The Canadian Men’s Amateur is underway in Windsor, Ont. with a handful of Saskatchewan players competing at the event.

The 72-hole tournament returns for the first time since 2019, after the pandemic caused the cancellation of Golf Canada’s 2020 competitive season.

Saskatchewan’s record breaking champion Roman Timmerman leads the provincial contingent into Ambassador Golf Club starting this holiday Monday. Also competing from Saskatchewan is Josh Nagy (Saskatoon), Chase Pochylko (Saskatoon), Ty Campbell (Saskatoon), Kade Johnson (Yorkton), and Tyler Wright (Regina).

The winner will receive an exemption into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open from June 6-12 at St George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont. and the 2021 U.S. Amateur from August 9-15 at Oakmont Country Club & Longue Vue Club in Oakmont & Verona, Pa.

The 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion was William Buhl from Norway.

Ambassador Golf Club was designed by architect Thomas McBroom. It is a par-71 public golf course that has hosted many previous provincial, national, and professional championships including the Windsor Championship on the PGA TOUR Canada – Mackenzie Tour in 2018 and 2019, the Golf Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship in 2017, the Golf Ontario Ladies Amateur Championship in 2016, and the OUA Golf Championships in 2016.

The Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is a 72-hole stroke play event, with a 36-hole cut for the low 70 players and ties. In the event of a tie at the end of four rounds, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following completion of 72-holes.

All the information for the championship can be seen here.

It was a “special” afternoon in Prince Albert at Cooke Municipal Golf Course Friday ahead of the 100^th Northern.

As the storied match-play tournament gets underway Saturday the host committee held a champions luncheon to celebrate the past winners of the event that has run consecutively for a century. Martin Ring, a winner of the tournament himself emceed the celebration. He said gathering as many champions as possible under one roof for a celebration was a memorable moment.

“It’s been a great afternoon, a great afternoon of memories,” he said. “A lot of this is history that I watched unfold as a young kid. I used to come out here and watch the Northern and now I get to play in it. I as well am a past champion, but I know a lot of the guys have really appreciated the opportunity to come together. It’s a lot of history, our oldest winner goes back to 1962 that’s here today.”

Pete Lukoni was the oldest champion in attendance. Several other multi-time winners were honoured including Jim Scissons, Ron Stewart, Colin Coben, among many others. Ring added that the number of championships crammed into the tearoom at the club was extraordinary.

“Looking at the list, you start looking at who is inducted in the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame and then all the respected municipalities that they come from, it is pretty special. It is really special times, it’s the who’s who of the golf scene in Saskatchewan,” Ring said.

Lifelong Prince Albert resident and six-time Northern winner Ron Stewart is preparing for competition again this weekend. He said on Friday he was getting antsy waiting for the 100^th edition.

“I have been really keyed up the last couple days, I want this thing to start.” he said. “There is a lot of build up to it and everybody is talking about it. I just want it to get going.”

As for the luncheon and celebration Stewart said being in that mixed company highlights what the club has done for the last century.

“It’s such an honour to be here, it’s so great to see people I haven’t seen for the longest time, hear all the history, all the speeches, reminiscing about everything, it’s just wonderful,” he added.

Golf Saskatchewan presented the tournament committee with a plague commemorating the milestone. The organizing committee also staged a ceremonial tee off on the first hole Friday with Lukoni, Scissons, Stewart and long-time Cooke head professional Danny Jutras taking part.

The Northern began Saturday morning at the course.

The Saskatchewan ladies that competed in Edmonton at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship represented the province fantastically this week.

Three of the four players made the cut at the event at the Petroleum Golf and Country Club this week including Autumn Neiszner, Ella Kozak, and Brooklin Fry.

Neiszner was the top local finishing in a great spot at 27th. The Wascana Country Club member shot rounds of 74, 76, 80, and 76 to finish at 18-over par, 306. She was just 20 shots back of winner Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont.

Kozak ended the event tied for 44th place. The Yorkton golfer was extremely consistent throughout the week shooting back-to-back 78’s followed by 77 and 79 for a four-day total of 312.

