The third time is the charm for David Stewart.

The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member is the 2018 men’s Order of Merit (OMT) champion. Stewart won the tour title in both 2013 and 2015 as well. He said winning the OMT race was a goal of his going into the season.

“I didn’t feel like a had I tonne of ups and downs this season, it was consistently fairly strong,” Stewart told Golf Saskatchewan. “I felt this year I had the ability to be in contention every week which sort of made this year more fun than past years.”

Stewart started the year strong with a win at the Scotia Wealth Open in Nipawin. The long-sought win was worth 500 OMT points. Stewart placed fourth at the Great Western Brewing Saskatoon Amateur collecting 412.5 points. He won the Mine Supply Central gaining another 750 points. He picked up 700 for a third-place finish at the Saskatchewan Men’s Amateur Championship and another 700 for his second-place ranking at the provincial Mid-Amateur Championship. He said he was pushed in every event he played this season adding to the victory.

“The strength of the field and the competition has gone up. A lot of the young guys are going to college now and some of the mid-am’s are playing some very good golf and I’m humbled to win the OMT for sure,” he said.

Stewart was 630 points ahead of Roman Timmerman and just under 800 ahead of Kade Johnson, both of those players attend Southern Arkansas University. The 32-year-old said he feels being a leader on the course is as important as winning events.

“If I can help the young guys to play tournaments and stay in competitive golf and give back to the next generation I feel like I’ve done my job,” he said. “I always looked up to my dad, Colin Coben, guys like John Walsh, the list goes on, those were my mentors growing up. I just hope that I can maintain a sense of character and help them strive to take amateur golf past their 20’s.”

Stewart represented Saskatchewan at both the national amateur and mid-amateur championships in British Columbia this year. He said he was able to share the mid-am with his wife who was his caddy and the Victoria Golf Club was a bucket list course. Stewart said he will work to get back to both championships next year and wants to stay competitive on the course.

“Hopefully next year if I can allocate the time I’d like to play both events again and play a full schedule. My goal is to continue to compete among the best golfers in the province and play as long as I can at a high level. I don’t know how many years I have left but I won’t take it for granted that’s for sure,” he said.

You can see the complete men’s OMT rankings here.

The last time Roger Sloan had long hair, he was playing on the PGA Tour.

After a tie for second at Sunday’s Albertsons Boise Open, the native of Meritt, B.C. locked up a return to the top circuit in men’s golf. And, he said, there was a consensus amongst his family it was time to “grow the flow” again.

While the long locks might make a return, Sloan will hope his scorecards have a different look from when he last played on the PGA Tour full time in 2015. He appeared in 20 tournaments but made only seven cuts that year, and has been playing on the feeder Web.com Tour since 2016.

With his tie for second Sunday, Sloan moved to 10th on money list of the Web.com Tour Finals – a four-tournament series where the top 25 earn status on the PGA Tour – and has already secured a promotion with one event left to play.

“It all came together and I was able to play Roger Sloan golf,” Sloan said in a phone interview. “At the end of the day it was a great score and we had a chance to win and we’re walking away with a job promotion. All in all it was a great tournament.”

The 31-year-old will cap his Web.com season when the circuit’s Tour Championship starts Thursday at the Atlantic Beach Country Club in Florida.

The 2018-19 PGA Tour season starts Oct. 4 at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif.

Sloan will join fellow British Columbian Adam Svensson, who earned his first PGA Tour card by finishing in the top 25 of the regular season money list on the Web.com Tour, along with Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners, David Hearn, and Ben Silverman as part of the Canadian contingent on the PGA Tour next season.

Sloan credited the work he’s done with mental coach Paul Dewland and swing coach Jeff Barton as keys for his success this year.

“He’s worked really hard, and that’s what it takes. Everyone gets mystical about the mental game but it’s just habits and skills. You’ve just got to work at it, and has,” said Dewland. “He’s ready for the PGA Tour.”

Sloan’s runner-up result Sunday was his best finish on the Web.com Tour since he won the Nova Scotia Open in 2014. He finished tied for ninth in Boise in 2017 and said the familiarity with the golf course helped him to a near-win.

“You just really have to be patient and tactical. That combination suits me, and how I prep for a golf tournament,” said Sloan. “Boise is also a very similar climate to where I grew up in Meritt, and there are a lot of similarities. Plus Boise is a great city, and my wife and I love being there.”

Sloan and his wife, Casey, welcomed their first child – Leighton Maddox – last September. Her first birthday is September 19, and Sloan said there would be a small celebration this week, followed by a big family party next week to also celebrate his promotion to the PGA Tour.

