After a one-year hiatus the Rosebowl Championship is back on the Golf Saskatchewan schedule.

The 50^th edition of the women’s two-player team event will run on Aug. 12 and 13 at Katepwa Beach Golf Club (KBGC). Katewpa Beach was scheduled to host the event last year, but it was cancelled due to COVID-19. Golf Saskatchewan Manager of Sport and Championships Steve Ryde said getting the Rosebowl back on the schedule was important.

“The Rosebowl has a long history in the province obviously dating back half a century,” he said. “It’s a fun event with a shotgun start and a banquet under normal circumstances. Having the tournament last year was not an option. This season with shotguns now allowed we’re ready to welcome ladies from across the province to Katepwa for the milestone event.”

The Rosebowl Championship is an event geared towards women with higher handicaps (Between 33 and 72.4 per team) looking to compete in a tournament with less pressure and a social atmosphere on and off the course. Host committee chair Patricia Pratt said their club is excited to host the event.

“Katepwa Golf Club is excited again to host the Rosebowl Championship. We were especially excited to be awarded the 50^th anniversary celebration of the event. We hope you come golf and celebrate with us,” Pratt said.

To register click here.

If you plan on visiting Kenosee Lake this year and taking in a round or two you will notice a fresh new look at Golf Kenosee’s proshop and the Club 19 restaurant.

Last year the clubhouse began a two-year cycle of upgrades downstairs in the proshop including new countertops, shelving, displays, desks, and fresh coats of paint. Manager Brent Lothian said it was time for a fresh look.

“There were just some things that weren’t very nice looking anymore and didn’t make a lot of sense,” Lothian said. “It’s unbelievable how the paint and a fresh look really spruces up the shop, the upgrades were needed simply due to time and wear and tear.”

Lothian was able to enjoy the upgraded workspace through a remarkably busy season a year ago and upstairs in the Club 19 restaurant their staff and patrons will be the benefactors of renovations this season and years into the future. Not only will the restaurant look fantastic, but traffic is going to be controlled better for a couple reasons.

“They gutted the bar and took everything out and redid that. The crews took the fireplace out and moved it, everything will be more open now and make communicating easier. With the fireplace moved people will be able to sit around the fire in nice chairs. It’s really exciting,” Lothian said.

The proshop does have a door on the basement level leading to the stock of carts and the first tee but visitors unfamiliar with the course commonly use the main door of the restaurant creating congestion. Golfers making the turn or heading out for their round stock up on snacks and refreshments at the side of the bar as well creating more of a log jam. Lothian said the club has come up with a plan to help alleviate the traffic.

“We’re going to put a concession trailer by the green on hole 10,” he explained. “It’s being designed now and will provide service to players on the course allowing them to not have to come back to the clubhouse. We’re looking forward to it.”

Another smaller investment is a large net at the end of the driving range. Lothian estimated the club lost $5,000 in range balls due to longer hitters.

As of 12 p.m. today registration for the 2021 Golf Saskatchewan provincial championships is open.

Golf Saskatchewan is happy to announce the full slate of tournaments is back for the season including the Mixed Championship and Rosebowl that were cancelled last year due to COVID-19.

The biggest change for the season is the transition to Golf Genius scoring software from BlueGolf that Golf Saskatchewan has utilized for the past decade. Please note that any previous login information related to BlueGolf will no longer be valid.

You can view the 2021 schedule here and review and register for each event through the Golf Genius page on the right side of each tournament. To register and compete in events you must be a Golf Saskatchewan member through a member club or a Golf Canada Public Player.

To become a member, click here or speak with your local member club.

Personal Golf Genius accounts that are active at the club level will not permit you to register for any Golf Saskatchewan championship.  You MUST access registration through your Golf Canada Score Centre Account.

To view a tutorial on how to register click here.

All events are pending provincial health guidelines however as of April 15, all tournaments can proceed with shotgun starts for events such as the Mixed Championship or the Rosebowl. Golf Saskatchewan will not process any payments until June 15.

For any questions regarding registration or the championship schedule email Steve Ryde at sryde@golfsaskatchewan.org or call 306.975.0834.

Weyburn’s Darien Herlick is picking up golf championships in Florida while his home province shovels away hopefully one last blast of winter.

Herlick, 15, is currently in the sunshine state attending the Henry Brunton Golf Academy. While attending the academy the students live in a house five minutes from the training facility, practice and enter events while keeping up with their schoolwork online. One of the tournaments Herlick took part in this past weekend was the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) Orange County National Spring Junior Open. He was able to shoot 1-over par on day one of the tournament and with the second round washed out by weather Herlick was crowned the boys 14-15 age group champion.

“I hit a lot of fairways and greens,” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “Not many putts fell but I took two putts all day. I think that was key as to how the conditions were.”

The HJGT is the “United States version of the Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) here in Canada” with events across the nation. Herlick has his fair share of wins in his home country and province but winning in Florida provided a big confidence boost.

