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.

Another week and another long list of Saskatchewan student-athletes competing across America for their selected colleges.

Alex Schmidt helped lead the Lewis-Clark State Warriors to a team win at the Walla Walla University Wine Valley Invitational on Tuesday. The win was the first for the team this season.

Schmidt tied for 16^th at the event with a 36-hole score of 171 (87, 84). The Regina products teammate Deana Caruso won the tournament at the Wine Valley Golf Course.

Next up for Lewis-Clark is the Corban Invitational in Klamath Falls, Oregon on April 11 and 12.

A trio of Saskatchewan players were on the course in Heber Springs, Arkansas for the Natural State Golf Classic on March 28 and 29.

Roman Timmerman of Saskatoon was competing for the Southern Arkansas Muleriders at the event, the senior was the top local finishing in a tie for ninth at even par. Timmerman shot 70 and 72 at the Red Apple Inn and Country Club.

Prince Albert’s TJ Baker and teammate Chase Gedak of Estevan were also at the tournament competing for the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Baker carded rounds of 76 and 73 placing in a tie for 30^th at 7-over par. Gedak tied for 47^th at 13-over par with rounds of 77 and 78.

The Muleriders were fifth as a team, the Weevils placed 10^th.

Timmerman’s next action is the Great American Conference Championships from April 10 to 12 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Baker and Gedak will now prepare for the DBU Classic on April 4 and 5 prior to the conference championships.

Brody Istace’s senior year with the Columbia International University (CIU) Rams continued this week at Oldfield Golf Club in Okatie, South Carolina this week.

The Kindersley product put rounds together of 76, 84, and 79 at the Monument Golf Oldfield Classic to finish at 23-over par and in 44^th spot. AS the team the Rams were 10^th.

The team will travel to Greenville, South Carolina on April 4 for the Competitors Cup. After that the team will compete in their conference championships in late April.

The Battle at Rum Pointe in Maryland occurred this week featuring Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy and the Robert Morris University Colonials men’s golf team.

Nagy has been near the top of the leaderboard in several events over the last few months, but this event had the two-time Saskatchewan junior’s number. He shot 81 during round one, then rebounded nicely with a 73 in the second round. Nagy’s 10-over par 154 left him in a tie for 64^th position. The Colonials placed in a tie for 13^th in the team competition.

The Abarta Collegiate Invitational is slated for April 10 and 11 in Hellertown, Pennsylvania for the club’s next event.

Caden Loeppky made his second start of the spring season with Waldorf University in Mount Pleasant, Iowa for the Iowa Wesleyan Invitational at Sheaffer Memorial Golf Course. The Saskatoon born golfer had his best college finish to date landing in 13^th position. Loeppky fired back-to-back 77’s for a 36-hole total of 12-over par 154.

The Warriors just missed the podium as a team placing fourth just 15 strokes back of Knox College.

The Triton Invitational is next for the team on April 9 and 10 in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Cole Jenkins of Prince Albert got his spring season underway this week as well. In a rain shortened tournament in Marion, Iowa Jenkins shot 83 in round one before the event was cancelled.

*Golf Saskatchewan chatted with Jenkins this week to learn more about his start at Southeast Community College in Nebraska. The sophomore will be featured on this website later this week.

There was plenty of Saskatchewan shot makers at this weekend’s Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) event at the Redtail Golf Club in Sorrento, Florida.

Saskatoon’s Tommy Danielson and Chase Pochylko tied for second in the boys 16 to 18 age group with 36-hole score of 2-over par, 146. Danielson shot 74 on day one and 72 during the second round. Pochylko stroked back-to-back 73’s.

Carter Bell, another Saskatoon golfer finished tied for fifth at 9 over par. Bell carded 78 during the opening round and 76 in the second.

Darien Herlick of Weyburn picked up a seventh place tie in the event. The 16-year-old went 74, 81 for a two day total of 9 over par, 155.

Assiniboia product Davin Karst is also in Florida preparing for the upcoming season, he placed 23rd in the event at plus-12. Karst shot 85 and 84 for a two day total of 169.

Hamilton’s Lucas Smith won the event at 3 under par.

