Final national championship of the season features a field of 156 golfers competing for the senior title along with a super senior division and an
inter-provincial team competition

Saugeen Shores, Ont. – The 2024 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO is set for September 12-15 with a field of 156 amateur golfers competing over four rounds at Saugeen Golf Club in Saugeen Shores, Ont.

Saskatchewan has eight players in the field this year. Making up Team Saskatchewan is champion Colin Coben (Delisle), Brent Wotypka (Swift Current), and Ken Rodgers of Regina.

Also competing is Saskatoon’s Brad Phelps and Warren Proctor, Rick Hallberg of Weyburn, Prince Albert’s Martin Ring, and Rob Schneider of Regina.

The field competing for the John Rankin Memorial Trophy features five past winners including defending champion Doug Hanzel of Savannah, Ga., Darren Ritchie of St. John, N.B. (2021), Brady Exber of Las Vegas, Nev. (2018), Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga. (2015) and David Schultz of Calgary, Alta. (2013).

Along with the past champions, among those in the field are Dave Bunker of Ridgeway, Ont. who won the 2024 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship in July. Miles McConnell, a Canadian who now resides in Tampa, Fla. who has enjoyed a successful season having won the 2024 Gate Senior Invitational back in January and followed it up with three runner-up finishes and a third-place finish in tournaments throughout the season. Accomplished Australian golfer, Ken Brewer of Newcastle, Australia will also be heading to Saugeen Shores.

“We are very excited to welcome an incredible and talented field of golfers set to compete for our Canadian Men’s Senior Championship this week at Saugeen Golf Club,” said Daniel Suppa, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “The staff, volunteers, host committee along with the entire community have really gone to great lengths to ensure that those competing for our national championship are given an experience they won’t soon forget at Saugeen.”

Founded in 1925 by a group of local visionaries, Saugeen Golf Club stands as a testament to their vision and community spirit. Recognizing the growing popularity of golf, they established a premier golfing destination in Port Elgin and Southampton. Hiring renowned golf architect Stanley Thompson, they crafted the initial nine holes now known as Legacy with meticulous attention to detail, setting the stage for a Legacy of excellence.

Expanding their vision over the decades, first with the addition of the Sunset nine in 1956 and the Sunrise nine in 1996 solidified their reputation for exceptional golf and camaraderie for players of all levels. Next year, Saugeen Golf Club will celebrate its centennial anniversary as it celebrates the enduring legacy of their founders and guide their team into the next century with pride and a reverence for the past.

“Saugeen Golf Club is extremely proud to be hosting this prestigious national championship. The process began four long years ago, and we cannot be more exhilarated to display what our golf club and community has to offer,” said Brad Young, General Manager and COO, Saugeen Golf Club. “With playing conditions that rival any in our country, to the 200 plus volunteers that are donating their time, we’re confident that this weeklong event will set the precedence of national championships for years to come”

The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship was established in 1962 for golfers aged 55-and-over and includes a Super Senior division for golfers 65-and-over that was introduced in 1995. The national championship consists of 72 holes of stroke-play with a cut after 36 holes. The Super Senior Championship is contested concurrently over the four rounds of the championship. In addition, the Senior Inter-Provincial Team Championship was added in 1977 and runs concurrently through the first 36 holes of the tournament.

A trio of Canadian Golf Hall of Famers lead the way having won the most Canadian Men’s Senior Championships in tournament history including, Bob Wylie of Calgary, Alta. with seven (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995). Nick Weslock of Oakville, Ont. with six (1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983) and Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que. with four (2001, 2002, 2008 and 2009).

Prior to the start of the national championship, there will be a one-day qualifier on Tuesday, September 10 at Saugeen Golf Club where a field of 56 golfers will be playing for six spots in the tournament. Practice rounds are scheduled for Wednesday, September 11, and the tournament gets underway on Thursday, September 12.

The champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, N.C.

For the full player field competing in the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

Scores are kept, a great couple hours are had, and memories are being made for Saskatoon resident Graham Mazurak on the golf course.

He used to play three times a week prior to having a stroke that has limited his mobility, now through Silverwood Golf Course, Sherbrooke Community Centre, and Golf Saskatchewan’s SoloRider golf cart Mazurak is playing again because “there is nothing better than being on the course with your buddies.”

Sherbrooke Centre volunteer, and current University of Saskatchewan student Logan Knutson introduced Mazurak to the SoloRider, a discussion that improved both of their lives. The duo got out a few times this summer, and Knutson aided another player of the season as well.

