The professional women will play the Sun Mountain Pro Lady at the Willows Golf and Country Club on June 4. On June 10 and 11 in Waskesiu, the Lobstick Open will take place.

In Prince Albert at the Cooke Municipal Golf Course the Callaway ProAm will occur on June 24. The tour returns to the Evergreen on July 15 and 16 for the Oakcreek/GSH Zone Championship. The Ping Pro Junior is slated for the Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current on July 29.

Over Aug. 12 and 13 the Moon Lake Golf and Country Club is hosting the TaylorMade/adidas Zone ProAm will take place. Back in Swift Current at the Elmwood on Aug. 9 will be the RBC/Lincoln PGA Scramble Regional Final.

Waskesiu will host a second event, the Waskesiu ProAm is scheduled from Aug. 26 to 28. On Sept. 4, Regina’s Murray Golf Club will be the site of the Cobra Puma Pro Best Ball tournament. Dakota Dunes Golf Links will welcome the pros on Sept. 9 and 10 for the Callaway/ClubCar Tour Championship.

The final event of the season is Oktoberfest at the Tor Hill Golf Club in Regina on Sept. 27 and 28.

Registration opened on April 15, forms and more details are available on the PGA of Saskatchewan’s website.

Roman Timmerman and Kade Johnson are being honoured for spectacular seasons on the golf course at Southern Arkansas University (SAU).

The Muleriders are amid a school record breaking campaign led by the Saskatoon and Yorkton products. On Saturday, the Great American Conference (GAC) held their annual awards banquet ahead of the GAC golf championships. During the event, Timmerman and Johnson were honoured as All-GAC first team selections. This is a first for the SAU golf program.

Tmmerman, 20, finished the regular golf season with five top-5 finishes. He shot a career best 204 (67-66,71) at the GAC Preview event tying for second place overall. His second-round 66 was tied for the second-best round in the SAU NCAA era’s history. The three round total is also second lowest in school history. He’s currently ranked 73^rd in Division II by Golfstat. Timmerman is also up for SAU’s male athlete of the year. That will be awarded later this month.

Johnson’s junior season is just as successful. The 20-year-old placed in the top eight of his tournaments six different times which includes his first career collegiate win. Johnson is ranked 50^th in Division II according to Golfstat.

The Saskatchewan pair is currently competing in the GAC Men’s Golf Championship, the school is taking on ten other teams at the event. They play 36 holes Monday and another 18 on Tuesday.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Fallen hero, crippled star, and now a Masters champion again.

Tiger Woods rallied to win the Masters for the fifth time Sunday, a comeback that goes well beyond the two-shot deficit he erased before a delirious audience that watched memories turn into reality at Augusta National.

Woods had gone nearly 11 years since he won his last major, 14 years since that green jacket was slipped over his Sunday red shirt. He made it worth the wait, closing with a 2-under 70 for a one-shot victory and setting off a scene of raw emotion.

He scooped up 10-year-old Charlie, born a year after Woods won his 14th major at Torrey Pines in the 2008 U.S Open. He hugged his mother and then his 11-year-old daughter Sam, and everyone else in his camp that stood by him through a public divorce, an embarrassing DUI arrest from a concoction of painkillers and four back surgeries, the most recent one just two years ago to fuse his lower spine.

“WOOOOOOO!!!” Woods screamed as he headed for the scoring room with chants of “Tiger! Tiger! Tiger” echoing as loud as any of the roars on the back nine at Augusta National.

“It’s overwhelming, just because of what has transpired,” Woods said in Butler Cabin. “Last year I was lucky to be playing again. At the previous year’s dinner, I was really struggling. I missed a couple of years not playing this great tournament. To now be the champion … 22 years between wins is a long time. It’s unreal to experience this.”

Woods lost his impeccable image to a sex scandal, one of the swiftest and most shocking downfalls in sport.

He lost his health to four back surgeries that left him unable to get out of bed, much less swing a club, and he went two years without even playing a major. It was two years ago at the Masters when Woods said he needed a nerve block just to walk to the Champions Dinner. At that time, he thought his career is over.

Now the comeback is truly complete.

He wrapped his arms around his father when he won his first green jacket in 1997, changing the world of golf.

“Now I’m the dad with two kids there,” he said.

