Regina’s Luke Cote is going to join the list of Saskatchewan golfers continuing their career at Southern Arkansas University.

The Royal Regina Golf Club junior made the announcement on his Instagram page Sunday. The 17-year-old said he’s excited to join fellow Royal Regina member Wil Blake with the Muleriders.

“Obviously Will going there played a big part,” Cote told Golf Saskatchewan. “I think going down there with your buddy, it’s a long way from home obviously, but having someone you know there I think makes a difference and really influenced my decision.”

Cote started golfing with his dad at the Wascana Country Club and alongside his grandparents who lived near Avonlea. A few years ago, Cote joined the Royal Regina Golf Club. He started taking lessons with Rick Fries and Dean Brown. He said their help was key in allowing him to follow in the footsteps of Kade Johnson and Roman Timmerman.

“Kade and Roman have had huge success since they’ve gone down there which also really drove me to accept the offer. I think going to Southern Arkansas can really take my golf game to the next level,” Cote said.

Cote is currently playing for the Under-18 AAA Regina Pat Canadians and was listed by the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League’s Estevan Bruins, but he has decided to take the golf route.

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

Saskatoon’s Chase Pochylko led the local group of golfers that competed in the Disney Spring Break Junior Open over the weekend in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Pochylko, 17, shot rounds of 70 and 73 at Walt Disney World – Magnolia on March 12 and 13 to finish second overall in the 36-hole event. Pochylko was three strokes back of winner Eric Zhao of Toronto.

Tommy Danielson, also of Saskatoon carded rounds of 79 and 75 to finish at 3-over par, the 16-year-old tied for 10^th in the boys 16-18 age group. Weyburn’s Darien Herlick was also in the tournament, he finished with a 12-over par, 161 (77, 84) which tied the 16-year-old for 34^th place.

On the women’s side of the event Yorkton’s Ella Kozak tied for third place with two other golfers. The Yorkton golfer shot 79 on day one and a 35 on the second day.  The tournament was cut to nine holes on the second day due to not all the players completing their rounds before dark. Kozak did play her full second round but only her front nine holes were included. She was six shots back of Honorine Nobuta Ferry of West Palm Beach.

Regina’s Hallie Crozier opened the event with an 81 in round one, the 17-year-old shot 44 through nine holes on the second day before the event was stopped. She was tied for 18^th.

To see the complete results, click here.

Playing competitive golf again has been a work in progress for Chase Gedak but the Estevan product has his first collegiate event under his belt.

Originally committing to the University of Arkansas at Monticello in November of 2019, a hockey injury set the now 20-year-old back but Gedak continued to work hard and get back on the course competing for the Weevils.

The member at TS&M Woodlawn finished the 54-hole event in a tie for 53^rd place at the Hardscrabble Invitational on March 7 and 8.

Gedak chatted with Golf Saskatchewan’s Clark Stork to discuss his injury, comeback, his debut and goals for the future.

Estevan’s Chase Gedak made his college golf debut this week for Arkansas – Monticello in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The 20-year-old has had his college career delayed due to an injury but was finally able to compete on Monday and Tuesday alongside TJ Baker of Prince Albert at the Hardscrabble Invitational.

Gedak put rounds together of 77, 82, and 83 for a 54-hole total of 242. The 20-year-old placed in a tie for 53^rd at 32-over par.

Baker tied for 16^th overall at 15-over par. Baker shot 73, 75, and 77 at the Hardscrabble Country Club.

As a team the Weevils were seventh out of 13 schools. Their next action is March 20 to 22 in El Dorado, Arkansas hosted by SAU.

Roman Timmerman tied for 25^th at plus-9 at his event in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Saskatoon born senior at Southern Arkansas University (SAU) was competing in the Broncho Invitational at the Gaillardia Country Club.

Timmerman, 23, shot rounds of 76 and 77 in the 36-hole event on Monday and Tuesday this week. As a team the Muleriders didn’t have their best week finishing in 12^th place of 14 schools. Next up for SAU is the Oak Tree Invitational, also in Oklahoma City.

