Kent McMann has called Foam Lake home for upwards of four decades and for much of that time he’s volunteered his time to create a “better quality of life.”

McMann was honoured last year with the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association Volunteer of the Year Award.

Among McMann’s countless contributions to the community is his work at the Foam Lake Golf Club.

McMann spoke to Golf Saskatchewan to discuss why he gives back, the course and what it means to the Foam Lake area and more.

For the second time in his college career, weather may have washed out Josh Nagy‘s chance at a college win.

Last November, Nagy missed out on a potential win due to darkness halting a playoff at an event in New Jersey. This season, on April 19 and 20, the Robert Morris University (RMU) junior tied for third in the weather shortened Wright State Invitational in Springboro, Ohio. The Saskatoon product carded rounds of 72 and 73 for a 36-hole total of 3-over par, 145. Nagy tied for third, just three shots off the pace.

The Colonials tied for fourth as a team, 11 back of Wright State.

Jace Carlisle was able to celebrate a Post University team win at the Yellow Jacket Invitational in West Springfield, Massachusetts on April 18 and 19.

The Estevan product led the event at The Ledges Golf Club in par-3 scoring at 2-under par and finished tied for 27th at 14-over par, 158.

Post University teammates Ethan Philips and Riley Card finished first and second respectively leading the Eagles to the tournament victory.

Next on the schedule is the NCAA Atlantic/East Regional from May 7 – 9 at Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor, New York.

Saskatoon’s Will Danielson had a strong showing in Braselton, Georgia competing for Milsaps College.

Teeing it up at the Chateau Élan Golf Club on April 22 to 24, Danielson went 82, 81, 76, finishing in a tie for 27th at 20-over par, 239. Danielson was just two shots off the Majors team lead, the club was seventh-place overall in the team competition.

Caden Loeppky of Saskatoon was on the course last week alongside his Waldorf University teammates. Competing in a one-round event Loeppky shot 12-over par, 84 at the Mason City Country Club in Mason City, Iowa on April 19. He placed in a tie for 41st. Waldorf was sixth in the team standings.

Holly Knudsen recently returned to Minot, North Dakota following the NSIC Championship on April 24 at Paradise Point Golf Complex in Smithville, Missouri.

The Chaplin resident posted an opening round of 85 followed by a 94 in round two, the final round was the Minot State University freshman’s best carding an 84. She finished tied for 31st at 47-ver par, 263.

Several more players are competing in events this week including Nagy and Loeppky. Golf Saskatchewan will have more results later this week.

Golf Saskatchewan hosted their annual general meting on Saturday, virtually again this year via Zoom.

Several highlights were discussed including record breaking rounds played and scores at championships, national events returning as well as a modest surplus recorded but the association.

Larry Wagman of Regina will return as president of the board of directors. The group officially said farewell to board member Dru Bolen who relocated to Calgary. Sue Skinner took over in the interim, she was elected to the board along with Saskatoon’s Clinton Schmaltz.

Executive Committee for 2022/23

1. President – Larry Wagman | Royal Regina Golf Club (3 year term)
2. Vice President – Kevin Duchscherer | Evergreen Golf Course (Nipawin) (3 year term)
3. Treasurer – Danny Klughart | Cooke Municipal Golf Club (Prince Albert)

Contributing Board members:

4. Delbert Betnar – Royal Regina Golf Club
5. Diana Kerr – Wascana Country Club/Tor Hill Ladies Club (Regina) (2 year term)
6. Elanne Krainyk – Public Player (Saskatoon)
7. Clinton Schmaltz – Willows Golf & Country Club/PGA of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon) (3 year term)
8. Sue Skinner – Rosetown Golf Course (1 year term)
9. Teddy Wiens – Wascana Country Club (Regina)

You can view the AGM report here.

Wagman sat down with Golf Saskatchewan to discuss the year and what is next.