“There’s kids from all over and definitely way bigger fields than usual. If you look at the leaderboard it was pretty stiff competition. Everyone was within two or three strokes. I did not even know about the leaderboard until I came in. I for sure thought the leader would be a little under par. Even though I did not play my absolute best I was still leading and that proved to me I have a good chance at winning,” Herlick said.

The 14-15 age group had 27 players in the field. Herlick said the set up was about 6,700 yards and his age group played the same distance as the 16-18 competitors which he enjoyed. He said hearing of the second-round cancellation was disappointing, but he is still happy with the result.

“It would have been a little more satisfying to get the second day in, but a win is a win I guess,” he said.

Herlick will spend the rest of April at the facility before returning to Weyburn. Before he heads home he will compete in two more HJGT events. He said the academy has been a wonderful experience and he hopes it builds towards a strong summer in Saskatchewan.

“I would like to keep my scores in the low 70’s area and place well. Not only in the MJT but the Men’s Amateur Championship I am thinking about playing in and junior provincials too. I feel like my game has gotten really good down here and I think I can compete back home with the kids older than me,” he added.

Saskatoon’s Tommy Danielson was in the 14-15 age group field, he placed in a tie for sixth at 4-over par. Chase Pochylko, also of Saskatoon competed in the 16-18 age group and placed in a tie for 17^th at 3-over, 75.

Symone Ripley, another Saskatoon golfer finished 30^th in the girls 14-18 age bracket with a score of 17-over 89.

The leaderboard at the 22nd Annual NSU Golf Classic had two familiar faces near the top of the list on Tuesday.

In fact, when the 54-hole event in Muskogee, Oklahoma drew to a close Kade Johnson was atop the board tied for first place with Luke Palmowski at 6-under par. Johnson, from Yorkton and nearing the end of his collegiate career was shooting for his second win at the NCAA Div. II level, but the Sourthern Arkansas University (SAU) Mulerider lost on the second hole of a playoff to Palmowski of Rogers State University.

Johnson had the lead after day one when the tournament was postponed after 33 holes. He fell back to a tie for fourth at one point during the third round but battled back to force the playoff claiming a solid second place.

Saskatoon product Roman Timmerman, also a SAU student performed well finishing in a tie for third place just two strokes off the lead.

The long-time college teammates scores helped the Muleriders place fourth overall out of 20 universities in the competition.

Also competing in the tournament was Prince Albert’s TJ Baker. The college freshman at Arkansas-Monticello University finished in a tie for 109th at 28-over par. There were 116 players in the field. His team finished in 16th place.

Regina’s Alex Schmidt (above) was having a stellar two days on the course herself for the Lewis-Clark State Warriors.

The junior placed fourth overall with a 36-hole score of plus-15, 159 at the Bushnell Invite in Creswell, Oregon at the Emerald Valley Golf Club.

The Royal Regina Golf Club member’s strong showing led her team to a silver medal finish.

Next up for Schmidt and Lewis-Clark is the Cascade Conference Championships at the end of April.

The leaderboard at the 22nd Annual NSU Golf Classic had two familiar faces near the top of the list on Tuesday.

In fact, when the 54-hole event in Muskogee, Oklahoma drew to a close Kade Johnson was atop the board tied for first place with Luke Palmowski at 6-under par. Johnson, from Yorkton and nearing the end of his collegiate career was shooting for his second win at the NCAA Div. II level, but the Sourthern Arkansas University (SAU) Mulerider lost on the second hole of a playoff to Palmowski of Rogers State University.

Johnson had the lead after day one when the tournament was postponed after 33 holes. He fell back to a tie for fourth at one point during the third round but battled back to force the playoff claiming a solid second place.

Saskatoon product Roman Timmerman, also a SAU student performed well finishing in a tie for third place just two strokes off the lead.

The long-time college teammates scores helped the Muleriders place fourth overall out of 20 universities in the competition.

Also competing in the tournament was Prince Albert’s TJ Baker. The college freshman at Arkansas-Monticello University finished in a tie for 109th at 28-over par. There were 116 players in the field. His team finished in 16th place.

Regina’s Alex Schmidt was having a stellar two days on the course herself for the Lewis-Clark State Warriors.

The junior placed fourth overall with a 36-hole score of plus-15, 159 at the Bushnell Invite in Creswell, Oregon at the Emerald Valley Golf Club.

The Royal Regina Golf Club member’s strong showing led her team to a silver medal finish.

Next up for Schmidt and Lewis-Clark is the Cascade Conference Championships at the end of April.

Weyburn’s Darien Herlick is picking up golf championships in Florida while his home province shovels away hopefully one last blast of winter.

Herlick, 15, is currently in the sunshine state attending the Henry Brunton Golf Academy. While attending the academy the students live in a house five minutes from the training facility, practice and enter events while keeping up with their schoolwork online. One of the tournaments Herlick took part in this past weekend was the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) Orange County National Spring Junior Open. He was able to shoot 1-over par on day one of the tournament and with the second round washed out by weather Herlick was crowned the boys 14-15 age group champion.