Fry concluded the championship at 28-over par and a tie for 58th. The Shell Lake resident also stayed steady through all four rounds. She started the tournament with an 82 but rebounded with three straight rounds of 78 to finish with 316.

Due to COVID there was no team inter-provincial competition this year.

You can see all the results here.

*Golf Saskatchewan will hear from the trio after the long weekend.

Regina’s Kim Walker has her second Saskatchewan Senior Women’s championship.

The Wascana Country Club member was the only player in red ink (1-under par) on Thursday allowing Walker to win the 54-hole event by eight shots over seven-time winner Lorie Boyle of Moose Jaw. Walker finished at plus-6, 222 for the tournament. She said after not playing last year due to COVID concerns the win feels nice.

“It feels great, I won in 2019 and with COVID last year I didn’t play so potentially missed out on the three-peat, but this feels really great here today,” she said.

Walker either had a share of the lead from the opening tee shot or the outright lead over three days at The Legends Golf Course in Warman on route to her third Saskatchewan championship. She won the amateur in 2016. Walker said she expected to be near the top of the leaderboard but with three rounds in a tournament you can’t take anything for granted.

“I do expect to be near the top but I take nothing for granted,” she said. “You need to put three rounds together, for the most part everything went well for me here in Warman even though I’m not overly familiar with the course. It does play a lot like the Wascana or the Royal Regina in some ways which I think did help me be successful.”

Rosetown’s Sue Skinner placed third at 18-over par. Swift Current’s Denise Wilson was fourth, Jo-Anne Schiller of Lloydminster rounded out the top five.

Walker is hoping to lead the Saskatchewan contingent into the Canadian Senior Women’s Championship from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2 in Bromont, Que.

Boyle was the winner of the Mae Balmos Award for the top women’s player over 60.

The complete results can be found here.

Hallberg dominates field

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg ran away with both the senior men’s title, his second straight and third in four years, plus he won the mid-masters (40 years and over) championship on Thursday in Warman.

The Golf Kenosee player carded rounds of 71, 65, and 66 for a three-day total of 202, 13 shots better than Lavern Arndt and George Janson in the senior championship. Hallberg won the mid-masters by eight shots over Scott Allan and Chris Reid. He said the week went well at The Legends leading to the victories.

“I had a really good tournament, I played really good the first day, I couldn’t get any putts to go in, they were all going over the edge,” he explained.” The next two days I got Normy (Norm DeLaet) on the bag, he helped me with some reads and just a real calming influence. We’ve played a lot of golf in the past; I grew up playing with Norm. It was pretty special to have him on the bag.”

Saskatoon’s Rick Hillestad was fourth in the senior category, Martin Ring (Prince Albert) and Brent Wotypka (Swift Current) tied for fifth at 5-over par. Hallberg will head to La Malbaie, Que. for the national senior championship. He said going into this season heading back to the Canadian Championship and winning the provincials was his goal.

“My goal this year was to win this event again and take a shot at the mid-masters too,” he added. “It’s a good run.”

Warman golfer Darryl Czuy was fourth in the mid-masters, Regina’s Ron Swan rounded out the top-five.

Moose Jaw’s Ken Bradley was the winner of the Legends category, that is for players 75 and over.

Janson won the Super Senior division for players 65 to 74 years of age.

All the results can be seen here.

The outstanding representation from Saskatchewan women golfers in Alberta at national championships continued on Wednesday in Edmonton.

Three of the four players competing at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship made the cut at the event hosted by the Petroleum Golf and Country Club. This result comes just days after three of the five junior women competing at nationals in Leduc played all four days.

Regina’s Autumn Neiszner leads the way for the locals sitting in a remarkable 14th place tie through 36 holes. The Wascana Country Club member sits at plus-6, well below the cut line of plus-18. Neiszner has posted rounds of 74 and 76. She tees off at 8:30 a.m. for round three on Thursday.

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak has bounced back nicely after just missing the cut at the junior nationals in Leduc last week. She has posted back-to-back 78’s leaving the 15-year-old in a tie for 37th, also well below the cut. She tees off at 8 a.m.

Brooklin Fry of Shell Lake chopped four strokes off her first round score with a 78 on Wednesday. She’s sitting at 16-over going into the third round, her start time is 8:50 a.m.

