After two separate rain delays, day two of the 2020 Junior Women’s & Men’s Championships was called due to darkness.

In the junior women’s championship, all competitors were able to finish round two before play was suspended. Crystal Zamzow of the Swan River Golf & Country Club was able to hold her first round lead carding a 7-over par round of 77 for a 36-hole total of 156. Cala Korman moved up a spot into solo second also after shooting a 77 and sits two shots back of the lead at 158. Mikyla Albert holds third spot shooting a 9-over par score of 79 for a two-day total of 158.

Junior Women’s Leaderboard >>

In the men’s championship, play was officially suspended with 13 groups remaining on the course. The remaining junior men’s groups will resume play at 8:00am on Wednesday morning to complete round 2. Round three will then officially begin at 12:00pm for all competitors.

Junior Men’s Leaderboard >> 

It was a beautiful day at Selkirk Golf & Country Club for round one of the 2020 Junior Women’s & Men’s Championships presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation.

In the junior women’s championship, Crystal Zamzow of the Swan River Golf & Country Club took the first round lead after an opening round score of 79. Alone is second Mikyla Albert with an 80 and in third is Cala Korman at 81.

Junior Women’s Leaderboard >>

On the junior men’s side, Neel Soni of St. Charles Country Club fired a 2-under par round of 68 to take the first round lead. In close second, is Carter Johnson of Rossmere Country Club who posted an even par round of 70. Ryden Hargreaves of Wheat City Golf Course is at 3rd and three shots back after an opening round of 1-over par 71.  Defending champion Jacob Armstrong of the St. Boniface Golf Course, is tied for 4th after shooting a two-over par round of 72.

Junior Men’s Leaderboard >>

Round two of the 54-hole provincial competition is scheduled tomorrow with a 12pm start time.

Golf Manitoba (Winnipeg) – The 2020 Junior Women’s & Men’s Championships presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation are set to go July 12-14 at the Selkirk Golf & Country Club.

JUNIOR WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION

Dates: July 12-14
Course: Selkirk Golf & Country Club
Yards/Par: 6,251 yards/73
Field: 8
2019 Champion: Kate Gregoire, Quarry Oaks Golf Course
2019 Runner-up: Mikyla Albert, Golf Manitoba Public Player
Format: 54 holes of stroke play
Awards/Placing: Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd lowest competitors. Age group prizes also available.

JUNIOR MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION

Dates: July 12-14
Course: Selkirk Golf & Country Club
Yards/Par: 6,480 yards/71
Field: 64
2019 Champion: Jacob Armstrong, St. Boniface Golf Club
2019 Runner-up: Braxton Kuntz, Breezy Bend Country Club
Format: 54 holes of stroke play
Awards/Placing: Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd lowest competitors. Age group prizes also available.

LOOKING BACK

On a rain soaked final round at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club, Kate Gregoire saved her best round for last in the 54-hole event by posting a 7-over score of 80 for a 3-day total of 248. It was good enough for a 13-shot victory over Mikyla Albert who finished at 261 on rounds of 90-87-84. Finishing alone in third place was Cala Korman of Kilarney Lakeside Golf Club who finished at 267 with rounds of 87-89-91.

2019 Junior Women’s Leaderboard >>

On the junior men’s side, Jacob Armstrong also saved his best for last in the four-day championship posting a 2-under par 69 that included a string of three birdies in a row on holes 13 through 15. Armstrong, who went 5 under on his last 11 holes, moved past 54-hole leader Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club. Kuntz posted a respectable final round of 75 in very difficult conditions to finish just two back of Armstrong at 295. Finishing alone in third place was first round leader Neel Soni who plays out of St. Charles Country Club. Soni also posted a final round 75 to finish 10-shots back at 303.

2019 Junior Men’s Leaderboard >>

HISTORY

The Junior Women’s Championship was first contested in 1948 and 2020 will be the 72nd playing of the event.

Past Champions:

Complete past champions directory >>

The Junior Men’s Championship was first contested in 1923 and 2020 will mark the 97th playing of the event.