To learn more about how to get involved with First Tee – Canada or Youth on Course, visit firstteecanada.ca or golfcanada.ca/youthoncourse.

Golf is now the most-played sport in Canada and will be played by approximately six million Canadians from a variety of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds this year. To sustain the growth of the sport and ensure that golf represents the strengths of Canada’s diversity, junior programs must be accessible and affordable. 

Golf courses operated by cities are open to the public and provide affordable golf opportunities for people of various ages and economic means. Municipally run spaces also serve as community hubs, fostering social interaction and integration among people of all backgrounds. This sense of community encourages participation in golf and attracts individuals and families who may not have considered the sport otherwise.

These facilities are especially welcoming for children, as they provide quality recreation at an affordable cost. Many municipal golf courses, particularly those in major markets, offer a low-cost annual pass for children 18 and under. For example, an annual junior pass to play at all five of the City of Toronto courses costs $378, with financial aid available for qualifying families.

Membership at a municipal golf course provides children with an entire spring, summer and fall’s worth of outdoor activity and in-person social time for a cost that is more affordable than most other sports.

The initial step in Golf Canada’s partnerships with municipalities is to engage children through First Tee – Canada, a youth development program that provides life-enhancing experiences through golf at community centres, schools and golf courses.

Golf Canada has formally partnered with 34 municipalities from coast-to-coast, including major metropolitans like the cities of Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. In addition, over 83 per cent of First Tee – Canada’s community centre locations serve low-socioeconomic neighbourhoods.

The intention is to first introduce children to golf through First Tee – Canada at city-operated community centres, then transition them to on-course programming at their nearby municipal golf course through events and registered programming.

Golf Canada distributes private registration links to local community centres, who primarily serve children from equity deserving communities. With the support of RBC, all First Tee programming provided at the municipal level is offered at no cost to the participants or program locations.

After children have experienced registered programming and are ready to progress their skills on the course, they can play rounds of golf at their municipal course for $5 or less through Youth on Course. All First Tee – Canada participants receive a complimentary Youth on Course membership that allows them to access affordable green fees at participating courses across Canada.

There are currently 21 municipal courses that have partnered with Golf Canada and Youth on Course. With the continued support of RBC and provincial golf associations, Golf Canada helps subsidize rounds of golf to youth aged 18 and under. Since 2018, nearly 17,000 rounds of affordable golf have been played by juniors at these participating courses.

Together, Golf Canada and municipalities are working together to create an accessible, affordable entry-point into the sport for all young people across Canada.

Three Saskatchewan players have returned from the first ever Canadian Under-15 Championships held last week in Elmira, Ont.

Grace Odnokon, Lucas Sturgeon, and Austin Nesbitt all competed over two days (Aug. 28/29) at the Elmira Golf Club in the first event held at a national level for players under 15 years of age.

Odnokon posted rounds of 79 and 82, the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club member finished in 32nd place.

In the junior men’s field, Sturgeon, another SGCC junior star, and the Saskatchewan under-15 champion posted rounds of 72 and 75, he tied for 20th spot.

Nesbitt, from Pilot Butte and a member at Wascana Country Club shot 79 and 72, he was tied for 28th, Nesbitt can compete in the event again next year.

The full results are here, Golf Saskatchewan will hpefully hear from all three players following their fantastic seasons.

The Canadian Senior Women’s Championships concluded Thursday at The Club at North Halton with six Saskatchewan players in the field.

Pauline McDougall of Prince Albert was the top Saskatchewan player in the event finishing tied for 50th at 41-over par, 257. The Cooke Municipal Golf Course member shot 87 in round one in Georgetown, Ont. on Tuesday, she followed that up with an 85, made the cut and posted another 85 Thursday concluding her second straight national senior event, and first as leading the Saskatchewan team.

Denise Wilson of Swift Current and Sue Skinner from Rosetown made up the rest of the provincial roster for the inter-provincial competition, Saskatchewan was seventh as a team.

Neither Wilson or Skinner made the cut, Wilson shot 92 and 86, Skinner went 96 and 89 over 36 holes.

Kathy Hopfner of Swift Current was in the field, the Elmwood Golf Club member shot 95 and 90, she didn’t make the cut.

