Call for volunteers for Players Cup
The volunteer link can be found at http://playerscup.golf/
About the Players Cup: The Players Cup first began as The Manitoba Open in 1919, one of the oldest golf tournaments in North America. Karl Keefer won that year and kicked off a Manitoba tradition that has lasted over 90 years. In 1998 it was renamed the MTS Classic and later the Free Press Manitoba Classic. In 2008 it became the Players Cup we all know today.
The Players Cup joined the newly formed Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2013 and quickly became a premier event on the national circuit that is now the official first step to the PGA TOUR.
The Mackenzie Tour features some of the best up and coming golfers looking to take that step toward their dream of playing on golf’s greatest stage as they compete for their share of the Players Cup’s $175,000 purse. Many Mackenzie Tour champions have gone on to notable careers on the PGA TOUR including 2009 Players Cup Champion Graham DeLaet, Mike Weir, David Hearn, Tony Finau, Nick Taylor and Steve Stricker.
Quarry Oaks Golf Course set to host 2019 Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship
Quarry Oaks Golf Course is set to host the 2019 Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship. 2018 champion Justin McDonald of Breezy Beed Country Club is in the field of 80+ players who will tee it up July 15-18.
All four rounds of the championship will be contested on the Desert-Quarry rotation of the 27-hole facility. According to Head PGA of Canada Golf Professional Darren Hayden, the two courses are very different in look and playability. The Desert is a target based course that puts a premium on accuracy and shot placement. The Quarry nine includes plenty of tree-lined holes and penalty areas that will test the player’s ability to commit to shot execution. Both nines offer an opportunity to play some holes aggressively but at the risk of taking high numbers. Weather conditions are also known to shift quickly during the round which will also test both the patience and endurance of the field.
Hayden also commented that that course is in excellent condition. The greens have been rolling well and have been receptive all year long and the fairways are giving up some roll which will help to soften the 6,641 yard layout. The turning point of the championship could come on the Quarry nine that features the unique island green 6th hole, that will play the 15th hole in the championship. The 167 par-3 island green will put a huge premium on club selection and yardage control.
Hayden said the course set up will be challenging, but fair with daily conditions dictating hole and tee placements.
For more information about Quarry Oaks, visit their website at quarryoaks.ca
For more information about the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship including live scoring, visit our championship page or follow Golf Manitoba on Twitter.
About Nott Autocorp: Nott Autocorp’s mission is to provide the most comfortable buying experience by delivering affordable luxury and exceptional service in a unique atmosphere. The Nott’s are heavily involved in many community charitable events and understand the importance of strong example of integrity and leadership which has been an underlying principle in their success. Nott Luxury Auto & Art Gallery is located at 1322 Waverley Street (at the corner of Waverley & McGillivray) where you can shop indoors in their 20,000 sq. ft. showroom and view art from local artists. Learn about our Nott Autocorp at nott.ca.
About Golf Manitoba: Golf Manitoba is the governing body for golf in the province of Manitoba and North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf in Manitoba and North West Ontario for the benefit of all participants.
Gregoire and Armstrong take junior titles
Mother Nature held back just long enough for Kate Gregoire of Quarry Oaks Golf Course and Jacob Armstrong of St. Boniface Golf Club to capture the 2019 Golf Manitoba Junior Women’s and Men’s Championships.
On a rain soaked final round at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club, Gregoire played her best round of the three day event posting a 7-over score of 80 to compliment her two previous back-to-back rounds of 84 for a 13 shot victory over Mikala 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. Gregoire, Albert and Korman will make up the 2019 junior women’s inter-provincial team that will represent Golf Manitoba and the province at the 2019 Golf Canada Canadian Junior Women’s Championship being held July 30-August 2 at the Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Age group champions:
12 & under: Jeri Lafleche, Clear Lake Golf Course
13 & 14: Cala Korman, Kilarney Lakeside Golf Course
15 & 16: Sarah Farmer, St. Charles Country Club
17 & 18: Kate Gregoire, Quarry Oaks Golf Course
View complete junior women’s results >>
On the junior men’s side, Jacob Armstrong put together his strongest round of the four-day championship with 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. Armstrong, Kuntz and Soni will represent Golf Manitoba, the province and their home clubs at the 2019 Golf Canada Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship being held August 12-15 at Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland, New Brunswick.