Past Champions:

Complete past champions directory >>

FAST FACTS

• Sponsors:
  • Event title sponsor: Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation. New for 2020, the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation was awarded title sponsorship of both the junior women’s and men’s championships in recognition of the tremendous support the Foundation has committed to junior golf in Manitoba. The resulting sponsorship has been used to help subsidize entry fees for all competitors.
  • Golf Manitoba association sponsors: TaylorMade Golf Canada, adidas Golf Canada
• The top three players will place in the Junior Women’s Championship. The top three players will place in the Junior Men’s Championship. Age group prizes will also be available in both events.
• Players this week will compete under the Golf Manitoba 2020 Conditions of Competition and Protocols including enhanced health and safety standards in response to COVID-19.
• Caddies and spectators are not permitted. 
  • Exception: One parent allowed to spectate if the junior is playing in the Junior Bantam and/or the Junior Championship. Must adhere to the spectator code of conduct.
• For media inquiries, please contact Lisa Andersen, Director of Competitions at lisa@golfmb.ca.
• Scoring updates will be available on the Golf Manitoba Twitter and Facebook pages.
• Leaderboards will be available on the event information webpage:
  • 2020 Junior Women’s Leaderboard 
  • 2020 Junior Men’s Leaderboard

ABOUT THE COURSE

More information on Seklirk Golf & Country Club can be found here.

It was another perfect day at Bel Acres Golf & Country Club for the third and final rounds of the 2020 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships.

In the Women’s Amateur Championship, Veronica Vetesnik of the Kingswood Golf & Country Club protected her second round lead to hold off Bobbi Uhl of Shilo Country Club to win the event by a single shot. Uhl managed to pull even with Vetesnik after the first nine holes, but Vetesnik held her ground with a steady back nine carding a final round of 77. Uhl finished alone in second and also posting a 77. Marisa Naylor, who started the round tied for second, finished with a final round of 7-over par 80 to finish alone in third. Defending champion Greer Valaquenta finished in fourth after a final round score of 85.

Final round Women’s Amateur leaderboard >>

Allan McDonald, 2020 Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion

On the men’s side, Allan McDonald of the Breezy Bend Country Club is your 2020 Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion.  Allan McDonald, who started the day 2 shots back of second round leader and clubmate Justin McDonald, fired a final round of 1-over par 73 to finish at 219 for the 54-hole event. Justin McDonald and Eric Johnson, the 2019 defending champion and also of Breezy Bend, both tied for second at 224.

Mike Tibbs of Breezy Bend won the Mid-Masters (40+) division shooting 225 for the event assisted by a final round of 73.

Final round Men’s Mid-Amateur leaderboard >> 

Golf Manitoba would like to thank our event title sponsor, Gerald Diamond and Diamond Athletic Medical Supplies for their incredible support of these two events! Thank you!

Golf Manitoba also wishes to extend a sincere thank you to membership, management and staff of the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club including PGA of Canada Head Professional, Robin Henderson and Head Superintendent, David Linstead. A special thank you also to all the competitors who helped make this another great event!

It was near perfect conditions for round two of the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships at the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club.

Veronica Vetesnik of the Kingswood Golf & Country Club will take a one shot lead into the final round of Women’s Amateur. Vetesnik shot a 4-over par round of 77 to sit at 152 for the event. First round leader Bobbi Uhl of Shilo Country Club is tied with Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge for second place at 153. Defending champion Greer Valaquenta made the move of the day moving up into fourth place after shooting a 2-over par 75.

Women’s second round leaderboard >>

On the men’s side, Justin McDonald of Breezy Bend holds the 36-hole lead after shooting a 2-over par 74 in the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. McDonald sits two clear of clubmate Jesse Skelton who posted an even-par round of 72. Moving into a tie for third place at 146 is Curtis Markusson of St. Charles Country Club and Allan McDonald of Breezy Bend.

Men’s second round leaderboard >>

Round three is scheduled for tomorrow morning with first men’s group off at 9am and the first women’s group off at 12pm.

The first round of the 2020 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships is complete with the 54-hole events being contested at the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club. Bobbi Uhl, the 2020 Women’s Match Play Champion, is the first round leader in the women’s event fashioning a 1-over par round of 74. Uhl, who plays out of the Shilo Country Club, sits one clear of Veronica Vetesnik of the Kingswood Golf & Country Club who opened with a 75. 2017 champion Marissa Naylor of the Pine Ridge Golf Club is two back after an opening round 76. Defending champion Greer Valaquenta of Southwood Golf & Country Club is just 5 shots back after an opening round 79.

Women’s Amateur Leaderboard >>

In the opening round of the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, it was Justin McDonald of the Breezy Bend Country Club who set the early pace posting a tidy 3-under par 69 to sit two clear of clubmate Allan McDonald who opened at 71. Sitting in a tie for third, and all from Breezy Bend, is 2019 defending champion Eric Johnson, Mike Tibbs and Jesse Skelton.

