It was a special day on Friday at Thomson Lake Regional Park Golf Course.

Long-time member and resident Elvin Mitchell turned 100 years old with a party prior to his daily tee time. He plays each day with the same group who joined him at the head table.

Among the celebration Mitchell was gifted a lifetime park pass, golf, and cart storage by Thomson Lake.

Golf Saskatchewan was happy to be invited for the celebration.

Two Saskatchewan players have made the cut and will continue the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championships at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

Saskatchewan champion Luke Cote of Regina shot 72 on day one Monday at Rivermead Golf Club, in round two at the Royal Cote carded a 69 moving him into a tie for 39th overall at 1-over par. He will tee off at 6:30 a.m. Saskatchewan time for round three.

Also making the cut was Saskatoon’s Carter Bell. The Riverside Country Club member shot 68 in round one and 75 in the second round to sit at 3-over par, good enough to make the final two days. Bell begins round three at 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday

As a team, Saskatchewan placed sixth in the Willingdon Cup race. Ontario won the title.

Six other Saskatchewan players were in the field:

Ryan Mosher (Saskatoon) | 73-72 (+5)
Darren Gilllen (Saskatoon) | 75-73 (+8)
Brett Leonard (Corman Park) | 73-76 (+9)
Corey Bailey (Swift Current) | 74-76 (+10)
Max Regier (Saskatoon) | 76-77 (+13)
Chase Pochylko (Saskatoon) | 77-85 (+22)

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Carter Bell was the lone Saskatchewan player to break par on day one of the Canadian Amateur Men’s Championship on Monday.

The Riverside Country Club member is tied for 17th after shooting 2-under par 70 at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club. Bell is tied with seven others who played Royal Ottawa.

The top six players after day one played Rivermead Golf Golf on day one. Bell will tee off at Rivermead at 7 a.m. Saskatchewan time on Wednesday for round two.

Saskatchewan amateur winner Luke Cote shot 2-over par 72 at Rivermead Tuesday, he’s tied for 74th, the Royal Regina Golf Club member will begin round two at 11:47 a.m.

Ryan Mosher and Corey Bailey, each members of Team Saskatchewan, are in 108th and 136th respectively. The trio is seventh overall in the Willingdon Cup race that will conclude Wednesday afternoon.

Day one results from rest of Saskatchewan competitors followed by local tee times in brackets.

T108 | Brett Leonard (Corman Park) | 3-over par 73 (Roy) | 5:30 a.m. (Riv)
T161 | Darren Gillen (Saskatoon) | 5-over par 75 (Riv) | 5:30 a.m. (Roy)
T186 | Max Regier (Saskatoon) | 6-over par 76 (Roy) | 5:30 a.m. (Riv)
T208 | Chase Pochylko (Saskatoon) | 7-over 77 (Riv) | 5:51 a.m. (Roy)

For compete results and tee times click here.

Late last week Kim Walker and Rick Hallberg won the overall championships at the provincial seniors in Swift Current.

Walker won her fifth senior women’s title, Hallberg added his sixth in the men’s category.

Both players spoke after the victories at Chinook Golf Course.

To view all the champions click here.

Canadian and International amateurs representing 14 countries comprise field competing for Canada’s top men’s amateur prize; British Columbia set to defend Inter-Provincial Team title over first 36 holes

GATINEAU, Que. – A field of 264 players including eight Saskatchewan born competitors will descend on The Royal Ottawa Golf Club and Rivermead Golf Club in Gatineau, Que. July 26-31 for the 120th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.  

Regina’s Luke Cote will lead Team Saskatchewan alongside mid-am champion Corey Bailey (Swift Current) and Ryan Mosher (Saskatoon) in the race for the Willingdon Cup.

Also in the field is Carter Bell (Saskatoon), Chase Pochylko (Saskatoon), Darren Gillen (Saskatoon), Max Regier (Saskatoon), and Brett Leonard (Corman Park).

Fifteen of the top 500 amateur golfers listed on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) will tee off at this year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and battle across two historic sites for the top spot of the most prestigious men’s amateur event in the nation. All ten provinces and one territory will be represented at this year’s event, joining a list of 17 States and 13 additional countries Argentina, Australia, England, Finland, France, Hong Kong, China, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, South Africa, United States, and Venezuela will all be represented by a member in the field.  

Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. (no. 225 WAGR), Ethan Wilson of St. Albert, Alta. (no. 453 WAGR) and Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. (no. 491 WAGR) headline a notable field of Team Canada members competing in Gatineau, with Matthews leading the way as the highest-ranked Canadian in the field.  

The trio will be joined by seven of their teammates on the Team Canada NextGen squad, led by recent B.C. Men’s Amateur and B.C. Junior Boys champion, Austin Krahn (Christina Lake, B.C.) as well as Antoine Jasmin (Blainville, Que.), Braxton Kuntz (Winnipeg, Man.), Charlie Gillespie (Calgary, Alta.), Cooper Humphreys (Vernon, B.C.), Jager Pain (Woodbridge, Ont.), and Matthew Javier (North York, Ont.).  

