It was another good day on the course for Saskatchewan golfers at a national event.

Five of the six locals competing at the Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, Ontario made the cut on Tuesday at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

Josh Nagy and Kade Johnson were the biggest movers during the all-important second round of the 72-hole tournament in its 116th year. Nagy, playing out of Riverside Country Club moved up 48 spots thanks to a second round 1-under, 70. He’s tied for 64th, a stroke ahead of the plus-6 cutline. Johnson shot up 44 positions on the leaderboard after a dynamite, bogey-free round 5-under, 66. The Yorkton product is tied for 20th at 2-under par.

Roman Timmerman was tied for fourth going into round two at the Ambassador Golf Club shooting a sparkling 67 Monday. The Saskatoon resident was 5-over in round two. He still sits at 1-over, four shots under the cut. The Saskatchewan champion is tied for 32nd.

Regina’s Tyler Wright followed an opening round of 73 with an even 71 on Tuesday, the Wascana Country Club player is tied for 40th at 2-over.

Ty Campbell shot 72 during round two, the Saskatoon product is 3-over par after 36-holes, tied for 48th and well under the cutline.

Saskatoon’s Chase Pochylko, the youngest Saskatchewan representative at just 17-years-old, played two great rounds shooting 74 each day and just missed the cut by one stroke.

The leaders sit at 11-under par, William Duquette of Laval, Que. and A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. lead the championship.

The complete results can be seen here.

Timmerman tees off first on Wednesday for round three, he begins at 6 a.m. Wright follows ten minutes later while Campbell tees off at 6:30 a.m. Johnson will start his round at 7 a.m. and Nagy is slated to begin his round at 7:50 a.m. *Saskatchewan times

Roman Timmerman has opened the 116th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship with a 4-under, 67, on Tuesday in Windsor, Ont.

Coming off a record breaking win at the provincial amateur the Riverside Country Club member made seven birdies during round one at the Ambassador Golf Club and sits in a tie for fourth.

Timmerman is just two shots behind leader A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam Beach, B.C.

Ty Campbell of Saskatoon and Regina’s Tyler Wright sit in a tie for 47th at 2-over, 73.

Yorkton’s Kade Johnson and Chase Pochylko out of Saskatoon shot opeing rounds of 3-over, 74. They are tied for 64th.

Josh Nagy, also of Saskatoon posted an opening round of plus-6, 77. He’s in a tie for 112th.

Tuesday’s tee times in Saskatchewan are below:

• Pochylko – 10:50 a.m.
• Timmerman – 11:40 a.m.
• Nagy – 12:20 p.m.
• Campbell – 11:20 a.m.
• Johnson – 7:00 a.m.
• Wright – 7:20 a.m.

The complete results after the opening round can be seen here.

Saskatoon’s Tommy Danielson was the lowest shooter at the Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) stop at Moon Lake Golf and Country Club last week.

The 16-year-old carded rounds of 70 and 69 on July 26 and 27 to win the overall low score and the juvenile boys age group. Danielson was 11 strokes better than Saskatoon’s Max Regier over 36 holes. Estevan’s Ryan Chernoff, Darien Herlick of Weyburn and Saskatoon’s Walker Cote all shot 151 tying for third place in the age group.

Medicine Hat’s Sam Bratvold (above) was just two strokes shy of Danielson’s overall low but his 141 (70, 71) was the winning score in the junior boys division. Chase Pochylko of Saskatoon and Theoren West of Wawota were a shot behind at 142. There was a three-way tie for third with Davin Bourassa (Radville), Zachary Szakacs (Corman Park), and Hunter Kutcher (Regina) at 143.

Warman’s Dane Giesbrecht (above) was the winner in the bantam boys division with a two-day score of 146 (72, 74). Elais Haukeness of Buena Vista was second just a stroke back at 147 (77, 70). In third was Kerr Cudmore of Wawota, he shot 152 (75, 77).

In the peewee boys age group Aricin Franklin (above) posted the lowest score by four shots. He carded rounds of 72 and 79 for a 36-hole tally of 151. Adam Muntain of Regina was second. A logjam of players tied for third at 157 including Kai Kriekle (Regina), Shae Maunula (North Battleford), and Lucas Sturgeon (Saskatoon).

Kyle’s Chloe Wills (above) continues her breakout season on the MJT. The 13-year-old Kyle golfer shot rounds of 88 and 83 to claim the under-15 girls group. She beat Tayla Perry of Regina by 12 shots. Sarah Henderson of Saskatoon rounded out the top-three at 192 (92, 100).

Saskatoon’s Symone Ripley (above) picked up the win in the 15 – 19 girls category. Ripley fired rounds of 82 and 80 to win the division by five shots over Hallie Crozier of Regina. Turtleford’s Devrie Bloom placed third at 180 (92, 88).

The complete results can be found here.

The next Saskatchewan stop on the MJT is Aug. 14 – 15 at Elk Ridge Resort.

*All photos courtesy Jeff Chambers

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.