Regina’a Alex Schmidt shot rounds of 80 and 85, she missed the cutline by three strokes. Schmidt will now prepare for her senior year of college at Lewis-Clark hoping to build on a strong junior year in Idaho.

The complete results of the national amateur can be seen here.

Weyburn’s Rick Hallberg called on an old friend to assist him during his round on Wednesday at the Saskatchewan Senior Men’s Championship in Warman.

The reigning provincial title holder had Norm DeLaet as his caddy during the middle round of the three day championship helping him shoot 65 and take a six shot lead over the field at The Legends Golf Course heading into Thursday’s final round.

DeLaet is the the father of PGA golfer Graham and now calls Warman home. Hallberg said casually after the round that having DeLaet’s knowledge did play a part.

“Normie is great to have on the bag,” Hallberg said. “We’ve played a lot of golf together, he knows his stuff obviously. He’ll be back tomorrow”

Hallberg is searching for his second straight Saskatchewan victory and third in four years.

2016 champion George Janson is in second place at 2-under par. Swift Current’s Brent Wotypka is in third place at 1-under par. Lavern Arndt and Martin Ring are within striking distance of a medal at 1-over par.

Hallberg also leads the mid-masters (40 and over) division thanks to his great round of 65 on Wednesday. He has a five shot cushion over Saskatoon’s Scott Allan. First round leader Chris Reid is third at 1-under par, the Meadow Lake product is in third place.

For all the results click here.

The final round of the championships will begin at 7 a.m. on Thursday.

Walker seeking second senior win

Regina’s Kim Walker is 18 holes away from her second Saskatchewan Senior Championship.

The Wascana Country Club member went into the second round tied with seven-time winner Lorie Boyle at 3-over par. The lead is just two shots going into the final round, Walker carded a 76 on Wednesday, Boyle shot 78.

Sue Skinner of Rosetown sits third at 10-over par, 2013 champion Denise Wilson of Swift Current is fourth at 12-over.

The complete results can be seen here.

A fantastic start for Autumn Neiszner at the Canadian Amateur Women’s Championship.

Neiszner, who plays out of Wascana Country Club, posted 11 straight pars to start her first round, she bogeyed hole 12, answered back with a birdie on 13 before carding a couple more bogeys to finish round one at 2-over, 74, at Edmonton’s Petroleum Golf and Country Club on Tuesday. She is just five shots off leader Sarah-Eve Rhéaume of Boischatel, Quebec.

Yorkton’s Ella Kozak sits in a tie for 50th after round one, the 15-year-old shot 6-over, 78, Tuesday. Alex Schmidt of Regina shot 8-over, 80, she is tied for 61st.

Saskatchewan amateur champion Brooklin Fry is an 80th place tie at 10-over, 82, following the first round.

Round two will take place Wednesday. Fry begins her round at 8 a.m. Schmidt will tee off at noon, Neiszner will start her round at 1 p.m. and Kozak will be a group behind at 1:10 p.m.

The complete results can be seen here.

Regina’s James Tsakas was the talk of Tuesday at The Legends Golf Course during round one of the Saskatchewan Senior Championships.

Tsakas recorded his third career hole-in-one and first since 1988 during the opening round of the tournament on hole seven in Warman. He said the ace was his first in competition. The one on his card helped the Royal Regina Golf Club member shoot an even-par, 72, good enough for a tie for seventh after 18 of 54 holes.

The ace was the first in a Golf Saskatchewan championship since Nelson Scott turned the trick in 2019 at the Royal Regina Golf Club.

Prince Albert’s Cliff Selander has the round one lead thanks to a 3-under, 69, in the first round. Selander is coming off a silver medal finish at the championship in 2020.

Three Saskatoon players are tied for second just a stroke back of Selander including Barry Macooh, Don Monson, and Shawn Strelau, the trio all carded rounds of 70.

Defending champion Rick Hallberg (Weyburn) and Rick Hillestad sit tied for fifth place at 1-under, 71.

Selander also shares the lead of the mid-masters (40 and over) division with his score of 69. He’s tied with Meadow Lake’s Chris Reid. Scott Allan of Saskatoon is tied in second with Strelau.