Men’s Mid-Amateur Leaderboard >>

Round two will continue tomorrow with the women’s event off first and starting at 9am.

VANCOUVER – Due to continued travel and border restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the LPGA Tour, together with Golf Canada and title-sponsor Canadian Pacific (CP), have announced that the CP Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver has been postponed until 2021.

Golf Canada and CP have continued to monitor guidelines set by federal, provincial and municipal authorities intended to prevent the community spread of the virus. Physical factors including restrictions on international travel and mandatory quarantine along with limitations on group gatherings in the province of British Columbia ultimately forced the event’s postponement at Shaughnessy until 2021.

“The CP Women’s Open is a signature event for Golf in Canada and on the LPGA Tour and we share in the disappointment of our fans, players, volunteers and partners,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “The health of everyone who comes together for the event is our top priority and together with our partners at CP and the LPGA Tour, we can now look ahead to hosting an exceptional CP Women’s Open next year in the world-class city of Vancouver. I also applaud the swift and supportive response from our friends at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club as well as the Province of British Columbia and Sport Hosting Vancouver who continue to be tremendous hosts and partners in welcoming the LPGA Tour back in 2021.”

As title sponsor of the CP Women’s Open, CP is committed to raising charitable dollars in the event’s host community through the CP Has Heart campaign in support of children’s heart health. BC Children’s Hospital Foundation had previously been named primary charity partner for the 2020 CP Women’s Open and will continue on in the same capacity in 2021.

“We are disappointed we are unable to run the event in Vancouver this year as planned. There is no doubt that the 2021 CP Women’s Open will be a remarkable event both on the course and in terms of leaving a positive impact on the community,” said Keith Creel, CP President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s best golfers to Vancouver next year.”

The 2021 CP Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club will mark the sixth time the province of British Columbia has hosted Canada’s Women’s Open Championship, with the last time being 2015 at The Vancouver Golf Club, where Lydia Ko won her third CP Women’s Open title.

“The CP Women’s Open is truly a world-class event and a favorite stop for all of us at the LPGA Tour,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan. “I understand this was a tough decision for everyone involved, but given the restrictions faced, there was simply nothing else that could be done that would have enabled us to run the event in 2020. It is disappointing to miss Canada’s national championship and I know I speak for all LPGA Tour players and staff when I say we look forward to being back in Vancouver next year.”

The 2020 event was originally set for August 31-September 6. The Board of Directors and membership at Shaughnessy quickly decided to shift their focus to welcoming the stars of the LPGA Tour back next August 23-29, 2021.

“Shaughnessy understands the need to postpone this year’s event in light of the global COVID-19 pandemic – we will continue to work with our fantastic group of volunteers and partners in preparation of hosting the best players in the world in 2021,” said Brian Mossop, General Manager and C.O.O. at Shaughnessy.

The rescheduled return of the LPGA Tour will be proudly supported by both the Province of British Columbia as well as Sport Hosting Vancouver. With a global audience reach of over 500 million households across 170 international markets, both bodies are getting behind one of Canada’s signature sports entertainment properties as part of their tourism platform for 2021.

“While we share the disappointment that this year’s CP Women’s Open in Vancouver is postponed, we know this is the right thing to do to keep players, fans and communities safe,” said Lisa Beare, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. “We look forward to welcoming the LPGA Tour next year and invite all involved to explore more of Super, Natural British Columbia after the tournament.”

“Sport Hosting Vancouver is proud to support Golf Canada through our partners at Tourism Vancouver, the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Hotel Destination Association,” said Michelle Collens, Senior Manager, Sport Hosting Vancouver. “We look forward to continuing to work with all partners over the next year to ensure the 2021 CP Women’s Open is a highlight on the calendar, including initiatives to foster sport development and support the economic and social objectives of our destination.”

The third annual CP Women’s Leadership Summit, which was scheduled to take place on September 1 as part of CP Women’s Open tournament week, will be replaced in 2020 by a digital experience focused on audience empowerment and inspiring guest speakers. Full details including a schedule and guest speakers will be released in the coming weeks. The Summit, which is a celebration of business leaders, influencers and community champions, will continue to be part of the CP Women’s Open in 2021 and beyond.

Golf Canada, CP and the LPGA Tour would like to thank golf fans across the nation in addition to the many corporate partners, ticket and hospitality purchasers, as well as the countless volunteers for their continued support through this unprecedented time.