Also in the event was Lloydminster golfers Jo-Anne Schiller and Robin Acton, both players made the cut and played all 54 holes. Schiller tied for 68th at 54-over par, 270 (89, 87, 94), Acton carded rounds of 84, 90, and 98 to conclude the championship in 70th place at 56-over par.

The complete results can be seen here.

Golf Saskatchewan is pleased to announce the 2024 SAGE Scholarship Recipients. The Saskatchewan Academic and Golf Excellence (SAGE) Scholarship program annually presents scholarships to assist deserving member golfers in their pursuit of high school and post-secondary academic excellence. 
The successful Golf Saskatchewan recipients were selected based:

1. academic average | grade point average (GPA), and
2. a small percentage based on the individual’s sports excellence.

The 2024 SAGE & High School Bursary recipients include:

• Graham DeLaet Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Chase Pochylko | Riverside Country Club, Saskatoon
• Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship #1 (Valued at $1,000)
  • Myles Johnson, Riverside Country Club, Martensville
• Golf Saskatchewan Scholarship #2 (Valued at $1,000)
  • Autumn Nieszner, Wascana Country Club, Regina
• Fletcher-Reid Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Luke Cote, Royal Regina Golf Club, Regina               
• Ron Young Memorial Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Carter Bell, Riverside Country Club, Saskatoon
• Cooke Kinnear Scholarship (values at $1,000)
  • Cole Taylor, Evergreen Golf Course, Nipawin
• Kozy Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Chase Gedak, Golf Kenosee, Estevan
• Leddy-Heywood Scholarship (valued at $1,000)
  • Will Blake, Royal Regina Golf Club, Regina
• Dr. Garry Hayes Memorial Scholarship (valued at an amount TBD by SCF)
  • Jace Carlisle, TS&M Woodlawn, Estevan                           
  • Alex Swinnerton, Riverside Country Club, Saskatoon
• Meredith MacPherson-Stalwick Memorial Scholarship (valued at an amount TBD by SCF)
  • Hallie Crozier, Royal Regina Golf Club, Regina         

*SCF – Saskatoon Community Foundation

Golf Saskatchewan High School Bursary (valued at $400)

• Ryan Mosher, Riverside Country Club, Saskatoon
  • Tayla Perry, Wascana Country Club, Regina

For more information on our scholarship program or any of our other programs please visit the Golf Saskatchewan website at www.golfsaskatchewan.org or contact our office.

The Junior Order of Merit Tours (OMT) have concluded after the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) held their OOM Championship at The Legends Golf Club on Aug. 24 and 25.

Almost 125 players took part in the 36 hole championship played in Warman. In the under-15 women’s category Yuna Lee of Regina capped a remarkable season with her second win of the season. The Royal Regina Golf Club (RRGC) member shot 83 and 90, winning by four strokes over Saskatoon golfer Zhu Youran who carded rounds of 84 and 93.

Sienna Taylor, also of Saskatoon was third at 188 (87, 101).

In the under-19 women’s division, Chloe Wills of Kyle captured her third OMT event win of the year just getting past Tayla Perry of Regina and Saskatoon’s Sarah Henderson.

Wills, who plays at Saskatchewan Landing Golf Resort carded rounds of 78 and 75, two strokes ahead of Perry (77, 78) and Henderson’s 76 and 80.

On the junior men’s side in the under-13 division, Jun Lee of Regina claimed his fourth championship of the year. The RRGC shooter went 70, 77 at The Legends to win his age group by seven shots.

Cooper Roberge of Lloydminster was second at 154 with back-to-back rounds of 77, Craik product Dalton Stephens was third at 156 (75, 81).

In the under-15 men’s category, Lucas Sturgeon’s dominate season continued with his fifth win on the OMT in Warman.

The Saskatoon Golf and Country Club standout shot 72 and 79, one shot lower than Austin Nesbitt of Pilot Butte. Nesbitt carded rounds of 73 and 79.

Both players are currently in Elmira, Ont. for the Canadian Under-15 Championships, Golf Saskatchewan will have more from both players once they return to Saskatchewan.

Coming in third in the under-15 division was two southwest Saskatchewan players, Jace Wills of Kyle and Matty Schmiess of Swift Current tied at 153.

The under-17 category was won by Ethan Hunter of Casa Rio. The 15-year-old posted back-to-back rounds of 72, winning by seven shots in his age group, and second overall.

Jack Maharaj (Saskatoon) was second at 151 (75.76) and Aiden Walker of Regina was third at 154 (74, 80).