Roman Timmerman picked up another top-10 finish this week with the Southern Arkansas University (SAU) Muleriders golf team. Competing in the Great American Conference Championships in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the Saskatoon product shot rounds of 78, 69, and 73 for a 54-hole total of 220, tying him for ninth place.

The Muleriders team was sixth in the school competition.

During the conference championships Timmerman was named a GAC second team performer, the third All-GAC recognition of his collegiate career.

The University of Arkansas at Monticello Weevils were also in action at the GAC Championships including Chase Gedak of Estevan and TJ Baker of Prince Albert. Gedak placed all alone in 20^th position with a three-round score of 224 (77,77,70). Baker was one spot back in a tie for 21^st at 9-over par, 225. Baker carded a 78 in round one, 76 in the second round and 71 during the final round on Tuesday.

The Weevils placed seventh in the team competition, just behind SAU.

Regina’s Jacob Kydd was back in action this week, the senior at Indiana Wesleyan University was in Noblesville, Indiana for the Sagamore Shootout at the Sagamore Golf Club. Kydd posted rounds of 83 and 88 for a 36-hole score of 27-over par, 171. Kydd finished in a tie for 35^th.

Kydd was competing for the Wildcats ‘B’ team, they placed seventh. Indiana Wesleyan’s ‘A’ team was third.

Next up is the Ackerman-Allen Shootout in West Lafayette, Indiana on April 25 and 26.

Fellow Regina golfer Alex Schmidt competed in a weather shortened event in Salem, Oregon this week alongside her Lewis-Clark State Warrior teammates. Playing in the Corban Invitational at Creekside Golf Club. Schmidt, in her final college season shot 17-over par, 89 and tied for 25^th.

The team tied for fourth. Their next tournament is the Cascade Conference Championships in Klamath Falls, Oregon on April 25 and 26.

Robert Morris University men’s golf team was in Hellertown, Pennsylvania last weekend for the Abarta Collegiate Invitational. Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy tied with two of his Colonial teammates tied for 16^th at 3-over par, 147 in the 36-hole event at the Steel Club. Nagy shot 76 and 71 during the tournament that saw 15 players tied at 147.

Robert Morris tied for sixth as team in a deep field consisting of 20 universities. Next up for the Colonials is the Wright State Invitational in Springboro, Ohio on April 18 and 19.

Caden Loepky’s season with Waldorf University continued April 9 and 10 with a 36-hole event in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Loeppky shots rounds of 83 and 84 at the Ford Didge Country Club leaving him in a tie for 42^nd at 25-over par.

Loeppky’s team finished the Iowa Central Spring Invite in sixth place out of nine schools. Next up for the Warriors is the NSAA Championships on April 26 and 26.

Prince Albert’s Cole Jenkins had an event washed out by weather on April 8 in Ames, Iowa but the Southeast Community College Storm men’s golf team was in Lincoln, Nebraska this week for the Howl at the Hill Spring Shootout at the Hillcrest Country Club.

Jenkins shot 81 during round one and 82 in the second round of the tournament. His 19over par, 163 left him in a tie for 19^th place. The team was second overall in the four-school event.

Next on the Storm’s docket is the Northeast CC Spring Invitational in Norfolk, Nebraska on April 18.

Former Saskatchewan Men’s Amateur champion Troy Bulmer picked up a professional win in British Columbia last week.

Bulmer, the 2011 provincial champion won the Gatekeeper Systems Open on the Vancouver Golf Tour thanks to a 65 during the second round of the 36-hole event at the Mayfair Lakes Golf and Country Club.

Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork caught up with Bulmer who now plays professionally out of Predator Ridge while calling Vernon, B.C. home.

The RBC Scramble is back this year with five regional qualifying events planned for Saskatchewan.

According to the RBC Scramble website “local qualifiers provide an opportunity for you and three friends to play a fun round of golf at your club or a course that you have wanted to play but never had the chance, all in an attempt to progress through the stages to the extravagant RBC PGA Scramble National Final.”