He wanted his children to see him win, once saying they saw him only as a YouTube legend. They were at the British Open when he had the lead briefly. They couldn’t make it to East Lake last September, when he won the Tour Championship for his first victory in five years.

“I wasn’t going to let that happen to them twice,” he said. “To let them see what it’s like to have their dad win a major championship, I hope it’s something they’ll never forget.”

Woods won his 15th major, three short of the standard set by Jack Nicklaus. It was his 81st victory on the PGA Tour, one title away from the career record held by Sam Snead.

“A big ‘well done’ from me to Tiger,” Nicklaus tweeted. “I am so happy for him and for the game of golf. This is just fantastic!!!”

It was the first time Woods won a major when trailing going into the final round, and he needed some help from Francesco Molinari, the 54-hole leader who still was up two shots heading into the heart of Amen Corner.

And that’s when all hell broke loose at Augusta.

Molinari’s tee shot on the par-3 12th never had a chance, hitting the bank and tumbling into Rae’s Creek for double bogey. Until then, Molinari had never trailed in a round that began early in threesomes to finish ahead of storms.

And then it seemed as though practically everyone had a chance.

Six players had a share of the lead at some point on the back. With the final group still in the 15th fairway, there was a five-way tie for the lead. And that’s when Woods seized control, again with plenty of help.

Molinari’s third shot clipped a tree and plopped straight down in the water for another double bogey. Woods hit onto the green, setting up a two-putt birdie for his first lead of the final round.

The knockout punch was a tee shot into the 16th that rode the slope just by the cup and settled 2 feet away for birdie and a two-shot lead with two holes to play.

Xander Schauffele failed to birdie the par-5 15th and scrambled for pars the rest of the way for a 68. Dustin Johnson made three straight birdies late in the round, but he got going too late and had to settle for a 68 and a return to No. 1 in the world.

Brooks Koepka, one of four players from the final two groups who hit into the water on No. 12, rallied with an eagle on the 13th, narrowly missed another eagle on the 15th and was the last player with a chance. His birdie putt on the 18th from just outside 10 feet never had a chance, and he had to settle for a 70.

“You want to play against the best to ever play,” Koepka said. “You want to go toe-to-toe with them. I can leave saying I gave it my all. He’s just good, man.”

Wood finished at 13-under 275 and became, at 43, the oldest Masters champion since Nicklaus won his sixth green jacket at 46 in 1986. That for years has stood as Augusta’s defining moment.

This was one is sure to at least rival it.

“This is definitely, probably one of the greatest comebacks I think anybody’s ever seen,” Koepka said, before rattling off Woods’ total PGA Tour victories and 15 majors.

Is the Nicklaus record back in play?

“I think 18 is a whole lot closer than people think,” Koepka said.

Koepka and Molinari both faced Tigermania in the majors and held their own, Molinari at Carnoustie to win the British Open, Koepka last summer at Bellerive to win the PGA Championship.

Molinari went 49 straight holes without a bogey, a streak that ended on the seventh hole. It was the double bogeys that cost him, and the Italian was gracious as ever in defeat.

“I think I made a few new fans today with those double bogeys,” he said.

Although golf courses across Saskatchewan have began opening for the season earlier this month, Monday, April 15 is the official opening day of the season.

Handicapping and score tracking through either your Golf Saskatchewan or Golf Canada public player membership will begin today for rounds played in the province. A list of member clubs can be seen here, for membership information click here.

Today also marks the opening of registration for the provincial golf championships. Participants can begin registering for Golf Saskatchewan’s eight tournaments at 1 p.m. The first event of the year is the 101^st Saskatchewan Women’s Amateur Championship in early July at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club. To find the list of all the championships click here.

The Order of Merit Tours (OMT) across five different categories (junior women, junior men, men, senior men, and women) are also starting to inch closer. The juniors kick off in Estevan at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club on May 4 and 5 for a Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour stop.

The first women’s event is the Prince Albert Northern Ladies Championship at Cooke Municipal on June 1 and 2. Kim Brown is the reigning tour champion.

The men’s OMT schedule begins in the Queen City on May 25 and 26 with the Regina Dental Group Men’s City Amateur. David Stewart is the 2018 champion of the tour.