Regina product Jacob Kydd was back in action for the first time this spring as well. The Indiana Wesleyan University senior was 50-over at the Skyhawk Invitational in Pine Mountain, Georgia this week.

Kydd shot 84 and back-to-back 91’s at Callaway Gardens – Mountain View on Monday and Tuesday. He placed 84^th. The Wildcats team was 14^th in the field. Their next event is the GARN Championship in Nicholasville, Kentucky on March 28 and 29.

On March 5, Alex Schmidt and the Lewis-Clark State Warriors competed in a one-day match-play event against Whitworth and Whitman. Schmidt tied both her matches that the Warriors did win.

Their next tournament is the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate in Henderson, Nevada on March 15 and 16.

Saskatoon product Symone Ripley also got her spring season underway for the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat. She shot rounds of 92 and 90 to finish in a tie for 29^th at the UVic Vikes Canada West Spring Shootout in Victoria.

The Heat will travel to Las Vegas and compete in the Rocky Mountain College Invitational on March 14.

(March 8, 2022) Golf Canada is pleased to announce its 2022 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.

The 2022 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s signature professional championships — the RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12, at St. George’s Golf & Country Club with host practice facility, Islington Golf Club in Toronto, Ont., and the CP Women’s Open, to be conducted August 22-28 at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

Golf Canada’s 2022 competition calendar includes nine National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, eight NextGen Championships fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship presented by Sargent Farms. Interprovincial team competitions played concurrently over the first 36 holes at select national championships will return in 2022.

As the National Sport Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships to support the development of the nation’s top talent through world-class competition.

“Golf Canada is incredibly proud to return to a full championship schedule in 2022 and welcome more than 3,000 talented Canadian and international athletes to our national championships,” said Golf Canada’s CEO, Laurence Applebaum. “Together with our host clubs, corporate partners, and volunteers that help drive the success of our events, there is incredible momentum in our sport as we look ahead to the 2022 season.”

Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off on May 13 in Nanaimo, B.C. with the NextGen Pacific Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards at Nanaimo Golf Club, and concludes in October with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

To view Golf Canada’s 2022 championship schedule, including all host venues, registration requirements and volunteer opportunities, please click here.

Championship Season at a Glance…

The 18th playing of the Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO will be held June 1-4 at Golf Château Bromont. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent.

The 108th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO takes place July 19-22 at Westmount Golf & Country Club in Kitchener, Ont. with the champion earning an exemption into the 2022 CP Women’s Open, as well as an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. The winner also receives exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior, 2022 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championships, if applicable.

The 67th Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO will be contested July 26-29 at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont. where the winner will earn an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

The 117th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO will be contested August 1-4 at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, B.C and Seymour Golf & Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C. A maximum field of 264 players will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 36 holes, with the final two rounds contested at Point Grey. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, as well as an invitation to the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship. The winner will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2023 U.S. Open, and if applicable, will earn an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur or 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championships.

The 83rd playing of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO will be contested August 7-10 at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. with the winner earning an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO will be held August 23-26 at The Thornhill Club in Thornhill, Ont., while the club is celebrating its 100th anniversary this season.

The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship, presented by BDO will be held August 30 – September 1, at Breezy Bend Country Club in Headingley, M.B. with the Senior champion earning an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

As part its centennial anniversary, Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta. will host the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO from September 6-9, with the champion earning an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

The second playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, a national championship for players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments, will be held September 13-14 at Essex Golf & Country Club in Windsor, Ont.

The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. The 2022 NextGen Championship host clubs include Nanaimo Golf Club (Nanaimo, B.C.), Oak Bay Golf Club (Port Severn, Ont.), Pine Hills Golf Club (Rocky Mountain House, Alta.), Quarry Oaks (Steinbach, MB), Club de Golf Hemmingford (Hemmingford, Qué.), and Antigonish Golf & Country Club (Antigonish, NS). An additional two Fall Series championships will take place in September and October, where players will compete for exemptions into their respective 2023 national junior championships.