The first qualifier will be on June 25 at The Legends Golf Club in Warman. Cooke Municipal Golf Course will host a qualifier on June 26. On July 17 the third qualifier will take place at Valley Regional Park Golf Course in Rosthern. There will also be a qualifier at The Willows Golf & Country Club on that same day. The last qualifier in the province will be Aug. 1 at Swift Current’s Elmwood Golf Club.

All winning teams will advance to the regional final on Aug. 22 at The Legends.

Last year, a foursome from Deer Valley Golf Resort won the provincial event and went on to represent Saskatchewan at the national championship at Cabot.

Holly Knudsen played well for Minot State University at the Hardrocker Invite in Rapid City, South Dakota this week picking up a top-10 placing. The Chaplin resident shot 89 in round one and 84 during the second round to finish at 31-over par, 173. The tournament champion was at 16-over par.

As a team the Beavers placed fifth out of 11 teams. Their next tournament is the Dickinson State Invite on April 10 – 11 at Heart River Golf Course in Dickinson, North Dakota.

Symone Ripley of Saskatoon was in competition in British Columbia on April 2 and 3. The University of BC Okanagan Heat competitor placed 19^th at the UFV Invitational at the Chilliwack Golf Club. Ripley shot 89 on day one of the event and rebounded with an 85 in round two.

Saskatoon’s Connor Scissons has a top-10 finish and team low at the TMU Spring Invite in Liano, California this week. The senior at Arizona Christian University (ACU) shot 70 and 77 for a 36-hole score of 3-over par, 147, good enough for eighth overall.

The Firestorm team placed fifth out of eight teams. ACU’s next event is the GSAC Conference Tournament in Lompoc, Californina on April 25 – 27.

Chase Gedak of Estevan continues to bounce back from an injury that pushed back the start of his college career, he tied for 29^th at the DBU Men’s Classic in Denton, Texas on April 4 and 5. The TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club member was consistent over three rounds shooting 72, 72, 73 for a 54-hole total 1-over par, 217.

University of Arkansas at Monticello Weevil teammate TJ Baker of Prince Albert finished 52^nd in the tournament at Wildhorse Golf Club at Robson Ranch. Baker carded back-to-back 76’s and 75 in round three for a total of 11-over par, 227.

As a team the Weevils were 10^th in the tournament. The school’s next action is the GAC Conference Championships on April 10 – 12.

Roman Timmerman of Southern Arkansas University will also be in the field next week in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Will Danielson of Saskatoon was at the Rhodes Spring Classic with his Milsaps College teammates competing in Millington, Tennessee. Danielson shot two rounds of 82 for a 164, he tied for 48^th position. The team was ninth.

Next up for the Majors is the SAA Championships on April 22 – 24 in Braselton, Georgia.

Jace Carlisle of Estevan was on the course in late March as Post University travelled to Emerson, New Jersey for the Charger Challenge. Coming off a team win at the Battle at the Beech, the Eagles placed fourth at the event at Soldier Hill Golf Course. Carlisle tied for 21^st in the one round tournament, he shot 8-over par, 79.

Post’s next scheduled event is the NCAA Regional Showcase in Victor, New York on April 10 – 12.

Cole Jenkins and the Southeast Community College Storm were in Newton, Kansas this week for the Bethel Spring Invitational at Hesston and Sand Creek.

Southeast took second in the team competition finishing 15 shots behind Dodge City Community College. The Prince Albert product tied for 35^th at 17 over par. Jenkins carded an 83 in round one and 77 in the second round.

Jenkins was also in competition on Wednesday in Fremont, Nebraska for the Midland Invitational. Jenkins tied for 11^th with a round of 6-over par, 77.

The Storm have another event Friday in Ames, Iowa.

Brody Istace of Kindersley competed this week in a match play event featuring the Columbia International University (CIU) Rams against Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. Istace and his teammate William Fletcher won their four-ball match, Istace also won his lone singles match. The Rams did fall in the competition 8 to 7.

CIU will travel to Adairsville, Georgia for the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship on April 24 to 26.