Age group champions:
12 & under: Terrence Rafferty (on a countback), Southwood Golf & Country Club
13 & 14: Jack Taylor, Elmhurst Golf & Country Club
15 & 16: Braxton Kuntz, Breezy Bend Country Club
17 & 18: Jacob Armstrong, St. Boniface Golf Club
View the complete junior boys results >>
The 2019 junior inter-club championship was also decided during the first two rounds of the junior championship. A new format for 2019 saw teams of three compete over 36-holes. The low two scores for each day would count toward the overall club total. The team from Pine Ridge (Josh Shuster, Ryan Blair and Hayden Chaloner) took the title with a two-day score of 305 beating Breezy Bend (Braxton Kuntz, Tazio Cianflone and Jordan McDonald) who posted 311.
Valaquenta and Johnson claim victory at the 2019 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur and Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships
It took an extra hole but Eric Johnson is 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 against Todd Fanning of 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. Johnson, Fanning and Tibbs will make up the provincial team that will represent the province at the 2019 Golf Canada Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship that will take place August 20-23 at the Summit Golf Club in Toronto, Ontario.
View the men’s final leaderboard >>
Greer Valaquenta of Southwood Golf & Country Club is 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.
Hannah Diamond, Marissa Naylor and Veronica Vetesnik will form the team that will represent Manitoba in the 2019 Golf Canada Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship being held July 23-26 at the Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alberta. Based on her primary residency not being in the Golf Manitoba district, Valaquenta is ineligible to play on team Manitoba.
View the women’s final leaderboard >>
For more information:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
jared@golfmb.ca
204-925-5729
Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur round 1 re-cap
The first round of the 2019 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur is in the books in what turned out to be a sunny but windy day at the Selkirk Golf & Country Club.
On the men’s side, Eric Johnson and Mike Tibbs of Breezy Bend Country Club sit atop the leaderboard fashioning 1-under par rounds of 70. Curtis Markusson of St. Charles Country Club shot an ever par round of 71 to sit alone in third place. Breezy Bend is all over the top of the leaderboard with defending champ Justin McDonald shooting a one-over par round of 72 to sit in a tie for third with Dwayne Heinrichs of Bel Acres. Lurking just a few shots behind are club mates Garth Collings and Jesse Skelton, also of Breezy Bend, matching cards with 2-over par rounds of 73. Also in a tie for sixth and shooting 73’s are Ben Bandura of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club and Ryan Terdik of Pine Ridge Golf Club.
In the Women’s Amateur, Greer Valaquenta of Southwood Golf & Country Club shot a two-over round of 73 to sit alone in first. Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge is in second with 77 and Charmaine Mackid, of Breezy Bend, is in third shooting a seven-over par round of 78. 2018 defending champion Camryn Roadley of Southwood opened with an 84 to sit 11 shots back and in 8th place.
Round 2 goes tomorrow at Selkirk staring at 8am.
MacKid, Valaquenta & Zamzow take titles at Carman
Charmain MacKid of Breezy Bend Country Club took top honours in the 2019 City & District women’s golf championship held June 22 & 23 at the Carman Golf & Curling Club. MacKid, on rounds of 80 and 77, edged Greer Valaquenta of Southwood Golf & Country Club for a two stroke victory. Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge Golf Club finished alone in third place shooting a two day total of 165 and eight shots back of MacKid. With the win, MacKid has won back-to-back City & District titles.
City & District Full Results >>
In the Junior Boy’s Bantam Championship, Feanor Valaquenta of Southwood Golf & Country Club was the overall junior champion on rounds of 77 and 81 for a 168 total. Valaquenta finished just two shots ahead of Jack Taylor of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club and ten shots ahead of Lorien Valaquenta also of Southwood.
In the Junior Girls’s Bantam Championship, Crystal Zamzow of Swam River Golf & Country Club shot rounds of 92 and 87 for a six shot victory over Cala Korman of Kilarney Lakeside Golf Club.
In the Junior Bantam 13 & 14 girl’s age division, first place went to Armaan Dhillon of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club. In the 12 and under girl’s division, first place went to Jeri Lafleche of Clear Lake Golf Course.
In the Junior Bantam 13 & 14 boy’s age division, first place went to Grady Chuback of St. Charles Country Club. Lorien Valaquenta of Southwood Golf & Country Club was the 12 & under boy’s champion.
First Golf Manitoba major of the year tees off July 2-4
The 2019 Golf Manitoba major championship season tees off July 2-4 with the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur & Women’s Amateur Championships. Both events will be contested at the Selkirk Golf & Country Club.