He said travelling with an infant while playing golf this year was like “throwing a wrench into an engine” in terms of his routine, but said it was an “easy” adjustment to make.

“I got to see first-hand my daughter growing up, whereas the alternative was to see her a few weeks throughout the course of the season. I wouldn’t have changed it for the world,” said Sloan, whose wife and daughter joined him on the road this year.

The trio will continue to travel together this year on the PGA Tour.

“It was a huge upgrade for my wife because there is consistent, quality health care at every event,” said Sloan. “She is more pumped than I am.”

Sloan played one PGA Tour event this summer, the RBC Canadian Open in Oakville, Ont. He made the cut and finished tied for 37th.

He said that week he knew he was “good enough” for the next level.

“I didn’t have the greatest week at the Canadian Open but I still was able to have a decent finish,” he said. “That validated the whole processed we’ve devoted ourselves to, and I’m excited for the next several months, and the rest of my career too.”

MARCHAND, SHARP LOCK UP LPGA TOUR STATUS

After Sunday’s final round at The Evian Championship, both Alena Sharp and Brittany Marchand secured LPGA Tour status for 2019.

At the LPGA Tour’s final major of the year, Sharp, of Hamilton, Ont., finished tied for 37th, while Marchand, of Orangeville, Ont., finished tied for 49th.

The top 100 on the money list after Sunday earned LPGA Tour status for next year.

Sharp was 92nd while Marchand, a rookie this year, was 89th.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. is second on the money list and finished tied for 10th at the Evian.

At just 13-years-old, Shell Lake’s Brooklin Fry is the 2018 under-15 girls Order of Merit (OMT) champion.

Fry competed in four OMT regulated events this season winning all of them. Three of the tournaments were Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) events, the other was the Saskatchewan Junior Women Championship. Fry has been competing on the MJT for a couple seasons but admits she never expected to win all her competitions at such a young age.

“It definitely did surprise me a bit, I wasn’t aiming to win all the events I entered but it is really awesome,” she said.

She won the under-15 girl’s division at the MJT event in Lloydminster earning 200 OMT points. Her MJT win in North Battleford was also worth 200 points, the MJT tournament she won in Saskatoon was also 200 points. Winning the junior women championship was worth 2000 points on the OMT tour. Fry finished with 1,600 points, 65 more than Yorkton’s Ella Kozak. She said winning the tour race was a special feeling.

“It was really awesome, it was a really good feeling. I was also surprised I won it. I wasn’t aiming to win it, I was just taking the season one shot at a time and working my way up,” Fry said.

Winning the junior championship earned Fry a trip to British Columbia to represent the province at nationals. She said the trip and tournament was a highlight of her summer.

“It was really fun, it was a privilege to represent Saskatchewan there. It was a blast,” she said.

Fry has hung up her clubs for the time being. She will now turn her focus to hockey for the winter. She said she does make trips into Saskatoon to the Golf Dome a couple times over the winter and hopes to do that again. Fry said having such a strong season has her eyeing even more success going forward.

“I can’t wait to see what I can do in the future. I think I have a pretty good future if I continue to work at it,” she said.

You can see all the junior OMT standings here.

Kim Brown is the 2018 champion in the women’s Order of Merit (OMT) standings.

The Saskatoon golfer played four OMT events this past season collecting 2,025 points to claim the title. The Saskatchewan public player held off Lorie Boyle and won by 175 points. She said the OMT championship isn’t her main reason for playing on the tour, but the win is significant to her.

“It’s a nice thing for Golf Saskatchewan to have and recognize participation of players in Saskatchewan. It may not be top of mind I think it’s a really nice gesture and something nice to have,” Brown said.

She started her season with a win at the Prince Albert Ladies’ Northern. Brown was also victorious at the Ladies’ Lobstick in Waskesiu. She said those two events are staples on her summer schedule. She said having her family, including her three-year-old son attend the tournaments with her is special.

“He doesn’t understand anything, he just wants to run on the green and say hi to mom,” she laughed. “We had a nice summer. I’m from Prince Albert so I go back and play that tournament every year and Waskesiu is really close to my heart. I love playing in the Lobstick, I like the match play format so those are two I get to every year.”

Brown collected 500 OMT points for the Prince Albert win, the Lobstick was worth 750. She played in the Saskatoon Ladies’ Open and placed eighth picking up 175 points, her fourth-place finish at the provincial championship earned her 600 points. Brown qualified to attend the Canadian Amateur Women’s Championship, but her schedule didn’t allow her to participate. She said looking to next year she hopes to take another swing at qualifying for the national tournament.