Corporate hospitality buyers will be contacted by their Golf Canada sales representative over the coming days to plan forward for 2021. Individual ticket purchases made via Ticketmaster will have the opportunity to be refunded within the next 30 days or be carried over to the 2021 event. Volunteers will be contacted by Golf Canada staff and will be able to choose between deferring their volunteer registration to 2021 or receiving a refund.

Golf Manitoba (Winnipeg) – The 2020 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships are set to go July 6-8 at the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club. These are the first two provincial championships of the 2020 Golf Manitoba event season.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION

Dates: July 6-8
Course: Bel Acres Golf & Country Club
Yards/Par: 5,865 yards/73
Field: 21
2019 Champion: Greer Valaquenta, Southwood Golf & Country Club
2019 Runner-up: Hannah Diamond, St. Charles Country Club
Format: 54 holes of stroke play
Awards/Placing: Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd lowest competitors.

MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION

Dates: July 6-8
Course: Bel Acres Golf & Country Club
Yards/Par: 6.975 yards/72
Field: 60
2019 Champion: Eric Johnson, Breezy Bend Country Club
2019 Runner-up: Todd Fanning, Niakwa Country Club
Format: 54 holes of stroke play
Awards/Placing: Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd lowest competitors. First place also to Mid-Masters Champion (age 40+)

LOOKING BACK

Greer Valaquenta of Southwood Golf & Country Club won the 2019 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. Valaquenta played steady golf over three days on rounds of 73-78-75 for a 3 shot victory over Hannah Diamond of St. Charles Country Club. Finishing in third place and just four shots back was Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge Golf Club.

2019 Women’s Amateur Leaderboard >>

It took extra holes for Eric Johnson to win the 2019 Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion. Johnson, who plays out of Breezy Bend County Club, made a par on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to beat Todd Fanning of the Niawka Country Club. Johnson fired a final round 69 for a three day total of 208. Fanning shot a final round of 68 to also finish at 208 to earn a spot in the playoff against Johnson. Mike Tibbs of Breezy Bend finished alone in third place shooting a final day round of 72 to finish two shots back at 210.

2019 Men’s Mid-Amateur Leaderboard >>

HISTORY

The Women’s Amateur Championship was first contested in 1921 and 2020 will be the 98th playing of the event.  There was no contest in 1943 or 1944.

Past Champions:

Complete past champions directory >>

The Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship was first contested in 1993 and 2020 will mark the 28th playing of the event.

Past Champions:

Complete past champions directory >>

FAST FACTS

• Sponsors:
  • Event title sponsor: Diamond Athletic Medical Supplies
  • Golf Manitoba association sponsors: TaylorMade Golf Canada, adidas Golf Canada
• The top three players will place in the Women’s Amateur Championship. The top three players will place in the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship in addition to the winner in the Mid-Masters (40+) division.
• Players this week will compete under the Golf Manitoba 2020 Conditions of Competition and Protocols including enhanced health and safety standards in response to COVID-19.
• Caddies and spectators are not permitted.
• For media inquiries, please contact Lisa Andersen, Director of Competitions at lisa@golfmb.ca.
• Scoring updates will be available on the Golf Manitoba Twitter and Facebook pages.
• Leaderboards will be available on the event information webpage:
  • Women’s Amateur Leaderboard 
  • Men’s Mid-Amateur Leaderboard

ABOUT THE COURSE

More information on Bel Acres Golf & Country Club can be found here.

Portage la Prairie – The 2020 Junior Bantam Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and the City & District Championship, both concluded on Sunday, June 28th at the Portage Golf Club in Portage la Prairie.

In the junior women’s bantam event, Cala Korman of the Killarney Lakeside Golf Club took the top spot overall with a 36-hole score of 161 on rounds of 79-82. Finishing in solo second, was Cyrstal Zamzow of Swan River Golf & Country Club who shot a two-day score of 172. Jeri Lafleche of Clear Lake Golf Club rounded out the top three with a two-day score of 188.

In the 12 & under junior women’s division, Jewel Lafleche of the Clear Lake Golf Course finished in first while her older sister Jeri Lafleche, took top honours in the 13 & 14 year division.

In the junior boys overall championship, it took extra holes for Mack Sanderson of the Pheasant Glen Golf Resort to earn the victory.  Sanderson made a two-putt par on the second hole of a sudden death playoff to beat Jackson Delaurier of the Dauphin Lake Golf Club. Both Sanderson and Delaurier shot a two-day score of 156. Finishing in third place and just two shots shy of the playoff was Austin Boge of the Pine Ridge Golf Club.

