For the second time in three weeks, Stony Mountain’s Aaron Cockerill continued to make waves on the DP World Tour.

Cockerill shot a final round 5-under par 67 to finish T6 on the Bahrain Championship’s leaderboard at 8-under par 280.

After bogeying the first hole in each of his prior three rounds, Sunday’s final round got off to a hot start with a birdie and then followed it up with three consecutive birds on holes four through six.

This week’s placing earned him 97.5 points and 74,707.91 euros ($108,535.65 Canadian).

For the final leaderboard, click here.

The 31 year old opened the 2024 calendar year at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic where he tied for fourth.

Golf Manitoba Director of Communications & Development Brian Munz sits down with Southwood Golf & Country Club Head Professional Andrew Steep to talk about the 2023 Murray Tucker Class “A” Professional of the Year award.

Steep also won this award in 2017.

Stony Mountain’s Aaron Cockerill shot a 5-under par 67 during Sunday’s final round of the DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship in Dubai.

Cockerill made an eagle on the 14th hole to go along with five birdies, 10 pars and two bogeys.

With a tournament total 12-under par 276 (67-70-72-67), Cockerill tied for 23rd on the leaderboard earning 28.8 points and 21,929.16 euros ($31,387.80 Canadian).

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Just nine tournaments into the DP World Tour season, Canada’s Aaron Cockerill is already in the best position of his career.

Cockerill, from Stony Mountain, Man., tied for fourth at the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, firing a 4-under fourth round to finish at 10 under, just four shots back of Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy. That performance moved Cockerill 33 points up the Race to Dubai rankings to ninth overall.

“There’s still a long way to go but it’s obviously better to start in a good position than be behind the 8-ball,” said Cockerill, who played in his fourth tournament of the season but first of 2024.

Cockerill is the eighth highest-ranked Canadian on the official world golf rankings, sitting 219th overall. Keeping pace with high-profile players like McIlroy and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann, who also tied for fourth, at the Dubai Desert Classic was encouraging.

“I only lost to three other guys and a couple of them are really, really highly ranked golfers,” said Cockerill. “I mean, those guys are all within the top 30 in the world, I think so, it’s exciting.”

The 32-year-old Cockerill had some strong performances last season on the European-based DP World Tour, with a tie for fourth at the Alfred Dunhill Championship on Dec. 12, 2022, and a second-place finish at the ISPS HANDA — Championship on April 22, but then he struggled through the summer. 

He said he’s learned from that experience and plans to do things differently in 2024.

“I think a lot of that has to do with my habits away from the golf course,” said Cockerill from his home in Dubai. “When we’re over here at the start of the season I’m kind of secluded, in terms of what my normal day to day would be at home. 

“Here it’s: golf course, practice, gym, work hard. I’m going pretty hard and not really doing a lot in between. Not that I want to be a drill sergeant to myself the whole season, but I also need to know that I need to stay pretty disciplined and keep up with my practice habits.”

Bri-ann Tokariwski, Head Coach of the Team Manitoba Junior Girls program, will receive the PGA of Canada’s Tex Noble Professional Development Award tonight during Canada Night at the 2024 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida.

Tokariwski, who is also an assistant professional out of the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club, has been the Head Coach of the Team Manitoba Junior Girls program since 2021. She joins fellow Manitoba Zone professionals Andrew Steep of the Southwood Golf & Country Club (2024 Murray Tucker Class A Professional of The Year) and Dustin Wilson of the Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay Ontario (2024 Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year Award) as national award recipients at tonight’s event.

It is first national award for Tokariwski and the first time that three Manitoba Zone professionals have been recognized with national awards in the same year.

For more about the 2024 PGA of Canada national awards, please click here.

Stony Mountain’s Aaron Cockerill opened the 2024 calendar season with an impressive start.

Cockerill shot a 4-under par 68 in his final round to finish the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic at 10-under par, good for a T4 finish on the leaderboard.

The fourth place finish earns Cockerill 339.7 points and 351,234 euros ($513,703 Canadian).

Rory McIlroy won the tournament at 14-under par.

For the final leaderboard, click here.

It is with sadness that Golf Manitoba mourns the passing of long-time volunteer, Bob Forcand.

Bob began volunteering with the Manitoba Golf Association in the 1970’s.  After serving in a number of roles during his tenure, he became the Association President in 1989.  In 2013, Bob was awarded the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions of volunteerism in amateur golf.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 20 from 1 to 3pm at Breezy Bend Country Club.  For more information, please click here.

Golf Manitoba, in association with the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open, are pleased to announce the 2024 champion of the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur will earn an exemption into the PGA Tour Americas event this summer.

The CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open is scheduled for August 22nd to 25th at Southwood Golf & Country Club.