The Canadian contingent will be rivaled by a competitive batch of international talents led by Japanese duo Taisei Nagasaki of Miyazaki, Japan (no. 73 WAGR) and Kaito Sato of Saitama, Japan (no. 129 WAGR). The two finished second and first respectively in this year’s Japanese Amateur Championship and will be joined by Australian Jye Halls of Mollymook Beach, Australia (no. 580 WAGR) who claimed the Australian Amateur Championship in 2025.  

Ten other international players ranked in the top 500 of WAGR include Alexis Leray of Boulogne-Billancourt, France (no. 135 WAGR), Hector Gonzalez Cramer of Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico (no. 260 WAGR), Easton Johnson of Kansas City, Mo. (no. 318 WAGR), Declan O’Donovan of Sydney, Australia (no. 348 WAGR), Ben Gregg of Dallas, Texas. (no. 373 WAGR), Mao Matsuyama of Aichi, Japan (no. 415 WAGR), Veikka Viskari of Espoo, Finland (no. 482 WAGR), Andrew Riley of Palm Coast, Fla. (no. 490 WAGR) and Seonghyeon An of Seoul, Republic of Korea (no. 497 WAGR). 

In addition to Krahn, the following provincial men’s amateur winners will compete in next week’s national championship including, Luke Cote (Saskatchewan), Brett Jones (Alberta), Émile Lebrun (Quebec), Isaac MacNaughton (Nova Scotia), Evan Nachtigall (Manitoba), Nick Ritchie (New Brunswick), and Eric Zhao (Ontario).  

“We are incredibly proud and excited to begin the 120th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at two historic courses next week in Gatineau,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director, Adam Cinel. “We appreciate the efforts from the staff and membership of both The Royal Ottawa Golf Club and Rivermead Golf Club, who have recruited ample tournament volunteers, and are working tirelessly to deliver a memorable championship for all 264 players competing next week.” 

The Royal Ottawa Golf Club will host all four rounds of the 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and add a record tenth Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to its storied 134-year history. The Royal Ottawa Golf Club last hosted the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2016 where Hugo Bernard of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que. won the national championship.  

“When approached by Golf Canada to host this internationally renowned men’s amateur championship, the Board of Directors felt it was in keeping with our storied tradition of support of amateur golf that we accept. But it was with direction that we provide an unrivalled experience for players, volunteers, spectators and officials, regardless of whether they are here for one day, or are competing for the Earl Grey Cup at the final round,” said Greg Richardson, General Manager of the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. 

“As our 10^th time hosting the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, including the first ever such event in 1895, we don’t take lightly the fact that this is a Canadian record for an event that has routinely been hosted by top clubs such as The Royal Montreal Golf Club, Toronto Golf Club and The Hamilton Golf & Country Club. With our partners at Rivermead Golf Club, we look forward to welcoming top amateurs from over 12 countries, several of whom will undoubtedly go on to have successful careers on the PGA Tour,” he added.

Playing as co-hosts to accommodate a larger field at this year’s event, Rivermead Golf Club is also located in Gatineau and just a few hundred metres from the north shore of the Ottawa River. Initially unveiled as a 9-hole course, the property was expanded to 18 holes in 1915 before being completely renovated in 1989 by Ken Skodacek and Ken Venturi to create the course’s current outstanding championship layout. In 2023, the Club completed a five-year course improvement project under the guidance of Jeff Mingay.  

Throughout its history, Rivermead has hosted many championships, including the 1920 Canadian Open, the 1925 Ladies’ Canadian Amateur Championship, the CPGA Championship in 1932 and 1959, and the CN Canadian Women’s Tour in 2005 and 2010. Of special pride to Rivermead members is the link to the RBC Canadian Open through the Rivermead Cup. The Rivermead Cup was awarded to the winner of the RBC Canadian Open until 1935. Since 1936, the Rivermead Cup has been awarded to the low Canadian at the RBC Canadian Open. 

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. 

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 Mackenzie Hughes claimed the championship in consecutive years (2011, 2012) while 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion and five-time PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor claimed the 103rd Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2007.  

The winner of the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will earn an automatic exemption into the RBC Canadian Open set to return to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) In Caledon, Ont. in 2026 as well as spot in next year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship if eligible.  

Additionally, this year’s amateur champion will lock up a spot in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship, August 11-17 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. and will be fully exempt from 2026 U.S. Open local qualifying and U.S. Amateur local qualifying.  

The 72-hole stroke-play competition will get underway on Monday, July 28 and wrap up Thursday, July 31. The national championship will also feature an Inter-Provincial Team Championship that will run concurrently through completion of the first 36 holes. Each day, the lowest two of three individual 18-hole scores will count towards the team score for players’ respective provinces. Team British Columbia will aim to keep the Willington Cup (awarded annually to the top province in the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship) in their possession and feature Maxim McKenzie of Chilliwack, B.C., Dustin Franko of Delta, B.C. and Krahn in their squad. Practice rounds will precede the tournament and take place on both host sites July 26-27.  

For the full list of the field competing in the 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, please click here.  

The championships keep piling up for Kim Walker and Rick Hallberg.

Between the two senior amateur competitors they have won 11 of the last 15 Saskatchewan Senior Championships. Thursday at Swift Current’s Chinook Golf Course Walker won her fifth 50+ title in the last six years; Hallberg earned his sixth 55+ championship in the last seven years.

The pair of future Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Famers will each lead Team Saskatchewan into their respective national championships later this summer.

The 2025 champion of the Mal Balmos (60+) was Swift Current’s Kathy Hopfner. The Elmwood Golf Club member was second overall behind Walker.

Hallberg led from start to finish in the three round event reclaiming his spot at the top of the leaderboard after a year’s absence. The Weyburn native has won six senior titles since his inception into the 55-and-over age group.

Ken Rodgers of Regina is the 2025 super-senior champion. The division is for players 65-and-over.

Ken Bradley of Moose Jaw won his sixth straight 75+ age division.

To see all the results from the senior championships click here.

Golf Saskatchewan will have reaction from Walker and Hallberg plus images of all the champions Friday.

Kim Walker has jumped into the lead at the 2025 Saskatchewan Senior Women’s Championships with a second round low 2-over par 74 on Wednesday.

The Regina native was two shots behind Swift Current’s Kathy Hopfner after the first round at Chinook Golf Course Tuesday. Hopfner shot 84 on day two, she’s now eight strokes behind Walker going into the championship round on Thursday in Swift Current.

Rosetown golfer Sue Skinner is currently third, she’s at 27-over par through 36 holes.

Hopfner does lead the Mae Balmos (60+) age group, Skinner is in second.

The final round for the ladies will begin at 11:40 a.m. The final group featuring Walker, Hopfner, and Skinner tees off at 12:20 p.m.

In the men’s championships Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg continues to lead the senior (55+) category and the mid-masters (40+) after two rounds.

The Golf Kenosee member has a two stroke lead over Brad Phelps of Saskatoon. Hallberg followed his opening round 71 with a 69 in the second round. Phelps had the low round of the day shooting 5-under par 67 to climb four spots on the leaderboard into second.

Hometown golfer Rod Grose went 1-under par 71 on Wednesday to climb into Thursday’s championship group alongside Hallberg, a five-time champion and Phelps who is chasing his first 55+ win.

Hallberg is one shot ahead of back-to-back 40+ champion Todd Turgeon of Spiritwood and Chad McLaughlin (Outlook) in the age category.

The final round for the men begins at 7 a.m. The last group will begin at 2 p.m.

To see all the results and the complete day three draw click here.

Swift Current’s Kathy Hopfner has the first round lead at the 104th Saskatchewan Senior Women’s Championships.

Playing in her hometown, the Elmwood Golf Club member used her course knowledge, and battled the elements to shoot 6-over par 78 on Tuesday to take the lead a third of the way through the 54 hole championship.

Sitting in second place is Kim Walker of Regina, the Wascana Country Club member posted an 8-over par 80. Marcy Johnson of Fort Qu’Appelle sits third at 11-over par.

The second round of the senior women’s event will begin round two at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Chinook Golf Course.

In the men’s senior championship five-time champion Rick Hallberg took the lead on day one. The Weyburn product was the lone 55+ player to shoot under par. He was 1-under 71 in the opening round at Chinook Golf Course Tuesday.

Ken Rodgers of Regina shot even par, he’s in second place. Prince Albert’s Marty Ring sits third at 1-over par going into Wednesday’s round two.

There is a tie on top of the mid-masters (40 and over) age category. Chad McLaughlin of Outlook and Jeff Whitfield of Birch Hills were the other two players to post under par rounds in the 130 player field championships. Both are 2-under par after the first round.

Hallberg is in third in the division.

The men’s championships will begin tee times at 7 a.m. on Wednesday. The tournament will conclude Thursday afternoon.

To see all the results an Wednesday’s tee times click here.

For the first time since 2005 the Saskatchewan Senior Championships are being held at Chinook Golf Course in Swift Current.

Over 130 players will converge on the southwest Saskatchewan city to compete for several championships including the overall titles and national spots.

Pauline McDougall of Prince Albert is the reigning senior women’s champion, the Cooke Municipal Golf Course member will be the first tee shot Tuesday at 7 a.m.

The senior men’s championship will start tee times at 8 a.m., defending champion Colin Coben of Delisle will be the first player off the blocks.

The Saskatchewan Men’s Mid-Masters (40 and over) will be played alongside the senior championships.

Todd Turgeon of Spiritwood is the two-time defending champion. The winner of the age division will receive an exemption into the Canadian Mid-Amateur (25 and over) Championships later this summer.

The championships will be played over three days and three rounds. The event is scheduled to end on Thursday afternoon.

To see all the details of the championships including the day one draw click here.