In the 12 & under boys division, Brayden Boge of Pine Ridge Golf Club shot a score of 163 and taking first place.  In the 13 & 14 division, a three-way tie for first at 158 was broken by a countback giving Austin Boge the win.

For complete junior bantam results, click here >>.

In the women’s City & District Championship, Greer Valquenta of the Southwood Golf & Country Club was the lone player to finish the two day event below par thereby helping her to her first City & District Championship title. Valquenta shot rounds of 71 & 76  for a 1-under par finish. The 2019 and 2018 Defending champion Charmain Mackid of the Breezy Bend Country Club and Marissa Naylor of the Pine Ridge Golf Club finished in a two-way tie for second at 162.

A new forward tee division was added to this event for 2020. Taking the inaugural top spot in that division was Kathy Adams who plays out of the Carman Golf & Curling Club.

For complete City & District results, click here >>.

Golf Manitoba would like to thank the membership and staff of the Portage Golf Club and general manager and PGA of Canada head professional Deb Pritchard, and superintendent Farrol Asham, for hosting this year’s championship. And a very special thanks to our presenting sponsor, the

Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation for their tremendous support of our junior bantam championship! Last but not least, thank you to all the players who participated and helped to make these two events a success!

As each provincial golf association has planned its respective amateur championships, organizers have had to take a back-to-basics approach to keep players, officials, and volunteers safe from COVID-19.

“It’s all about the players, the golf course, and the tournament,” said John Deneer, events and tournament manager for Alberta Golf. “No excess, no nothing. Just the players, so I’m glad we can do that.”

Alberta began its championship season on Tuesday with its men’s mid-amateur championship at Coyote Creek Golf & RV Resort in Sundre.

That province has implemented strict rules for its championships including no caddies, no guardians accompanying juniors and no spectators at its championship tournaments. Volunteer commitments have been reduced as much as possible and scorecards won’t be signed by both players, all in an effort to “reduce multiple touch points.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Take a look at the COVID-19 PROTOCOLS competitors this week at the Alberta Mens Mid Am are playing under at Coyote Creek Golf and RV Resort in Sundre. June 24th, 2020.

A post shared by Alberta Golf (@alberta_golf) on Jun 24, 2020 at 12:12pm PDT

Deneer said that although he expected there would be slightly lower registration for the provincial championships, it was actually higher than usual.

“When we announced that we were going to run the championships we felt comfortable that we could run them in a safe manner,” said Deneer. “(The men’s mid-amateur) was full with a waitlist. … We’re getting full fields, a lot of participation.”

Golf Ontario opened registration for its championships on Wednesday morning, with executive director Mike Kelly confirming that its men’s amateur sold out in eight minutes. Ontario’s provincial association actually had to split up registration times for its amateur and junior championships – which open Thursday – in an effort to make sure its web servers didn’t crash.

Ontario is taking similar precautionary steps to safeguarding participants at its amateur championships, although its junior players will be permitted one guardian to walk the course with them.

Trophy ceremonies in Ontario will be limited to the winners and one official, although Golf Ontario plans to broadcast the championship celebrations online.

“The first championship trophy won’t be handed out until the very end of July so we have a bit of time to figure it out,” said Kelly, who noted that tournaments like the men’s and women’s senior championships would be held at the same venue so joint ceremonies can be held. “One of the things we’re looking at is using Zoom so we’re able to provide a link.”

Manitoba has also begun its championship schedule, with Bobbi Uhl (amateur women), Carl Lechman (senior men) and Austin Dobrescu (amateur men) being crowned provincial match play champions on Sunday.

These provincial championships will be the biggest golf tournaments of 2020 as Golf Canada had to cancel all of its national championships due to travel restrictions. The RBC Canadian Open, Canada’s men’s professional championship, was also cancelled, although the CP Women’s Open is still scheduled for early September in Vancouver.

Many provincial championships serve as qualifiers for national tournaments, so the cancelling of Canada-wide events have freed up dates later in the summer. British Columbia Golf CEO Kris Jonasson said his organization plans to make the most of those open weekends.

“We had very early in the competitive season determined that we would make a decision on each of our individual events four weeks in advance of the start of that particular championship,” said Jonasson, who noted that the first four events of B.C.’s season were cancelled but will now be rescheduled, likely into those slots left open by Golf Canada.

Jonasson also said that B.C.’s men’s amateur – slated for three weeks from now – may also be postponed, depending on when health authorities lift their ban on non-essential within the province.

“We’re now hopeful that in some type of a modified format we can get all of our championships in or at least enough championships that we can crown an individual winner in each of our respective categories.”