“I would love to play in provincials again and if it’s possible I would go to nationals. I definitely check out the dates and look forward to finding out whether I’m able to play in those or not. I consider it every single year and next year will be no different,” she said.

You can see the complete women’s OMT standing here.

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg entered the 2018 golf season with a list of goals and the Golf Kenosee player accomplished what he set out to do.

Hallberg is fresh of a 22^nd place finish at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in New Brunswick, plus he is the Saskatchewan senior men’s Order of Merit (OMT) champion for 2018. Hallberg said the OMT win is a nice touch to end a strong season.

“It’s nice to win that yeah, that was a goal of mine was to finish well in the OMT and make the senior team and get to nationals,” Hallberg said.

During the national championship Hallberg was as high as fifth on the leaderboard but dropped down to the 22^nd spot at the end of the event in Bathurst. One hole cost Hallberg several positions on the leaderboard but he was still happy with his placing. He said overall, he feels he can play with the best seniors in Canada.

“Once I got going out there I was playing well and sticking right with those guys. It gives a guy hope for next year that if I go out there and get it going I could win it,” he said.

Hallberg won the Saskatchewan tour with 2,550 points, 450 more than Golf Kenosee counterpart Paul Grimes. Hallberg gathered 600 points for a second-place finish at the Auto Clearing Senior Men’s Championship, he placed seventh at the Senior Publinx which earned him 200 points. He won the Mercator Financial South West Senior Men’s Championship which was worth 750 points and he picked up 1,000 points for winning the Saskatchewan Senior Men’s Championship on his home course in Kenosee.

After taking a couple years off competitive golf Hallberg said he will look to build off this season and try to improve on his results.

“I definitely want to play lots next summer too and get back to the senior nationals and maybe even take a crack at the mid-amateur nationals next year. I passed up going to the mid-am this year to caddy in the CP Women’s Open but that was another awesome experience,” he said.

You can see the complete OMT standings for the senior men here.

Another championship season has ended for Golf Saskatchewan and the province.

Year in and year out our provincial championships require endless hours of assistance beyond the staff, that’s where our volunteers step up to ensure top quality events across Saskatchewan. Without volunteers, sponsors, and the media telling the stories of our talented golfers none of this would be possible.

On Sept. 16, Golf Saskatchewan held their volunteer, sponsor, and media appreciation day at Harbor Golf Club and Resort in Elbow. The course was the host venue for the 100^th amateur women’s championship and senior women’s provincials earlier this season. Our year essentially launched at the fantastic 18-hole facility on the shores of Lake Diefenbaker and concluded at the same venue with the appreciation day and board meetings.

During the wind-up banquet, long-time volunteer Richard Smith (above) was recognized for his exemplary service to the organization.

From all of us within the province’s governing body of the greatest social game on earth, we say thank you to everyone that gives back and we will see you next summer.

The Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame will induct three individuals and a couple teams on Saturday including Otto Huber, a blind golfing phenom.

A hunting accident took the eyesight of the Lipton, Saskatchewan product. Prior to the incident he wasn’t an avid golfer, but he took up the game in his 30’s after meeting a local professional. Huber said he knew he had to continue to be active despite being blind.

“I think I took it up because I was a very active individual and I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for the snow to drop. I had my frustrations, you hit a little ball into the bush, find it or hit another into a hole. It didn’t make much sense, and it was silly,” he joked.

Huber turned out be one of the best golfers in the province winning the provincial blind golfers’ tournament seven times. He was also an advocate for blind athletes organizing tournaments and events while being the president of the western division of the Canadian Blind Golfers Association. He said adding a Hall of Fame induction to his resume is special.

“I’m excited, it’s unreal, I’m so honoured to be inducted,” he said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Huber competed in Britain, Japan, and across the United States during his decorated career. Despite his endless achievements Huber said he always had an out clause for bad shots.

“It was frustrating to not have the ball go to where you want it to go, but I have one advantage. I could just look at my coach,” Huber laughed.

Huber, Dean Brown, Kirk McGregor and the 1985 and 1990 Saskatchewan Senior Women’s teams will be inducted at the Royal Regina Golf Club on Sept. 22. Tickets for the banquet are available here until 12 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20.

Melville’s Chloe Sies has wasted no time picking up her first collegiate golf tournament victory.

