The field is now set for the 2024 Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship at Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club.

The final qualifier was held Friday at Riverside with eight spots in the event still open, six were snatched by Saskatchewan players.

Max Regier (Saskatoon), Carter Bell (Saskatoon), Noah Kozack (Regina), Justin Kowal (Saskatoon), Will Blake (Regina), and Carter Degelman (Saskatoon) all earned a birth courtesy their play on Friday. Just Regier and Bell, both Riverside members shot in the red, Regier was 4-under par to set the pace.

Calgary’s Guillermo Salazar was also one of the qualifiers, he played junior golf at Waskesiu and is a college teammate of Alex Swinnerton, who will also be in the field beginning Aug. 5.

In total 23 Saskatchewan players will compete in the championship that runs Monday to Thursday.

Field of 264 will compete in the prestigious tournament; all ten provinces represented and one territory; Inter-Provincial Team Championship to be contested over first 36 holes

Saskatoon, Sask. – The 119th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO is set to be contested August 5-8 with a field of 264 amateur golfers competing over four rounds at both the Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon, Sask.

This year’s field features a number of top amateur golfers from around the world including, Max Kennedy of Dublin, Ireland, currently ranked no. 28 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Joining Kennedy are Wang Ngai Shen of Hong Kong, China (no. 155 WAGR), Mateo Fuenmayor of Colombia (no. 264 WAGR) as well as defending champion, Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. McCulloch (no. 135 WAGR) has enjoyed a successful season at Michigan State and competed at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open and qualified for the 2024 U.S. Open.

The following 2024 Provincial Men’s Amateur Champions will also be competing in the field: Brett Jones (Alberta), Team Canada NextGen member Cooper Humphreys (British Columbia), Braxton Kuntz (Manitoba), Team Canada NextGen member Matthew Javier (Ontario), Ryan Lamswood (Newfoundland and Labrador), Alexander Mercier (Quebec) and from the host province, Kye Fisher (Saskatchewan).

Along with Humphreys, Javier and McCulloch there will be an additional nine Team Canada members competing in Saskatoon including, Laurent Desmarchais (Bromont, Que.), Isaiah Ibit (Orleans, Ont.), Alex Long (Toronto, Ont.), Ben MacLean (Niagara Falls, Ont.), Jean-Philippe Parr (St-Célestin, Que.), Luke Smith (Toronto, Ont.), Hunter Thomson (Calgary, Alta.), Ethan Wilson (St. Albert, Alta.) and Eric Zhao (North York, Ont.).

“We are excited to get the 119th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship underway next week at two beautiful golf courses here in Saskatoon,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Adam Cinel. “The staff and volunteers at both Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club been working tirelessly to ensure those competing will enjoy the test both courses present. We look forward to hosting a full field of 264 players as they compete for our prestigious national championship.”

Golfers from all 10 provinces and one territory are represented in the field along with 11 additional countries: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, England, France, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Ireland, South Africa, United States and Wales.

The first two rounds of this year’s tournament will be contested on both courses with the field playing each course once. Following the opening 36-holes of the championship, the field will be reduced to the top 70 players plus ties. Wednesday and Thursday’s rounds will both played at Riverside Country Club with an awards ceremony following Thursday’s final round.

“We are thrilled and honoured to co-host this prestigious national golf championship along with Riverside Country Club. It has been a great partnership as we work together with Golf Canada to make this a memorable experience for the players, spectators and volunteers,” said Warren Proctor, Host Club Committee Chair, Saskatoon Golf and Country Club. “We have had an unbelievable positive response from our membership in support of hosting this championship. I must also recognize our Club management, including course superintendent Terry McNeilly who, along with his staff have been working tirelessly to get our golf course in wonderful condition to be challenging and a fair test for the players.”

Prior to the start of the tournament, there will be a final qualifier on Friday at Riverside Country Club where a field of 46 players will be competing for the final nine spots in the tournament.

“Riverside Country Club has a long history of hosting prestigious golf events, and we look forward to welcoming some of the top tier national and international players for the 119th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship,” said Robert Klombies, Executive Director, Riverside Country Club. “It is heartening to see the level of excitement and engagement that our members and golf community exhibit to ensure players enjoy an incredible experience both at Riverside and within the City of Saskatoon.”

Established in 1895, the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is the third oldest amateur championship in the world. The tournament was first contested as one of the newly formed Royal Canadian Golf Association’s (RCGA), now known as Golf Canada, first orders of business in 1895 at the Ottawa Golf Club.

The national championship originally began as a match play competition but changed to stroke play for the 1969 championship. It remained that way through 1994 when it reverted to match play in honour of the RCGA’s and the championship’s centennial in 1995. The championship once again reverted to stroke play in 2008 and in 2010, the tournament changed to a double field format for the first time ever.

Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George S. Lyon won the Amateur eight times between 1898 and 1914 and was runner-up two more times. Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Sandy Somerville made it to the match play final ten times between 1924 and 1938, capturing six championships. Other past champions include Canadian Golf Hall of Famers and four-time winners, Nick Weslock (1957, 1963, 1964, 1966) and Doug Roxburgh (1972, 1974, 1982, 1988). Most recently, two-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion, Mackenzie Hughes (2011, 2012) and 2023 RBC Canadian Open and four-time PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor (2007). The last time the Canadian Men’s Amateur was held in the city of Saskatoon was in 2007 at Riverside Country Club, when Taylor won.

Nick Taylor is the only Canadian male golfer to have won the Canadian Junior Boys (2006), Canadian Men’s Amateur (2007) and RBC Canadian Open (2023) titles. Brooke Henderson is the only Canadian female golfer to win the national championship trifecta, having won the Canadian Junior Girls (2012), Canadian Women’s Amateur (2013) and the CPKC Women’s Open (2018).

The national championship will also feature an Inter-Provincial Team Championship that will take place over the first 36-holes of the tournament. Team Ontario will be defending their title as 10 provinces and one territory will be vying to etch their names into the Willingdon Cup.

The 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion receives an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. and the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. from August 12-18. The winner will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championship. In addition, the winner will receive $1,200 CAD.

For the full player field competing in the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour concluded a busy July on the Saskatchewan Junior Order of Merit Tours (OMT) at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club this week.

Grace Odnokon was the under-15 women’s winner, and overall champion with a 36-hole score of 146.

Miranda Merriman (La Ronge) and Kaden Meyer of Swift Current were second and third.

In the 15-19 year-old category, Tayla Perry of Regina was six shots lower than Ino Li of Saskatoon. Perry shot 84 and 80, Li went back-to-back 85.

Tying for third place at 170 was Claire Kosofski of Kindersley and White Rock, B.C. golfer Poppy Hudye.

In the under-13 men’s division, Keaton Kreklewich of Melville was the top player of the four in the age group. The 12-year-old shot 80 and 74.

The under-15 men’s age group had 35 players in the field. Shae Maunula of North Battleford outlasted them all including three young shooters all within three shots.

Maunula posted a 146 (70-76), edging Matty Schmiess of Swift Current by one shot, Brandon’s Hunter Oakden by another stroke, and Cohen Hepburn found himself in fourth at 149.

Saskatoon’s Hudson Diederichs rounded out the top five at 152 (75-77).

Brady Guenther of Saskatoon is the junior men’s overall champion and under-17 winner with a two-day score of 144. An opening day score of 69 helped the 16-year-old hold off Aricin Franklin by a shot.

Lincoln Rogers of Prince Albert was third in the under-17 age group, that was Dane Giesbrecht’s score, the Warman product was the under-19 champion after rounds of 73 and 74 at Moon Lake.

Hudson Heistad of Avonlea and Makstyr McIntyre of Swift Current were second and third in the under-19 category.

The full results can be found here. Next on the MJT schedule in Saskatchewan is in Elk Ridge on Aug. 10 and 11.

*Images courtesy Jeff Chambers

Team Saskatchewan consisting of Alex Schmidt, Lauren Fox, and Chloe Wills will return from the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship with a sixth place inter-provincial finish and memories of Royal Colwood Golf Club.

The trio showed well in Victoria, B.C. this week, but none of the three competitors made the cut at the event that started on Tuesday.

Ontario took the Team Championship.

Regina’s Schmidt was the top local shooting 79 and 80 in rounds one and two, the Royal Regina Golf Club member was six shots behind the cut line of 9-over par.

Wills was competing in her second straight national event after playing in the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in Vancouver, the Kyle product shot 88 and 79.

Fox, who resides in Creighton carded an 82 and an 88 at the championship that continues to Friday.

To see the complete results, click here.

The annual Saskatchewan Women’s Rosebowl (4-Ball) Championship will be held at Harbor Golf and RV Park in August with eligibility being expanded for competitor’s World Handicap System (WHS) Index.

In the years past of the over half-century old event, a players’ WHS had to be no lower than 16.5 and as a team the WHS couldn’t be higher than 72.4. To hopefully expand the field and get more women competing in the event, Golf Saskatchewan lowered the WHS requirements to 15 index for one player.

For all the details of the event, see below.