Waskesiu Golf Course will host the first event on the senior men’s OMT schedule from June 4 to 6 with the Senior Men’s Lobstick. Rick Hallberg will look to defend his OMT title in 2019.

For more details and registration information for all the OMT events click the “COMPETE” tab on the main page of the Golf Saskatchewan website.

Stanley Thompson’s most famous of his 150 golf courses aren’t located in Saskatchewan but the world-renowned course creator has left his mark on our province.

Thompson, who passed away in 1953, has his fingerprints on the Tor Hill Golf Club, Murray Golf Club, Royal Regina Golf Club, and Waskesiu. The Norway, Ontario born Thompson travelled the nation while working on the railroad and began visioning golf courses. Almost 100 are in play today across North America, South America, and the Caribbean. Prince Albert historian and avid golfer Dr. James Harris knows all there is to know about the famed Thompson. He spent five years writing a book, Stanley Thompson and Icons of Canada.

“Stanley was a visionary guy, the west wasn’t very populated and developed in those days and he travelled the length of the country,” Harris said. “He has definitely left his stamp on this province like he did with just about every other province in the country.”

Thompson is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and has been enshrined into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame as well. He is also recognized as a ‘Person of National Historic Significance.’ Harris has played an estimated 30 of Thompson’s courses across the globe. He said Thompson had several characteristics when designing a course.

“He was very adamant that his golf course designs were difficult enough to challenge the best players but still be enjoyable for those who aren’t. The golf courses sort of all have that special quality,” Harris said.

Thompson “recognized the beauty in nature” when he created his courses. He tried to incorporate “green-to-tee” views on holes as well as elevation.

The Royal Regina was redesigned by Thompson in 1925, that was his first work in Saskatchewan. Unfortunately, according to Harris flooding issues at the course have forced some alterations to his original design. The city of Regina commissioned Thompson to develop the Tor Hill and Murray courses in 1928. The Great Depression eventually stalled plans to construct both. The Tor Hill was opened in 1932, the Murray took until three decades later. Thompson’s most famous work likely lands within the Waskesiu course which opened in 1936. Harris said the Prince Albert National Park based facility never disappoints.

“Golfers enjoy themselves even though they might not shoot a good score. They enjoy the day, they enjoy the experience,” he said.

Harris said Thompson’s most famous courses are in the Rockies near Banff and Jasper. He was also instrumental in more than course construction. Thompson was crucial in the development of the western edge of British Columbia.

“He built Capilano Golf and Country Club in Vancouver,” Harris said. “That’s all tied into the development of the north shore and the Lion’s Gate Bridge.”

Harris’ book was released in late 2018. The project was the third in line of his golf works. During the 100^th anniversary of the Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert Harris was asked to write that courses history. He did the same for the 75^th anniversary of Waskesiu. He has since joined the Stanley Thompson Society group and spent half a decade writing the 500-plus page story. He said the first few months of publication has gone very well.

“People who are not really golf nuts, let’s call them that have really enjoyed the book because of all the history involved with Stanley,” he said.

Other topics such as John A. MacDonald becoming Canada’s first Prime Minister, the Great Depression, and World Wars.

The book can be found in the proshops at both the Cooke and Waskesiu, Amy’s on Second in Prince Albert, McNally-Robinson in Saskatoon, and from the Stanley Thompson Society’s website.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The last guy into the Masters left no doubt he deserved his spot.

Corey Conners followed up a thrill at the first tee – a greeting from Jack Nicklaus – with a 2-under 70 that put the Canadian in solid position after the opening round Thursday.

“I feel like I belong,” Conners said.

Playing in the first group of the day, he got a chance to watch Nicklaus and Gary Player hit the ceremonial tee shots that traditionally kick off the first major of the year. On his way back to the clubhouse after his one and only swing, the 79-year-old Nicklaus congratulated Conners on last weekend’s victory at the Valero Texas Open – the performance that got him into the Masters as the final entrant in the field.

“That felt pretty special,” Conners said. “It’s cool that that Jack Nicklaus knows who I am.”

 

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Golden moment ? #TheMasters #GolfCanada

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The 27-year-old native of Listowel, Ont., endured a sluggish start, playing the front nine at 1 over. He was solid off the tee, but a little too cautious on the treacherous greens. Then in the middle of the back side, Conners made his move.