Selkirk Golf & Country Club has hosted many Golf Manitoba events and championships and will be a great test of golf. The course plays anywhere from 5761-6520 yards, to a Par of 71 for Men and 73 for Women. Almost every fairway is tree lined and calls for accurate tee shots. The green speed will be a test for the field traditionally running at a speed of 10 on the stimp meter and are known for their many undulations.
Both defending champions will lead the 95+ player field. Justin McDonald of Breezy Bend will defend his 2018 Mid-Amateur title and Camryn Roadley of Southwood Golf & Country Club will defend her 2018 Women’s Amateur title.
Diamond Athletic is the host sponsor for 2019 and with that brings some event enhancements including an increased travel honouraium for those players who qualify to represent Team Manitoba in the Golf Canada Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the Golf Canada Women’s Amateur Championship as well complimentary access to the Selkirk practice facility for all competitors during the competition.
For more information about the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur and Women’s Amateur including scoring, please visit our competitive schedule page at golfmb.ca.
About Diamond Athletic Medical Supplies:
Diamond Athletic Medical Supplies is a local family-run supplier of athletic and medical supplies and has been in business since 1946. Diamond Athletic is located at 75 Poseidon Bay, Unit 185 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Learn more at diamondathletic.com.
For more information:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204.925.5730
jared@golfmb.ca
2019 Event changes on hold
In January of 2019, Golf Manitoba announced that changes would be introduced that would affect the format of the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur and the Junior Men’s Championships. After further deliberation and stakeholder input, these changes will be put on hold for the 2019 season. The format for the Amateur will remain as previously conducted. After 36-holes of play, the field will be reduced to the top 60 and ties. No further cut will be made. The format for the Junior Men’s will remain the same, there will be a cut to the low 60 and ties after 36 holes if the starting field is 75 players or more. There will be no cut if the entries total 74 or less. Any player, in any age group is eligible to make the cut.
For more information on the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur and Manitoba Junior Men’s and Women’s Championships, please visit the competitive schedule page at golfmb.ca.
Provincial Junior Teams Receive Funding Boost in 2019
The Golf Manitoba inter-provincial junior teams will receive a major funding boost for 2019. In April of 2019, the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation made a $60,000 donation to Golf Manitoba with a portion of that donation earmarked to provide financial assistance to the members of the boy’s and girl’s Golf Manitoba inter-provincial junior teams that will travel to Golf Canada national championships. With the donation, each team member will qualify to receive up to $1,800 in travel assistance. In addition to the team members, the remaining quota spot awarded we will also receive financial assistance to help with travel to the respective national championship.
The 2019 Golf Manitoba inter-provincial junior teams will include the top three finishers in each of the Manitoba Junior Men’s and Junior Women’s Championships that will take place from July 6-9 at both the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club and the Pine Ridge Golf Club. The 2019 Golf Canada Junior Girl’s Championship will take place July 30-August 2 at the Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alberta with the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship taking place August 12-15 at the Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland, New Brunswick.
For more information:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204.925.5729
jared@golfmb.ca
Successful Spring for Golf in Schools Program
The 2019 spring Future Links driven by Acura Golf in Schools campaign will officially come to a close on June 28, 2019. Created by Golf Canada in partnership with PGA of Canada and Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada), the Golf in Schools program brings the game of golf to Canadian Schools and is regionally administered by Golf Manitoba. The program has been developed to provide students the opportunity to develop aspects of “physical literacy” related to the sport of golf, and increase student knowledge and appreciation for the sport.
Since the start of May, NCCP and PGA of Canada certified Community Golf Coaches have visited over 45 local schools and have introduced approximately 7,000 early years students to the game of golf. The lessons delivered through the Golf in Schools program help students to learn within specific skill themes including movement skills, health-related fitness, skill-related fitness and life skills and all in relation to golf. With less than 1% of elementary school populations playing golf, the ultimate goal of the Golf in Schools program is to change this statistic and offer students the opportunity to develop a skill set and have experiences that will encourage and support their lifelong participation in golf.
Moving into the summer months, Golf Manitoba will continue to deliver Future Links junior golf programming to community centres and rural golf courses through Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.
In addition to the support of Acura Canada, the regional Golf in Schools program received funding support from the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation.
For more information:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204.925.5729
jared@golfmb.ca