An accomplished field of international competitors will take to Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont., from October 10-15, for the seventh annual World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms. The event will welcome 25 countries playing as 3-member squads competing for both a team and individual title.

Golf Canada has also confirmed that it will not be continuing with the National Orders of Merit, beginning in 2022. Previously used to track golfer performance, the rankings will be replaced by a comprehensive talent identification system that supports the new Canadian golf high-performance strategy.

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, Sport Canada, Levelwear, Titleist,  FootJoy and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit https://www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/.

ABOUT THE RBC CANADIAN OPEN
Part of the FedEx Cup, stars of the PGA TOUR will compete at the RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12, 2022, at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ontario. Conducted by Golf Canada for more than a century, the RBC Canadian Open provides an opportunity for Canada’s top talent to compete against the world’s best golfers while also creating a positive impact in the event’s host community. Established in 1904, Canada’s National Open Golf Championship is the third-oldest national open golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the U.S. Open. The RBC Canadian Open is proudly sponsored by RBC, Audi, Titleist and FootJoy, Hilton, Levelwear, Sargent Farms, Maestro Dobel Tequila, Ace Beverage Group, theScoreBet, Recipe Unlimited, Cub Cadet, Coca-Cola, Matt & Steve’s, JOURNIE Rewards, BDO Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the Government of Canada. The RBC Canadian Open is proud to support the Golf Canada Foundation as the event’s official charity partner. For more information, visit www.rbccanadianopen.com.

ABOUT THE CP WOMEN’S OPEN
The stars of the LPGA Tour will challenge for the CP Women’s Open from August 22-28, 2022, at Ottawa Hunt and Country Club in Ottawa, Ontario. Through its CP Has Heart program, title sponsor CP will once again make a substantial donation to the host community of Canada’s National Open Golf Championship by supporting the CHEO Foundation, a pediatric healthcare and research centre in Ottawa. The 2022 CP Women’s Open is proudly sponsored by CP, Audi, RBC, Levelwear, Coca-Cola, Hilton, Ace Beverage Group, Cub Cadet, Titleist and FootJoy, Matt & Steve’s, JOURNIE Rewards, Recipe Unlimited, theScoreBet, BDO Canada, Ottawa Tourism and the Government of Canada. For information visit www.cpwomensopen.com.

GOLF CANADA
Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing more than 304,000 golfers and 1,435 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to increase Canadian participation and excellence in golf. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

Golf Canada’s 2022 Annual Meeting culminated on Thursday, March 3rd with the election of Liz Hoffman of Wasaga Beach, Ont. to serve a second term as the 116th President of the National Sport Federation.

Hoffman, a member of both Mad River Golf Club in Creemore, Ont. as well as The Thornhill Club in Vaughn, Ont. is joined by Vice-President Dale Jackson of Victoria, B.C. in leading the 13-member Board of Directors who will work closely with Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum.

Based on the report of Golf Canada’s Nominating Committee, Hoffman and Jackson will be joined on the 2022 Board of Directors by returnees Alison Chisholm of Rothesay, N.B., Adam Daifallah of Montreal, Que., Diane Drury-Clarke of Montreal, Que., Shawn Evans of Kitchener, Ont., Patrick Kelly of Victoria, B.C., Susan MacKinnon of Calgary, Alta., Peter Major of Calgary, Alta., David McCarthy of Toronto, Ont., Jean-Sébastien Monty of Montreal, Que., and Rai Sahi of Mississauga, Ont., along with new addition Michelle Collens of Vancouver, B.C.

“In 2021, the organization and our sport continued to grow with pace and 2022 is going to be another special year. Our National Open Championships are back, Canadian high-performance golf is accelerating, First Tee – Canada will continue to roll out across Canada, industry collaboration with our provincial and national partners has never been stronger, and most importantly, people are enjoying the game and everything it has to offer.”

Long time Golf Canada volunteers Barbara Allan of Kingston, Ont. and Jim Clark of Aurora, Ont. were recognized at the Annual Meeting for their contributions to the association as Honorary Life Governors. Golf Canada’s 2022 Annual Meeting was conducted virtually over two days, March 2-3 with volunteers, staff, member clubs, and key industry stakeholders participating.