Hallie Crozier of Regina competed in the girls 14 to 18 age group. She placed 19th, 14 shots behind the winner. The Royal Regina Golf Club member shot 85 and 86 in the tournament finishing 14-over par.

The complete results can be seen here.

With funding from Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund, four Saskatchewan junior golfing are receiving funds to support their golf careers.

Brooklin Fry (Shell Lake), Ella Kozak (Yorkton), Hunter Kutcher (Regina), and Alex Swinnerton (Saskatoon) are the 2022 winners. Each golfer receives $1,500.

The Future Best is designed to assist athletes who are involved in an intense level of training and competition with the personal goals and realistic potential to become a National Senior Team member, yet have not reached carded status or been named to a National Senior Team.

For more information on the award click here.

Hoping to find another avenue to play competitive golf, long-time player Luke Wyatt is hoping a club team within the University of Regina tees off next spring.

After some legwork that began late last year Wyatt said the prospect of a club team is progressing.

The 23-year-old spoke with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork to discuss the idea of bringing college golf back to Saskatchewan and what’s next for the organizing committee.

Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy’s college career continues to shine.

Still chasing his first win, Nagy has another third-place finish to start his spring season as a junior at Robert Morris University (RMU). The Colonials were at the Carpetbagger Classic in Urbana, Maryland this week at Worthington Manor Golf Course. Nagy led for points in the opening round in part due to a 69 on day one. He dropped back with a 75 during the second round but still tied for third at even par.

Nagy’s performance led Robert Morris to a second-place finish in the team event behind the University of Rhode Island. Next up for the Colonials is the Battle at Rum Pointe in Berlin, Maryland on March 26 and 27.

Jace Carlisle has his first action of the spring under his belt. The sophomore at Post University competed in The Battle at the Beech in Haworth, New Jersey on Monday and Tuesday. The Estevan product tied for 16^th place at 16-over par, 160 thanks to rounds of 79 and 81 at White Beeches Golf & Country Club.

Carlisle was playing as an individual at the event, the Post University team took first place in the event. Their next action is March 28 when the team travels to Emerson, New Jersey for the Charger Challenge.

Saskatoon born Arizona Christian University (ACU) senior Connor Scissons is coming off a 12^th place performance at an event earlier in March, this week the Firestorm men’s golf team was in Las Vegas, Nevada for The Paiute Battle at Paiute Golf Course.

Scissons shot 83 in round one and 81 in round two for a 36-hole score of 164, tying him for 67^th in the field at 20-over par.

ACU placed 18^th as a team, their next tournament is the Masters Invite in Llano, California on April 4 and 5.

Holly Knudsen and the Minot State Beavers were on the course in Bolivar, Missouri for the Midwest Intercollegiate at the Silo Ridge Country Club for an event on Monday and Tuesday. The Chaplin, Sask. product carded a 95 in round one and improved on day two shooting 87 for a two-day total of 182. Her 38-over par left her in a tie for 79^th.

The Beavers team placed 17^th. They will now regroup and travel to Rapid City, South Dakota on April 4 for the Hardrocker Spring Invitational.

Autumn Neiszner of Regina was also in action this past week. The Keiser University freshman put together rounds of 83, 82, and 79 at Senator Course in Miami Lake, Florida. The Wascana Country Club member finished in a tie for 58th place at 28-over par.

Neiszner was competing as an individual at the Barry Women’s Invitational. Her Keiser teammates placed seventh in the team competition.

Up next for Neiszner and the Seahawks is the Lynn Women’s Invitational in Boca Raton, Florida on April 4 and 5.

After a third-place finish last week on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) Ella Kozak now has a win in Florida.

Kozak, 16, shot rounds of 76 and 77 at Madison Green Country Club in West Palm Beach, Florida on March 20 and 21. Kozak’s 9-over par, 153 was 11 shots better than Skye Bruan of Scarsdale, New York.

She was the lone Saskatchewan golfer in the event.

Golf Saskatchewan is mourning the loss of another long-time volunteer within the organization.

Jim Walker passed away on March 10 in Prince Albert due to an illness. Golf Saskatchewan President Larry Wagman passed along his condolences.