INFORMATION:

• On this link you will find the Women’s 4-Ball or Rosebowl Championship link
  • Competitions – Golf Saskatchewan
• Direct link to the Women’s Rosebowl
  • 2024 Saskatchewan Women’s Rosebowl Event :: How do I register? (golfgenius.com)
• Accommodations:
  • Sarah’s Cover Condo rentals
  • Lakeview Lodge – 10-15 units
  • Sunset Suites and RV – 10-15 units
  • Take a look at this link to see accommodations near Harbor Golf Course. https://www.harborgolfclub.com/our-community
    • (Note all the telephone numbers are listed on the link)
• Eligibility:
  • All players must be a member of Golf Canada or other recognized Golf Union.
  • The Women’s Rosebowl Championship is open to amateur females and individuals identifying as transgender and/or non-binary. 
  • The minimum combined team handicap factor shall be 30.0 and the maximum team handicap factor shall not exceed 72.4.
  • No individual player’s handicap factor may be lower than 15.0. If a player’s handicap factor changes downward before registration date, an alternate golfer with a handicap factor of 18.1 or over, must be substituted or the team may be disqualified. 
  • All competitors must present a valid 2024 Golf Canada/Golf Saskatchewan membership card (or other recognized golf association/union) and a verification of Handicap Index to the Golf Saskatchewan Tournament Committee at the registration desk prior to the start of play in the tournament.  Failure to do so may result in disqualification. **Includes the Golf Canada App.
  • Handicap factor must be updated within 15 days of the championship, signed and verified by the handicap chair, and must include a scoring record with a minimum of 5 round of 18 hole games.
• Format
  • 36 Holes Net Stroke Play 2 Ball – Better Ball.
• Cart
  • Competitors are required to make their own cart arrangements with the golf course.
  • Not included in the price of registration
• Cost
  • $388.50 (Taxes included)

To register for the 2024 Rosebowl, click here.

Progress is continuing for the group(s) behind a new golf course in Saskatchewan’s northwest.

Last summer, a group of northwest Saskatchewan area First Nations signed a memorandum of understanding to further investigate the construction of an 18-hole golf course just south of Ile-a-la Crosse on Highway 155.

More plans and early development has continued, and in June the stakeholders held a meeting discussing the updates and plans.

Golf Saskatchewan was there and spoke with Chief Executive Officer of the Sakitawak Development Corporation Tyler Morin and Course Designer Graham Cooke at Dakota Dunes Golf Links, fittingly a course constructed by Cooke and his illustrious team.

Golf Canada staff have arrived in Saskatoon and preparation for the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship hosted by Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club is in it’s final stages.

Golfers from nine countries, plus 15 Saskatchewan players will make up the 264 player field with potential for more following the qualifier on Friday, Aug. 2.

Golf Saskatchewan sat down with Host Committee Chair Craig Sled back in late May to talk about the event returning to Riverside and SGCC for the first time since 2007 when Nick Taylor won as a then 19-year-old. Sled speaks about the need for volunteers, but following the initial push in late May, the need was quickly filled. He discusses other aspects of hosting the event and how excited the clubs are to welcome 256 of the best amateur players in the world.

Victoria, B.C. – The 110th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, gets underway next week at Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C. from July 29-August 2. 

The championship, which was first held in 1901, is one of the longest tenured amateur events in the world. The inaugural tournament at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Que., featured only three players. Fast forward over a century later, 156 players will look to engrave their name onto the Dutchess of Connaught Gold Cup in 2024.  

Team Saskatchewan will be made up of Alex Schmidt (Regina), Lauren Fox (Creighton), and Chloe Wills (Kyle). All three will tee off at 2:10 Saskatchewan time on Monday for their practice round.

The championship will feature a competitive field of top female amateur golfers, national team members, provincial champions and elite international amateurs. Practice rounds are scheduled for Monday, July 29, before the 72-hole stroke play competition gets underway on Tuesday, July 30. Play is scheduled to wrap up on Friday, August 2, followed by an awards ceremony and champions reception. The field will be cut to the low 70 players (including ties) after the second round. 

The tournament will welcome 118 Canadians along with 38 international players, including 22 from the United States, six from Australia, two from Chinese Taipei along with representation from Barbados, Colombia, Hong Kong, China and Mexico. 

The Inter-Provincial Team Championship will be played in conjunction through the first 36 holes of the competition with eight three-player teams vying for the title. Last year Team Ontario consisting of Jasmine Ly (Windsor, Ont.), Joline Truong (Mississauga, Ont.) and Sydney Naro (Toronto, Ont.) were crowned champions. 