2021 Annual Report & Financial Statements

Click here to read Golf Canada’s 2021 Annual Report, which includes a recap of the past season, as well as the organization’s 2021 Financial Statements, which were released during Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting.

To see more from the Golf Canada annual general meeting including feature presentations click here.

Regina’s Hunter Kutcher has decided to stay in Canada to play college golf and get an education.

The 17-year-old Royal Regina junior will be a part of the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) Heat starting in the fall. Kutcher said he’s excited to have his golf and education future confirmed.

“I’m pretty happy about it,” Kutcher told Golf Saskatchewan. “It’s been a process for quite a while now. Initially I was looking at the States but once UBCO reached out to me and I started looking into their school, it got me really excited, so I am glad to make it official.”

Kutcher said the “comfort” of staying in Canada was a factor for him in his decision. He added that playing time was also important in his college choice. The 2021 Saskatchewan junior champion said there was life outside golf that played a part as well.

“I just feel if I were to go down to Florida, snowmobiling and skiing is a huge part of my life outside of golf obviously. Staying in Canada it just makes it easier for that to stay in my life and that was a huge factor as well,” Kutcher said.

Kutcher will transfer to Kelowna around the middle of August and prepare to settle into college life. He will join Saskatoon’s Symone Ripley who competes for the women’s golf team at UBCO. Kutcher said to prepare for the next level he’s competing in the top amateur events in the province this year.

“I will be playing in the Scotia Wealth [in Nipawin] for the first time, obviously men’s amateur, junior provincials, the bigger tournaments like that. That will help me for sure just getting used to a bigger stage. Hopefully when I head out to Kelowna, I will be well prepared to get going with my first season,” he said.

In the classroom Kutcher plans to study Sustainability.

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

Golf Saskatchewan is paying tribute to a long-time sports volunteer and one of their former presidents.

Don Kunkel passed away peacefully at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre on Feb. 25.

Current Golf Saskatchewan President Larry Wagman said he will be missed.

Golf Saskatchewan Executive Director Brian Lee has known Kunkel for years, he said Kunkel has always had a passion for golf, and people.

Kunkel’s obituary can be seen here.

Kunkel’s longtime friend Dick Deryk in Yorkton has launched a GoFundMe page to raise money to plant some trees at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in his memory.

On Feb. 4 TaylorMade released the Stealth lineup of drivers to the world with rave reviews.

Golf Saskatchewan joined TaylorMade Territory Sales and Marketing Manager for Saskatchewan Mike Langin at the Ramada Golf Dome to showcase the Stealth Plus, Stealth, and Stealth HD drivers.

To book a custom fitting in your area visit TaylorMade’s website.

The final spring season of Alex Schmidt’s collegiate golf career got off on the right foot this week.

The Lewis-Clark State College Warrior senior shot rounds of 80, 82, and 77 for a 54-hole total of 239, plus-23 at the Ottawa University Arizona Sterling Grove Shootout in Surprise, Arizona on Monday and Tuesday.

The Regina products performance led her team to a third-place finish in the tea competition while Schmidt tied for fourth, just 10 strokes back of the winner. Warriors Head Coach Brady Campbell said on the Lewis-Clark website that Schmidt continues to play great golf for the school.

“It was great to see the girls come back today and forget yesterday,” Campbell said. “Alex continued to do what she has done all year with another top 5. Deana and Kyla gave us some solid rounds”.

The Warriors will be in Henderson, Nevada from March 15 and 16 for the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate event for the teams next competition.

Kindersley’s Brody Istace was in action again this week for his second event of the spring with the Columbia International University (CIU) Rams.

The 36-hole CIU Invitational was held at the Columbia Country Club in Blythewood, South Carolina on Feb. 21 and 22. Istace tied for 13^th with a two-round score of 158 (80, 78). The winner was plus-6.

As a team the Rams finished second behind Spartanburg Methodist College.

The school’s next event is the Truett McConnell Golden Tiger Invitational on March 13 in Gainesville, Georgia.