The complete results can be found here.

Round two begins at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, the tournaments will conclude on Thursday.

In the Senior Women’s Championship two former winners of the tournament are tied on top of the leaderboard at 3-over par.

Moose Jaw’s Lorie Boyle and Regina’s Kim Walker shot identical 71’s on Tuesday to open the 54-hole event. Denise Wilson, another former champion sits tied for third with Sue Skinner at 8-over, 80.

A pair of Lloydminster golfers are sitting tied in fifth, Jo-Anne Schiller and Robin Acton shot plus-9, 81, during the opening round at Warman’s Legends Golf Course.

The complete first round results can be seen here.

The second round of the women’s championship begins at 11:20 a.m. on Wednesday.

Playing all four rounds at this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship was the goal for Saskatoon’s Sarah Grieve, an achievement she accomplished last week at the Leduc Golf Club.

Competing in her third national junior championship the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member made the cut at the event for the first time. Grieve was very ecstatic with that result and placing 50^th overall.

“I was for sure hoping to make the cut, honestly based on previous experiences I knew how hard it was to make the cut. I wouldn’t have been disappointed if I didn’t make it, but I was thrilled when I did,” she told Golf Saskatchewan.

The championship was Grieve’s final provincial junior event. She reflected on the experiences she’s had playing junior golf including trips to Ottawa and Surrey for national championships.

“I love playing with the girls from Saskatchewan, but we play together every single tournament. It’s go great to play with other people and meet other people, it also you get better with your game by learning from others,” Grieve said.

She applauded Golf Canada and the professionalism of the national tournaments through her junior career.

“The course is always a nice challenge regardless of the higher scores that come out of them, it’s always a great experience,” she concluded.

For Regina’s Autumn Neiszner, playing well enough to make the cut was on her radar as well. The Wascana Country Club player and Keiser University commit finished in a tie for 43^rd.

“My goal was to make the cut, so I was happy to be able to do that,” she said.

Neiszner has played several national events in recent years and said the week is always a good experience with excellent competition.

“I always think it’s really cool being around those other junior girls that are so good and the atmosphere, it’s so cool,” she added.

She is now in Edmonton to compete in the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at the Petroleum Golf and Country Club. Despite having another year of junior eligibility, she has high hopes for week.

“I try not to put any expectations on myself, but my goal is to make the cut again,” she said. “I’m just going to go out there and focus on one shot on the time and do the best I can.”

Brooklin Fry is also in Edmonton for the amateur championship. The Shell Lake product and Saskatchewan junior champion placed in a tie for 27^th in Leduc.

“It was pretty good, the Leduc golf course was beautiful, but it didn’t really fit my game well,” she said to Golf Saskatchewan. “There were a couple holes that I really had to lay up, my game wasn’t on that well but overall, it was good. I was hoping to do a little better, but the place I finished wasn’t bad either so I am happy with that.”

Fry has two years of junior eligibility left and expects better results from herself in the future. This week the 16-year-old is focusing on the national amateur alongside Neiszner, Ella Kozak, and Alex Schmidt. Fry said the host venue plays better for her game than the junior event in Leduc.

“It’s an amazing course, it’s so nice. I think it fits my game better than Leduc and I think it will be a pretty good week,” she said.

The Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship begins Tuesday at the Edmonton Petroleum Golf and Country Club.

Four players from Saskatchewan will compete at the championship based on their play at the Saskatchewan championship held earlier this month at Swift Current.

Regina’s Alex Schmidt tees off at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Autumn Neiszner, also of Regina remained in the Alberta capital area after competing in the national junior girls’ championship last week in Leduc. The Wascana Country Club member tees off at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Ella Kozak of Yorkton begins her first round at 8:40 a.m., Kozak also competed last week in Leduc at juniors. Brooklin Fry, the lowest shooter of the group at the junior event last week will be the last local to tee off Tuesday, the Shell Lake product starts at 12:30 p.m.

There are 110 players in the field vying to be the Canadian champion. The list of players and tee times can be seen here.

The championship is 72 holes over four rounds with a cut line after the second round on Wednesday.