The 156 player field features seven of Team Canada athletes led by defending champion Lauren Kim (Surrey, B.C.) – who shot a final round 2-under 71 to claim the title last year along with teammates, Angela Arora (Surrey, B.C.), Katie Cranston (Oakville, Ont.), Nicole Gal (Oakville, Ont.), Michelle Liu (Vancouver, B.C), Alissa Xu (Richmond Hill, Ont) and Lauren Zaretsky (Thornhill, Ont.). 

Team Canada NextGen will also be represented with nine members of the team set to compete including, Vanessa Borovilos (Etobicoke, Ont), Anna Huang (Vancouver, B.C), Shauna Liu (Maple, Ont.), Luna Lu (Burnaby, B.C), Lindsay McGrath (Oakville, Ont.), Eileen Park (Red Deer, Alta.), Swetha Sathish (Oakville Ont.), Michelle Xing (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Vanessa Zhang (Vancouver, B.C.).   

Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. is the youngest player in the field at the age of 13 and there are two members of Royal Colwood Golf Club teeing it up this week, Cynthia Adamek and Jiyue Wu.  

Royal Colwood Golf Club is a world-class golf course that offers a challenging and scenic layout, set amidst a beautiful forest of towering trees and manicured fairways. Designed by Arthur Vernon Macan in 1913, the course has hosted numerous high-profile tournaments. The par 72 course features strategically placed bunkers and winding fairways that demand strategic accuracy and skill. The course’s natural scenic landscape is enhanced by its serene surroundings, with sparkling water features and an abundance of wildlife.  

“Royal Colwood Golf Club is honoured to add the 2024 Canadian Women’s Amateur to our club’s rich history of prestigious golf events. We are excited to welcome the top amateur women golfers from around the world to Victoria while we showcase our golf course over the four days of competition,” Gordy Scutt, Head Golf Professional at Royal Colwood Golf Club. “Hosting this event is an exciting opportunity and we are confident that Royal Colwood will provide a memorable experience for the players, guests and surrounding community.” 

Last year Team Canada member, Lauren Kim won the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax, N.S. Team Canada athletes have won the past three Canadian Women’s Amateur Championships. Prior to Kim’s victory last year, Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. won the 2022 championship at Westmount Golf and Country Club in Kitchener, Ont. and Lauren Zaretsky won in 2021 at Edmonton Petroleum Golf and Country Club in Spruce Grove, Alta.  

The 2024 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship taking place August 5-11 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. In addition, the winner will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, taking place August 18-25 at Mississauga Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont. 

For more information about the 2024 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship please click here. 
 

Golf Canada Amateur Championships 

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit https://www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/ 

Ella Kozak’s junior golf career at the provincial and national level is complete following a tie for 38th at the Canadian Junior Girls Championships last week.

Kozak, 18, was the top Saskatchewan player at Marine Drive Golf Club playing all four rounds shooting 81, 79, 71, and 81 to finish at 24-over par.

As Kozak now prepares for university in the United States, her teammates in Vancouver gained valuable experience at the national level.

Chloe Wills, Niya Friesen, and Grace Odnokon were also in the field at the national event, the trio will have several more national championship appearances, with Wills and Friesen having a couple years of under-19 golf left, Odnokon has two Canadian Junior Girls Championships on her resume at just 14 years of age.

Team Saskatchewan was tied for sixth in the inter-provincial championship that takes place over the first two rounds. Kozak, Wills, and Odnokon made up the team.

To see the complete results, click here.

The next Canadian event is the Amateur Women’s Championship in Victoria, B.C. at Royal Colwood Golf Club beginning on July 29. Wills is in the field as part of Team Sask., Alex Schmidt of Regina and Creighton’s Lauren Fox make up the team.

Tayla Perry and Dane Giesbrecht are the champions of the 2024 Saskatchewan Summer Games (SSG) golf competition.

The Games are still underway in Lloydminster for the first time 2016, but the golf tournament was held at the Golf and Curling Centre on July 23 and 24.

Perry took the women’s championship with a 36-hole Stableford score of 86. Sarah Henderson of Saskatoon earned the silver medal with 76 points, Ada Dillon of Onion Lake was third, she had 75 points.

Perry’s victory led Team Regina to the district championship as well alongside Yuna Lee, who was fourth just behind Dillon.

In the men’s championship, Warman’s Giesbrecht picked up 116 Stableford points to hold off the field and claim the gold medal.

Sucker River golfer Dade Bernatchez was second, just eight points back with 108.

Tying for third place with 104 was Jack Maharaj (Saskatoon) and Jun Lee of Regina.

Team Regina also won the men’s district competition with 223 points. Lee was on the team with Ryden Amberson, he was tied for fifth overall with North Battleford golfer Shae Maunula.

To see all the results from the Saskatchewan Summer Games golf championship, click here.