In the under-19 men’s division, Dane Giesbrecht tore up his home course to the tune of 138 (67, 71) to claim the overall win by 10 shots, the widest margin of victory at the event.

Ben Staines (Saskatoon) was second with rounds of 71 and 77, just a shot back in third was Martensville golfer Brayden Skene after carding rounds of 71 and 78.

The complete results can be found here. The MJT National Championship will take place in Kissimmee, Flo. from Nov. 7 to 10.

*All images courtesy Jeff Chambers

After heartbreak in a playoff in 2023, Alex and Wayne Schmidt were able to win the championship this year, also in a playoff.

The Royal Regina Golf Club members held the one day lead at Golf Kenosee last Saturday (Aug. 24), but were pressed on the final day by several teams including Lorie Boyle (Moose Jaw) and Carson Harcourt (Regina) who forced a playoff.

Like last year at Moose Jaw’s Hillcrest Golf Club, 36 holes wasn’t enough to determine a winner, but the tide turned in Kenosee Lake.

The daughter-father Schmidt team won on the first playoff hole avenging last year’s second place to Boyle and Chris Knoop.

Each team shot 140 through two rounds.

Tying for third place was Shelly BigEagle and Dallas Lequyer and the Regina twosome of Kim Walker and Ryan McNall.

Rounding out the top five was Creighton pair Lauren and Randy Fox.

To see the complete results, click here.

Elmira, Ont. – The inaugural Canadian U15 Championship, presented by BDO, is set to take place at Elmira Golf Club this week in Elmira, Ont. 

The 36-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Tuesday, August 27 followed with the championship rounds beginning on Wednesday. As this tournament is only a 36-hole limited field event, there will be no cut for the championship. The final round will wrap up on Thursday, followed by a half-day player development educational summit on Friday.  

The Canadian U15 Championship will bring together a starting field of 39 Junior boys and 39 Junior girls, aged 15 and under vying to win the first Canadian U15 individual championship. 

Saskatchewan will be represented by Grace Odnokon, Lucas Sturgeon, and Austin Nesbitt.

Following the U15 championship, all competitors will have the opportunity to attend an interactive education summit, where they will learn about navigating the modern pathway in high-performance golf. The Education Summit features four topics including, sport psychology, physical training for young golfers, parenting high-performance athletes, and talent development research. As part of their development process, players will also have the opportunity to participate in select skills assessments with Team Canada and gain insight into the organization and operations of the national team program.  

“We have a tremendous field ready to compete for the Inaugural Canadian U15 Championship at Elmira Golf Club. We would like to extend our gratitude to the wonderful staff and volunteers at Elmira Golf Club for all of the work that they have put in to prepare the golf course that will provide an excellent setting for the championship,” said Rogan Doyle, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “I am excited to see the impact that hosting a junior national championship will have on Elmira Golf Club and the surrounding Waterloo Region as a whole, when players from across Canada to display their skills in competition, showcasing the level of play other junior golfers can reach following similar dedication and hard work. We are looking forward to getting play underway in what is shaping to be an amazing championship.” 

The boys and girls individual champions will earn exemptions into their respective 2025 Canadian Junior Championship, presented by BDO. The boys winner will also receive an exemption into the 2024 Team Canada NextGen Selection Camp. The top five golfers in both the Junior Boys division and the Junior Girls division will also earn exemptions into two 2025 NextGen Championships.  

Elmira Golf Club will play host to the inaugural championship. Founded in 1963, the picturesque 18-hole, par 70 course is situated in a country setting just west of Elmira. The clubhouse sits perched above the 18th green and provides panoramic views of the golf course below as it flows through the “Eldale Valley” below. Gently winding through the valley and rolling hills is Larches Creek, offering players interesting shots through the unique mixture of finishing holes. Elmira Golf Club celebrated it’s 60th anniversary in 2023 and recently underwent renovations that saw the addition of 20 new tee decks along with a complete white sand bunker restoration. 

“To host a national championship at the club and showcase some of the top junior golfers in the country, is super exciting. It’s an incredible opportunity, not only for the club and members, but the entire community. Our team, along with our membership, is looking forward to seeing the competition this week with the up-and-coming young talent,” said Adam Ferraro, Head Golf Professional at Elmira Golf Club.  

For more information on the 2024 Canadian U15 Championship, please click here.  

To follow the First Annual Canadian U15 Championship leaderboard and full tee-off times, click here.