He rolled in back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th holes before making eagle at the par-5 15th.

After a booming drive left only 212 yards to the green at the bottom of the hill, Conners launched his approach over the water, the ball coming to a stop just 6 feet past the cup for barely more than a tap-in.

A three-putt bogey at the final hole put a bit of a damper on his day.

But Conners wasn’t complaining.

Not after his improbable journey just to claim a spot in the first major of the year.

Since he’s currently ranked outside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup, Conners had to go through Monday qualifying just to get into the Texas Open. He made a 20-foot birdie at No. 18 to sneak into a six-man playoff for the final berth in the actual tournament. Then, with a birdie at the first extra hole, he eliminated the other five contenders.

With a 10-birdie round on Sunday, Conners captured the first PGA Tour victory of his career – and an invite to Augusta.

Conners certainly understands the enormity of the odds of everything falling into place the way it has.

“Look, I’m a math and stats guy,” he said, standing near the giant magnolia tree that shades the porch of the stately clubhouse. “I know I was very unlikely to be here. I can say with certainly that I didn’t think I would be here, but it worked out very well.”

Conners is off to a much better start than his only other appearance in the Masters.

The fun continues! @coreconn holds the lead at #TheMasters ?? pic.twitter.com/1ENLpNAK7U

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 11, 2019

After qualifying as an amateur in 2015, he opened with an 80 that left him no real chance of making the cut.

Now, with another solid round, he’ll be heading on to the weekend for the first time.

He has plenty of fans cheering him on.

“There are way more Canadian people than I was expecting – or at least people pretending to be Canadians – out there,” Conners quipped. “It was awesome.”

Mike Weir, the 2003 Masters champion and the only other Canadian in the field, shot a 72.

The golf season is about to tee off here in Moose Jaw this weekend and before you hit the links, you may want to brush up on the rules.

The Rules of Golf have undergone significant changes for the 2019 season after collaborative work between the sport’s governing bodies, the United States Golf Association and the R&A

“It’s the most significant change since 1984,” said Brian Lee, Executive Director of Golf Saskatchewan.

The rule book was trimmed down from 34 rules to 24. The changes were put in place to speed up the length of a round and also to make the game more accessible to the casual golfer.

Lee said they simply tweaked a lot of rules that were already in place.

“One of the most significant changes is going to be on the putting green where players are going to be able to putt with the flagstick in,” he said. “In the past, if your ball was on the putting green, the flagstick could not be in, but this year, it’s totally up to the player.”

The time that you have to search for your ball has been reduced from five minutes to three.

So far during the 2019 PGA Tour season, rounds have been about 15 minutes shorter with the new rules. Lee said that kind of change for local golf courses could be big.

“That could mean that the golf course could get an extra foursome out, which could impact their bottom line at the end of the year,” he said.

Players will no longer be penalized for an accidental double hit, for a ball accidentally moving while you’re searching for it or if the ball accidentally moves while on the putting surface.

“Also if you’re on the putting green, one thing you’ll hear people complain about is that it hit a spike mark, you’re now allowed to repair that before you putt,” said Lee

“There are no definitions anymore of a lateral hazard, water hazard, these are now known as penalty areas, whether they’re marked red or yellow, so similar to what it had been in previous years, but the options are now easier to understand.”

Some of the rule changes have been an adjustment for even the professionals with players receiving additional penalties in certain cases.

“Dropping the ball has been the most significant change to our game, it’s no longer standing erect at shoulder height, it’s now dropping from knee height,” said Lee. “At the LPGA Tour event last week, they had a player revert back to the old rule and she got an additional penalty.”

Lee added that the changes might add a bit of extra thought to a round at the start, but he feels they will be well received as players get used to them.

“Yes there’s going to be a learning curve, but if we give this 2-3 years, these will become the norm and we’ll think about why we didn’t do this 100 years ago,” he said.

Golfers in Moose Jaw will be able to get out on the course and test out the new rules this weekend as the Lynbrook Golf Club and Deer Ridge Golf Course will be opening up tee-to-green. The Hillcrest Golf Club has its opening day set for Monday.

Story courtesy Marc Smith/www.discovermoosejaw.com