Sies, 19, was the co-winner of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s North Regional on Sunday in Lac La Biche. Sies, who attends Red Deer College tied with Becky Martin at plus-23 for the win at the Lac La Biche Golf and Country Club. She said winning her first college tournament is a great feeling.

“Honestly, it’s surreal right now,” Sies told Golf Saskatchewan on Monday. “I texted my mom this morning and said can you believe, it was my first start, my first win? It’s so crazy, I can’t believe I actually did that though.”

Conditions at the northern Alberta course were less than ideal. Snow blanketed the area leading up to the practice round on Friday. Sies said the snow melted off in time to play on the weekend. She shot 18-over, 90 during round one but responded with a 5-over, 77 during the second round to tie on top of the leaderboard. Sies said she battled the elements and focused on her own play.

“It was cold, it was windy, it was raining, there was sleet, it wasn’t a fun tournament to play but I took the conditions as they were and played my own game,” she said.

Martin and Sies didn’t have a playoff, the tournament officials determined to leave the event with co-winners. She said winning her first event could set the table for a great first year in Alberta. Sies will compete in another three tournaments this season culminating with the national championship in Medicine Hat in October. She said the expectations are high for her and her teammates.

“I’m hoping so, we have a strong team with both men and women, we’re hoping to go all the way,” she said.

Next up is an ACAC event in Edmonton, Red Deer will host provincials followed by the national event.

DECISION 15/5 – Original Ball Found and Played After Another Ball Put into Play

QUESTION: Dave was unable to find his ball after a brief search, he drops another ball (Ball B) under Rule 27-1 and plays it (not where he previously played from). Dave then finds his original ball within five minutes after a search for it began. Dave lifted Ball B and continued to play with the original ball. Was this correct?

ANSWER: No. When Dave put the substituted ball into play at the spot of the previous stroke with the intent to play a ball under Rule 27-1, he proceeded under an applicable rule. Therefore, rule 20-6 does not apply (known as the eraser rule allowing the player to pick up his ball and proceed correctly), and he must continue with the substituted ball (see Decision 27-1/2). The original ball was lost when Ball B was dropped under rule 27-1 (see Definition of “Lost Ball”).

When Dave lifted Ball B, he incurred a penalty of one stroke under rule 18-2. When he made a stroke with the original ball after it was out of play, he played a wrong ball (see Definitions of “Ball in Play” and “Wrong Ball”) and incurred a penalty of loss of hole in match play or an additional penalty of two strokes in stroke play (Rule 15-3). In stroke play, the player would be disqualified if, before playing from the next teeing ground, he did not correct his error (rule 15-3b).

Although this decision seems hard to believe, it happens almost every week in recreational play. Remember, playing under the rules doesn’t take more time but it will save you a few strokes in the long run.

Recovering from hip surgery, Kirk McGregor jokingly attributes 500,000 “bad swings” to the issues but honestly the long-time golfer likely hit more fairways than hazards during his decades old career.

McGregor will be honoured for his golf career on Sept. 22 when he’s inducted into the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame at his home course, the Royal Regina Golf Club, McGregor has played out of the club for 40 years. He said he had to work hard for low scores during his competitive career.

“I was more than a grinder than a skilled player. I don’t mind that at all, that’s what I was,” McGregor said. I’ve had a wonderful life of golf and I’m thankful for it.”

He said it all started at the Wascana Country Club where his mother purchased him a membership in his early years. A junior golf highlight was playing at Winnipeg’s St. Charles Country Club when he was 15-years-old. He said experiences growing up were key contributors in his life on and off the course.

“My golf experiences, the events and championships have influences on you but there’s also life skills. As I said, I was just blessed by having these kinds of opportunities.”

He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Otto Huber, a blind golf phenom, Regina’s Dean Brown, and the 1985 and 1990 Saskatchewan senior women’s teams. He said it’s special to be enshrined with the 2018 class as well as joining the other inductees.

“It’s a huge honour to join legends like Jim Scissons, Joanne Goulet, and Doug Mader in the Hall, it’s a wonderful experience. To have it at the Royal Regina where I spent the last 40 years is great,” he said.

McGregor will have friends and close friends at the induction gala later this month. Through the presentation ceremony we will learn more about his career. Putting aside the stats and accomplishments, McGregor said he wants to be remembered for his outlook on the game.

“Winning and doing well is fun and nice but it’s temporary,” he said. “I just want people to think I was good to play with and that I am a good guy.”

Tickets for the gala are still available by calling 306.975.0850 or online.