“I hit a lot of fairways and greens,” he told Golf Saskatchewan. “Not many putts fell but I took two putts all day. I think that was key as to how the conditions were.”

The HJGT is the “United States version of the Maple Leaf Junior Tour (MJT) here in Canada” with events across the nation. Herlick has his fair share of wins in his home country and province but winning in Florida provided a big confidence boost.

“There’s kids from all over and definitely way bigger fields than usual. If you look at the leaderboard it was pretty stiff competition. Everyone was within two or three strokes. I did not even know about the leaderboard until I came in. I for sure thought the leader would be a little under par. Even though I did not play my absolute best I was still leading and that proved to me I have a good chance at winning,” Herlick said.

The 14-15 age group had 27 players in the field. Herlick said the set up was about 6,700 yards and his age group played the same distance as the 16-18 competitors which he enjoyed. He said hearing of the second-round cancellation was disappointing, but he is still happy with the result.

“It would have been a little more satisfying to get the second day in, but a win is a win I guess,” he said.

Herlick will spend the rest of April at the facility before returning to Weyburn. Before he heads home he will compete in two more HJGT events. He said the academy has been a wonderful experience and he hopes it builds towards a strong summer in Saskatchewan.

“I would like to keep my scores in the low 70’s area and place well. Not only in the MJT but the Men’s Amateur Championship I am thinking about playing in and junior provincials too. I feel like my game has gotten really good down here and I think I can compete back home with the kids older than me,” he added.

Saskatoon’s Tommy Danielson was in the 14-15 age group field, he placed in a tie for sixth at 4-over par. Chase Pochylko, also of Saskatoon competed in the 16-18 age group and placed in a tie for 17^th at 3-over, 75.

Symone Ripley, another Saskatoon golfer finished 30^th in the girls 14-18 age bracket with a score of 17-over 89.

The Government of Saskatchewan is updating the guidelines for golf courses as the season gets underway in the province.

Tournaments are now permitted in Saskatchewan but award presentations and receptions must be done virtually. Shotgun starts are now allowed with one group of four allowed on a tee box at a time.

Tee times have also been reduced, instead of ten minute allotments courses can run tee times eight minutes apart. Players are now allowed to walk in and book a tee time if course administrators wish to use that system. Last season tee times had to be pre-booked.

Golf Saskatchewan is continuing to work with the provincial Business Response Team to make sure golf can be played safely for all involved.

The updated guidelines can be viewed here.

Mike McEvay grew up in British Columbia on busy golf courses and after careers in several locations the 37-year-old is excited to lead the team at Elmwood Golf Club in Swift Current.

McEvay takes over the general manager position replacing long-time GM Sheldon Reinhart.

McEvay sat down with Golf Saskatchewan to discuss the move from Edmonton to the southwest Saskatchewan city, the excitement of a new position as well as the Elmwood hosting the provincial amateur championships in July.

Regina’s Jacob Kydd has been busy competing on the collegiate golf circuit this spring.

The Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) student was in Noblesville, Indiana on April 2 and 3 for the Purgatory Intercollegiate. Kydd posted scores of 74 and 79, his 9-over, 153 was good enough for a tie for 12^th. That matches his career best finish since he tied for 12^th at the Players Club Invitational in September of 2020.

Kydd’s performance helped the Wildcats capture the team championship at the event. IWU was three shots better than Mount Mercy University.

Next up for Kydd and the team is the Shotgun Sagamore Shootout on April 12, also in Noblesville.

Brody Istace of Kindersley and the Columbia International University (CIU) Rams competed against Bob Jones University in a match-play event in Greenville, South Carolina this week. The two-day event termed the ‘Competitors Cup’ featured three rounds of different formats including four-ball, alternate shot, and 1 v. 1.

On day one, Monday the Rams picked up 8.5 of a possible 10 points. During the second day the Rams were victorious in five matches and lost four. Istace was instrumental in the victory sinking a birdie on the final hole to clinch the win. CIU coach Tucker MacDonald said the team performed well over two days.

“Brody had a clutch birdie on the last hole to clinch the Competitors Cup. This was an excellent event for our guys, and hopefully, we can take advantage of this momentum going into the conference championship.”

Their next tournament is the Appalachian Athletic Conference in Asheville, North Carolina on April 19 and 20.

Saskatoon’s Josh Nagy was in action on April 2 and 3 as well with the Robert Morris Colonials.

The two-time Saskatchewan junior champion is coming off a college career best 75 in his last competitive round in March. Nagy carded rounds of 81 and 78 this week at the FDU Invitational in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania. He placed 38^th at 15-over par.

The Colonials tied for second place in the team competition. Their next scheduled tournament is in Clarksburg, West Virginia for the Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational on April 12 and 13.