123 of Canada’s top women’s senior golfers will compete for the Ada Mackenzie Challenge Trophy; along with a Super Senior division title and an inter-provincial team championship all up for grabs in Georgetown

Georgetown, Ont. – The 2024 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO is set for August 27-29, with a field of 123 golfers competing over three rounds at The Club at North Halton in Georgetown, Ont.

Team Saskatchewan is led by provincial champion Pauline McDougall of Prince Albert, she’s joined by Rosetown’s Sue Skinner and Denise Wilson of Swift Current. Kathy Hopfner, also of Swift Current is in the field.

This year’s field competing for the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship features seven of the most recent winners including defending champion and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member, Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas, Ont. Last year, Hayward battled with Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. right up to the final hole to claim her fourth Canadian Women’s Senior national championship.

Kyrinis, a two-time champion (2016 and 2019) is in the field in Georgetown coming off her sixth Ontario Senior Women’s Championship earlier this month at Lora Bay Golf Club in Thornbury, Ont. Kyrinis joined Marlene Streit and Gayle Borthwick as the only six-time winners of the provincial championship.

Fellow two-time champion (2022 and 2021), Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. will also be competing next week. Stouffer has enjoyed a successful season thus far earning a clean sweep at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship last month, winning the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Inter-Provincial Team titles at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community in Courtenay, B.C. Stouffer also added the B.C. Women’s Mid-Master and B.C. Women’s Senior Championships to her trophy cabinet this season.

Additional past champions in the field include Sue Wooster of Australia who won back-to-back Canadian Women’s Senior titles in 2017 and 2018. Wooster won the 2024 Australian Mid-Amateur in May. Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke, Ont., also a two-time champion (2012 and 2015) is coming off a T19 finish and earned low amateur honours at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh, Pa. earlier this month. Joining them is 2014 winner, Helene Chartrand of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que. and two-time winner (2008 and 2009) Jackie Little of Procter, B.C.

“We are excited to welcome such a strong field with a number of past champions ready to compete for our Canadian Women’s Senior Championship next week at The Club at North Halton,” said Sam Brown, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “The staff at North Halton have done a tremendous job in preparing to host our national championship and will provide a great test and hospitality for our field.”

The Club at North Halton is hosting the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship while celebrating its 70th anniversary. Established in 1954, the course presents a test that allows golfers to use every club in the bag. The course features tree lined fairways, wooded ravines and natural foliage set in the valley of Georgetown. The history of the golf course itself extends back to 1914 and 1915 when local entrepreneur, J.A. Willoughby purchased two farms that would eventually become North Halton Golf and Country Club.

“We are honoured to be hosting a national championship at The Club at North Halton.  Players will be welcomed into our home and community during the championship week,” said Marc Bezaire, Director of Golf Operations, The Club at North Halton. “The field of players is very strong, we are looking forward to watching some of the best players in the country compete at the highest level.”

Conducted since 1971, the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has featured the country’s most accomplished senior golfers including Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Marilyn O’Connor, Margaret Todd, Alison Murdoch and Mary Ann Hayward who all own senior national championship titles. Four women have won the national championship four times including: Marlene Streit (1985, 1987, 1988, 1993), Gayle Borthwick (1994, 1995, 1999, 2000), Alison Murdoch (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007) and Mary Ann Hayward (2010, 2011, 2013, 2023).

The Senior and Super Senior championship rounds are played concurrently over three rounds, with the low 70 players plus ties in the Senior division and a minimum of five players in the Super Senior division advancing to the final round. Players over 50 are eligible to compete in the senior championship and those 60 and over are eligible to compete for the super senior title.

In addition, the Inter-Provincial Team Championship will be played over the first 36 holes, where teams will compete for the Katherine Helleur Trophy. Last year, Team Ontario won by 14-strokes over Team British Columbia. Ontario was represented by Mary Ann Hayward, Judith Kyrinis and Terrill Samuel. It marked Ontario’s tenth title in a 12-year span, with Hayward being part of all ten championships. Kyrinis earned her sixth team title and Samuel claimed her second team title.

The winner of the 2024 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship will earn an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur Championship taking place September 21-26 at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle, Wash. Along with exemptions into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2025 U.S. Women’s Senior Open.

Practice rounds are scheduled for Monday, August 26, with the opening round scheduled to begin on Tuesday, August 27. For the full player field competing in the 2024 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.