Walker has been volunteering with Golf Saskatchewan for over 12 years. Brian Lee, the executive director of the organization has worked alongside him for that entire tenure.

You can view Jim’s obituary here.

Autumn Neiszner put together a strong showing in her second collegiate event. The Keiser University freshman competed as an individual in the Saddlebrook Spring Kickoff in Wesley Chapel, Florida on March 11 and 12. The Regina-born golfer shot 77, 79, and 78 for an impressive 54-hole score of 20-over, 234. She was tied for 12^th overall.

The Seahawks team won their fifth event of the season at the event. Next up for their team is a one-day event against Harvard University on St. Patrick’s Day.

Alex Schmidt had another strong showing for Lewis-Clark State this week. Just wrapping up Wednesday evening, the Regina golfer shot back-to-back 83’s for a 36-hole total of 166. The senior for the Warriors placed all alone in 14^th.

The team finished in fourth place in the event eight shots back of Embry Riddle – AZ. Next up for Lewis-Clark an event in Walla Walla, Washington on March 29 and 29.

Holly Knudsen and the Minot State Beavers Women’s Golf Team began their spring season this week in Henderson, Nevada for The Legacy Invitational hosted by Winona State.

The Chaplin product shot 103 in round one but rebounded in the second round and shot 87. Knudsen placed 34^th at 46-over par. The Beavers finished in fifth as a team. They are back on the course in two weeks at the Midwest Intercollegiate in Bolivar, Montana.

Roman Timmerman continues to impress in his senior year at Southern Arkansas University (SAU). The Saskatoon product carded rounds of 70, 71, and 74 this week at the Oak Tree Invitational in Edmond, Oklahoma. Timmerman’s 54-hole score of 5-over, 215 tied him for fourth place.

As a team the Muleriders struggled finishing 13^th out of 14 schools. Their next tournament is the SAU home event in El Dorado, Arkansas on March 21 and 22. The spring season’s regular schedule for Timmerman is the Great American Conference Championships from April 10 – 12.

Brody Istace of Kindersley traveled to Gainesville, Georgia for the Golden Tiger Invitational on March 14 -15. The senior at Columbia International University shot 79 and 83 at Chattahoochee Golf Club, he tied for 37^th at 18-over par.

The Rams were ninth in the team competition. Their next action is the Monument Golf Oldfield Classic in Okatie, South Carolina on March 27 to 29.

Synergy 8 Community Builders have announced the special guests that will appear at their annual fundraising golf tournament.

The group released a statement on Tuesday announcing that Canadian PGA Tour players Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes will highlight the day in August. Synergy spokesman Troy Davies said the group is ecstatic to bring two current PGA players to Saskatoon to headline the “Drive for Kids Campaign 2022.”

“We’re very excited to have the line up we have this year,” Davies told Golf Saskatchewan. “For the first time in our history we’re bringing in current PGA Tour players and they also happen to be Canadian Olympians, and two really good guys who are willing to play each other at our event. It’s a completely different opportunity for us.”

In years past Synergy 8 featured John Daly, Feed Couples, Nick Price, Tom Watson, Colin Montgomerie, and many others. Davies said the group has high praise for the Champions Tour veterans that have helped them raise funds over several years, but he said the plan to bring current PGA players in has been a work in progress for a couple years.

“They really like the cause we have this year, so they thought that was important. That’s how we got it done and to add that they were in the Tokyo Olympics together is an added bonus,” Davies said.

Joining Hughes and Conners at the Aug. 30 event will be Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo, and Fox Sports personality Taylor Cusack.

The funds raised at the golf tournament at The Willows and coinciding dinner at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon will go towards battling mental health in youth as part of the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC). Davies said the group’s mobile health bus has seen great success and Synergy 8’s members expect the same from this year’s campaign.

“We’re funding two mobile vans that will be running in Saskatoon, basically they will have outreach and mental health workers working within the core neighbourhood schools and also within the STC Wellness Centre. That directly aligns with our mandate to help kids. Unfortunately, mental health has veered it’s ugly head, especially through COVID. This is something we want to support,” he said.

Davies said the golf tournament will sell out very quickly and could be as of the time this article is published. Tables for the dinner can be purchased without playing in the golf tournament. For more details visit the group’s website.