Darcy Myers has added to his role at Cooke Municipal Golf Club.
To go alongside his role as head professional at the course, Myers was recently named the general manager of the Prince Albert Golf & Curling Club. The position will allow Myers to have a say in all aspects of the facility.

Myers sat down with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork to discuss his start in golf, being the head professional at the storied club, the upcoming Saskatchewan Women’s and Men’s Amateur Championships and what’s in store for the future.

After a couple years of being cancelled due to COVID-19, Golf Saskatchewan was able spend the weekend with a group of golfers from the province’s Blind Sports Association.

For a couple hours each day on March 19 and 20, six golfer and spotters with varying degrees of sight ability worked with PGA of Canada Professional Steve Ryde at the Ramada Golf Dome in Saskatoon. Judy Ursulan has been partaking in golf sessions since the Golf Dome’s opening and helps to organize the event each year. She said being able to have the event again was fantastic.

“It was nice to be able to go to the Golf Dome again after a couple years. The lessons with Steve are a big highlight for everyone of us that come,” she said.

Ursulan said many of the participants have commented to her on how the tips have already paid off and the group is excited to play outdoors when the snow melts. She humbly joked about hitting tee shots to wall of the Dome after the four hours of tutelage.

“Steve is so gentle, he just watches, let’s everyone do their thing and then offers wonder tips and guidance. There’s lots to think about and it can be too much, but he spends the right amount of time with each,” Ursulan said.

More importantly she said just seeing the smiling faces again and excitement was the highlight.

“We didn’t wear masks because no one else was, there was lots of smiles and some are already asking when we’re having this next year,” she said.

Ryde relayed the enjoyment level and was impressed with the skill and focus of the golfers.

“We take it for granted being able to walk up to a ball and hit it, no matter the skill level, to see players, with limited eye sight, focus, take instruction, and ultimately find the love in our game that we all have, that’s quite something. It’s amazing,” he said.

For Cole Jenkins, the thought of playing college sports has always been a dream but the Prince Albert product didn’t know what sport could lead him to his goal once high school was complete.

At 14 years old Jenkins was diagnosed with another concussion playing hockey and that was the point he decided to jump all in for golf. Starting at Cooke Municipal Golf Course on the putting green Jenkins eventually got into some local junior events at the age of 11. Once he turned his full focus to golf he started competing in Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) tournaments and provincial championships.

After graduating from high school and using the popular Next College Student Athlete recruiting service Jenkins landed with the Southeast College Storm, a school in Nebraska that competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association. The now 20-year-old said despite COVID cancelling the first part of his collegiate career that his choice has worked out well.

“It’s been good,” he told Golf Saskatchewan this week. “It’s been a big change, this is the first time I’ve moved out of my house you could say. It’s been a big growing opportunity and I’m learning a lot.”

Jenkins is coming off his first event of the spring season this week with the Storm. Unfortunately after a first round score of 83 at the Kirkwood Eagle Spring Classic in Marion, Iowa the storms rolled in and forced the event to cancel the second round. Qualifying for next weekends event in Heston, Kansas are currently underway.

The team went to the national championship last year but Jenkins didn’t qualify. He said the goal this year is to play in that event in May. He said playing alongside a strong team including Geronimo Narizzano, who placed fifth at nationals last year has helped his game immensely.

“Back home you see the same golfers at every tournament and grow up with them, moving down here and literally not knowing a single person it was crazy seeing all the good golfers at all these tournaments,” he said.

In the classroom Jenkins is studying Business, he hopes to operate his own company in the future.

He also wanted to thank a long list people outside his immediate family that contributed to his chance at college golf.

“Darcy Myers, Ryan Wells, all the staff that’s worked in the proshop over the years I have been a member, all the men’s club members at Cooke, my cousins Scotty and Travis for being a big factor on why I started competitive golf, MJT and Golf Saskatchewan for bringing the best competition together and always putting on great tournaments, and my current college coach Calvin Freeman,” he said.

You can hear more from Jenkins below in his interview with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork.