The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) was in Elk Ridge this week for a 36 hole event ahead of the Junior Lobstick at Waskesiu.

The overall women’s champion was Grace Odnokon of Saskatoon. The 14-year-old shot 80 and 76 on Saturday and Sunday for a two round total of 156. The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member won the under-15 girls age group by 16 shots. She was also six strokes lower than Chloe Wills, who was the under-19 age division champion at 162 with back-to-back 81’s.

Sienna Taylor of Saskatoon was second in the under-15 age group, Zhu Youran was third.

Sarah Henderson of Saskatoon placed second in the under-19 age group, Li Ino was third.

In the men’s championships, Ayden Ross of Swift Current paced the field and won with a two round score 147 (76, 71). Ross was the under-17 champion, and held off under-19 champion Ben Staines to take the overall victory.

Brady Guenther (Saskatoon) and Ethan Hunter (Casa Rio) tied for second overall, just a shot behind Ross.

Staines was two strokes behind Ross while winning the under-19 age group.

Dante Gamble of Duck Lake and Griffin Blanch from Saskatoon each shot 150, they tied for fifth overall and fourth in the juvenile age division.

Justin Miller of Saskatoon was third in the under-19 category, Hudson Heistad of Avonlea rounded out the top three of the junior division.

In the under-15 age group, 13-year-old Pilot Butte shooter Austin Nesbitt snagged his first bantam win of the year. The Wascana Country Club member shot impressive rounds of 71 and 69 to edge out North Battleford player Shae Maunula.

Swift Current’s Matty Schmiess rounded out the top three.

In the under-13 age group, Adam Stepaniuk of Georgetown, Grand Cayman won the event with a score of 158, Craik product Dalton Stephens was second.

The complete results can be found here. The Junior Order of Merit Tour (OMT) standings are also up to date.

The Junior OMT continues this week with the Junior Lobstick in Waskesiu that started on Monday, Aug. 12.

*All photos courtesy Jeff Chambers

156 of Canada’s top junior golfers will compete for the Junior title along with a U16 Juvenile division and an inter-provincial team competition

Innisfail, Alta. – The 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO is set for August 13-16 with a field of 156 junior golfers competing over four rounds at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta.

This year’s field competing for the Canadian Junior Boys Trophy, also known as the Silver Cup, features a talented field of Canadian players, including five 2024 NextGen tournament winners, Charlie Gillespie of Calgary, Alta. (NextGen Western), Ryan Mosher of Saskatoon, Sask. (NextGen Prairie), Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. (NextGen Ontario), Bode Stephen of Kingston, Ont. (NextGen Atlantic) and Matthew Wilson of Nanaimo, B.C. (NextGen Pacific).

Joining Mosher, who is also the Saskatchewan Junior Champion on the inter-provincial team is Max Regier and Aricin Franklin, all three Saskatoon players are coming off performances at the Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship last week at Riverside Country Club.

Aiden Walker (Regina) and Darien Herlick (Weyburn) are also in the field.

Walker, Mosher, and Franklin are eligible for the under-17 championship too.

In addition, five members of Team Canada NextGen will be competing in Innisfail including, Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont., Matthew Javier of Toronto, Ont., Luke Smith of Toronto, Ont., defending champion Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. and Eric Zhao of North York, Ont. Last year at North Bay Golf and Country Club, Zhang won the national championship beating out two others by one shot.

“We have a great field ready to compete for our prestigious Canadian Junior Boys Championship,” said Sam Brown, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “We’d like to thank the staff and volunteers at Innisfail Golf Club for all the work they’ve put in to prepare the golf course as we welcome some of Canada’s best young talent to Innisfail. The club has great experience hosting a number of provincial championships and we are excited to get play underway.”

Innisfail Golf Club is hosting the Canadian Junior Boys Championship while celebrating its centennial year. Established in 1924, the Bill Robinson designed course features 27 holes with three different 9-hole courses each with a scenic and diverse experience. The tournament will be contested on the Aspen and Spruce nines. Innisfail Golf Club has previously hosted the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship on three occasions as well as the Alberta Senior Ladies Championship.

“We are so proud to be hosting an event like this with the best young talent in the field from across the nation.  The club has been around for 100 years and can be challenging for many. Diligent strategy is required to play well here or may find some of the tough shots out there in a hurry. Subtle, yet distinct…pictures don’t the contours or elevation changes justice,” said Jeff McDowall, Head Professional, Innisfail Golf Club. “We hope those who are playing enjoy the experience at Innisfail Golf Club and all competitors do their best in the pursuit for a national championship title.”

Established in 1938 with the first championship played at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont., the Canadian Junior Boys Championship has given Canadians a glimpse into the future glory that many of its champions have gone on to enjoy. Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Doug Silverberg, George Knudson, Gary Cowan, and Doug Roxburgh have all won the Silver Cup before moving on to amateur and professional careers.

2023 RBC Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor won the Junior in 2006, the only Canadian male golfer to win the trifecta of national championships comprised of the Canadian Junior Boys, Canadian Men’s Amateur, and Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. Brooke Henderson who is the lone female Canadian golfer to win the Canadian Junior Girls, Canadian Women’s Amateur, and the CPKC Women’s Open.

In addition to the 18-and-under Junior Championship, the 16-and-under Juvenile Championship was added in 1970, with the winner receiving the Jack Bailey Trophy. Since its inception, only 11 golfers have won both the Juvenile and Junior titles — Jim Rutledge, Jeff Makahon, Rob McMillan, Jesse Collinson, Dustin Risdon, Gord Scutt, Rafael Lee, Mitch Sutton, Charles-Éric Bélanger, Christopher Vandette and Alex Zhang.

There will be a final qualifier held on Friday, August 9 at Innisfail Golf Club where 45 golfers will be competing for the final four spots into the national championship. Following the qualifier, practice rounds will take place on Saturday, August 10. The Junior and Juvenile championship rounds are played concurrently over four rounds, with the low 70 players plus ties in the Junior division and a minimum of ten players in the Juvenile division advancing to the final 36 holes. The Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship will be played over the first 36 holes, where teams will compete for the Junior Inter-Provincial Championship Trophy. Last year, Team Ontario finished three shots clear of Team British Columbia to win the championship.

The Junior champion of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship earns an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship as well as the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

For the full player field competing in the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

The popular Frametech Classic was held at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club over the August long weekend.

In the women’s division, Estevan golfer Paige Wheeler was the champion with a 36-hole score of 167. She earned 500 points on the Order of Merit Tour.

Joyce Kuchinka was second overall (31-over par, 175), Tenille Wilhelm was third at 42-over par, 186.

The full ladies results can be found here.

Taking the men’s championship was Regina resident Mitch Matichuk in a playoff over local shooter Jace Carlisle. Each player shot 215 over 54-holes, but the Royal Regina Golf Club member ended up claiming the title.

Shawn McNall of Regina and Dallas Lequyer from Carlisle rounded out the podium tied for third at 216.

Matichuk picked up 750 points in the men’s OMT race.

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg ran away from the field in the seniors championship winning by an unimaginable 24 shots picking up 750 OMT points in the process.

The Golf Kenosee member was 7-under par for the event, Tony Heath was the next closest player at 17-over par.

James Gordon and Dean Lequyer tied for third.

The complete men’s results can be found here.

Mawhinney’s late charge enough to hold off
defending champion Ashton McCulloch

Saskatoon, Sask. – The final round of the 119^th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO was one to remember on Thursday at Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon, Sask.

The leaderboard had more twists and turns than a rollercoaster throughout the day with five players holding a piece of the lead at various points and numerous lead changes on the back nine. In the end, the name a top the leaderboard is the one that was there all week as Tyler Mawhinney of Fleming Island, Fla claimed the Earl Grey Cup as the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion.

“Don’t have much to say right now, kinda sinking in but proud I could finish it off after some great golf,” said a visibly emotional Mawhinney.

Mawhinney began the day one ahead of defending champion Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. He began his round with a birdie and followed it up with an eagle to pull three shots ahead. However, a triple bogey on the par 4 third hole saw McCulloch pull ahead by one following a birdie of his own.

Mawhinney pulled level with McCulloch on the fifth hole at 12-under. The two matched birdies on six before Mawhinney took the solo lead with another birdie on the eighth hole. Making a charge in front of the lead group was Garrett Rank of Waterloo, Ont. Rank, an NHL referee during the season, collected three birdies and a par to close the front nine one back of Mawhinney who sat at 14-under.

The back nine continued to provide drama fitting of a national championship as Rank and Mawhinney were joined by Rylan Shim of Centreville, Va. as co-leaders at 13-under through 11 holes. Mawhinney birdied no. 12 to move back to a one-shot lead but bogeyed no. 13, bringing Shim back into the co-lead.

More twists and turns following no.14 as Rank birded to get to 13-under to pull level with Mawhinney and joining them was Declan O’Donovan from New South Wales, Australia following his birdie on 14. The co-lead was short lived as both Rank and O’Donovan bogeyed no. 15, giving the lead back to Mawhinney with three to play.

Rank birdied no. 16 as Mawhinney approached the tee, where a crucial decision was made.

“Decided to hit 3-wood off 16 which was the first time we did that this week and that kept us back and didn’t have to turn it around the corner and you could still make birdie that way. I think I had 205 into the green and hit it middle of the green and two-putt,” said Mawhinney on his birdie to retake the lead by one.

Rank closed with two pars to take the clubhouse lead at 13-under. Mawhinney responded with what he described as “the greatest shot I’ve ever hit in my life” on no. 17 as he stuck it to within one foot from 178 yards out and tapped in for birdie to move to 15-under and a two-shot lead.

“The winds we think switched and it was 178 downhill. I have to change for elevation because I am sea level, and it was about a 72 shot with the wind and a perfect 8-iron and hit it right at the flag and it was the right number,” said Mawhinney.

McCulloch was making the finish even more interesting as he continued to battle and moved to 13-under following another eagle on no. 16, his third consecutive day doing so. McCulloch went on to birdie the 18th to finish at 14-under.

Mawhinney played no. 18 as he had all week with a 3-iron off the tee followed by a pitching wedge into the green and two-putted for the win. Mawhinney shot rounds of 65-69-70-69-273 to claim the national championship.

As he finished speaking with the media, the 16-year-old asked what was next?

“A couple people said I’ll see you at Hazeltine, so I guess that’s what’s next, but we’ll figure it out when we get there,” he responded.

With the win, Mawhinney 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. He will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championship and $1,200 CAD.

McCulloch finished solo second at 14-under and Shim and Braxton Kuntz of Winnipeg, Man. finished tied for third at 12-under. Rank finished the tournament at 13-under which was solo third place but was unfortunately disqualified following his round for signing an incorrect score card.

On Tuesday, Team British Columbia claimed the Willingdon Cup as Inter-Provincial Team champions. Team British Columbia shot a collective 9-under and was represented by Wyatt Brook of Heffley Creek, B.C., James Fahy of Vancouver, B.C. and Team Canada NextGen member Cooper Humphreys of Vernon, B.C. Team Ontario finished second with a collective 5-under, with Team Manitoba rounding out the top three at even par.

For the final leaderboard following the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

The Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship at Riverside Country Club continued Wednesday with a pair of Saskatchewan players left in the field.

Alex Swinnerton and Tommy Danielson, both members at the club continued their national championships after making the cut Tuesday for the first time in their amateur careers.

Swinnerton shot 4-over par, 76 in round three, overall through 54 holes he’s tied for 55th at 2-over par.

Danielson posted a 3-over 75 in the third round, he’s at 4-over par and tied for 65th place.

He spoke after the round.

Tyler Mahwhinney leads the championship at 12-under par.

The event will conclude Thursday afternoon. Swinnerton will tee off at 8:30 a.m. on hole 10, Danielson will also start on 10 at 9:20.

All the results and Thursday’s championship draw can be found here.

Alex Swinnerton and Tommy Danielson have surpassed their first goals at the Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship, make the cut.

Swinnerton, a Riverside Country Club member opened the championship at his home course Monday, he shot 3-under par, 69 and sat tied for 14th place. Tuesday in round two at Saskatoon Golf and Country Club he posted a 1-over par 73, to sit at 2-under par, a number he thought a safe to make the cut even with an early tee time on day two.

Swinnerton spoke about the 36 holes and making it Riverside for the final two rounds.

The nervousness was likely longer lived for Danielson on Tuesday, rather than Swinnerton.

With Danielson off the course at 1-over par around 1:30 p.m., he waited until the 7 o’clock hour to see he made the cut on the number and will join Swinnerton back at his home course for Wednesday’s and Thursday’s final rounds.

Team Saskatchewan consisting of Luke Cote (Regina), Chase Pochylko (Saskatoon), and Danny Klughart (Prince Albert) placed sixth in the Willingdon Cup (inter-provincial) Championship.

The complete results can be seen here.

Justin Miller has only been golfing a couple years, but the Saskatoon product’s athleticism has landed him a college golf commitment.

Miller, 17, will attend Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa starting in the fall.

During COVID-19, Miller said golf was the “only thing to do,” so he got a membership at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, played “about 100 rounds a year” and now has elevated to a college player.

He played in his first Golf Saskatchewan Junior Men’s Championship this summer in Yorkton, placing 40^th overall. Miller still has another year left to play the under-19 championship next year in Lloydminster, where he hopes to place higher.

Miller spoke with Golf Saskatchewan about the commitment, his start in golf, jumping to competitive golf and what his future looks like in the classroom.

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