2022 and 2023 Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur champion Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club has competed in the last two Manitoba Open championships.

It was also announced earlier this week Winnipeg Jets defenceman Dylan Samberg will take part as an exemption following in the footsteps of Morgan Barron, Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele.

More information about the 2024 PGA Tour Americas schedule is available here. For more information about the Golf Manitoba Championship schedule, please click here.

WINNIPEG, MB – The Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to announce the Class of 2022 & 2023. Hugh Allan and Gavin Speirs (Class of 2022) and Darcy Furber, Dave McMillan and Adam Speirs (Class of 2023) will be inducted as honoured members in the spring of 2024.

Of special note for the induction ceremony of 2024, it will the first time in the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame’s 20-year history that a father and son (Gavin Speirs and Adam Speirs) will be inducted as honoured members.

Class of 2022

HUGH ALLAN – Builder

• Born: May 14, 1917  Deceased: May 30, 2004

• Photojournalist including for the Winnipeg Tribune

• Founding member of the Grey Owl Tournament

• Golf Photography for MGA/MLGA from 1950 to 2003 – first recorded golf imagery in 1946 which is held in University of Manitoba Archives. He was published in many national and international publications

• Inducted into the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association Media Roll of Honour

GAVIN SPEIRS – Athlete

• Born: September 10, 1944

• Over course of 47 years he represented Manitoba in 10 National Championships

• Manitoba Junior Team Member (1962 and 1963)

• 1974 Manitoba Willingdon Cup Team – Winning Team

• Manitoba Mid-Amateur Team (1995, 1996 and 1998)

• Manitoba Senior Amateur Team (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2009)

• Three time Manitoba Senior Men’s Champion (2001, 2005 and 2006)

• Member of 1974 Manitoba Willingdon Cup Team inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame

Class of 2023

DARCY FURBER – Athlete

• Born: June 15, 1965

• Darcy became blind so he has accomplishments as both a sighted and blind golfer

Sighted golf accomplishments

• 1983 – Manitoba Individual High School Champion

• 1985 and 1992 Manitoba Willingdon Cup Team

• 1993 Jack Blair Match Play Champion

Blind golf accomplishments

• 2015 – Nations Cup Champion, One of two golfers in his division selected from Canada to represent Canada in a Canada vs. U.S. competition won by Canada

• 2015 and 2019 – Canadian Blind Golf Championship Runner-Up

• 2016 – Canadian Blind Golf Championship Winner – Canadian Champion

• 2022 – Canadian Blind Golf Championship – Low Gross Champion

• 2017 – Canadian Blind Golf Championship – Runner-Up

• 2017 and 2019 – Vision Cup World Blind Golf – selected one of two golfers in his division to represent Canada and North America as part of Team North America against the World in World Blind Golf event

• 2019 and 2022 – Western Canadian Blind Golf Championship – Runner (low gross)

• 5-time Manitoba Blind Golf Champion in his division (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019)

DAVE MCMILLAN – Athlete & Builder

• Born: December 4, 1968

Golf Awards

• 1989 Manitoba Golfer of the Year

• 1998 PGA of Manitoba Player of the Year

• 2007 and 2016 Manitoba Head Professional of the Year

• 2017 and 2019 PGA of Manitoba Executive Professional of the Year

• 2019 member of 1985 Manitoba Junior Team inducted into Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame

Playing Accomplishments

• 1985 Manitoba Juvenile Champion

• 1985 and 1986 Manitoba High School Golf Champion (Individual)

• 1989 Manitoba Amateur Champion

• 1998 Manitoba Assistant Professional Champion

• 1998 and 2000 Manitoba Open Champion

• 1999 PGA of Manitoba Champion

• 2021 Manitoba PGA Senior Champion

• Has won over 40 PGA of Manitoba events

• Member of Canadian Tour 1993 to 1996

• 1990 NCAA National Team Champions

• Mentored many Manitoba golf professionals and instructor to many top amateurs

• Building and development of Golf Central which was Manitoba’s first year round outdoor driving range

• Executive Director of Golf Course Operations, Elmhurst Golf & Country Club

ADAM SPEIRS – Athlete

• Born: 1978

• Amateur from 1989 to 2001 and since 2012

• Professional from 2002 to 2011

Golf Accomplishments

• 1991 Manitoba Bantam Champion

• 1997 Manitoba Junior Champion

• Manitoba Junior Team Member (1994, 1996, 1997)

• Manitoba Amateur Champion (1999 and 2001)

• Manitoba Willingdon Cup Team (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)

• Team Canada World Junior Team Member (1997)

• USGA Amateur Qualifier (2000)

• Played in 2002 U.S. Open (Bethpage Black) and 2007 U.S. Open (Oakmont CC)

• PGA Tour Canada – Winner – 2008 Greater Vancouver Charity Classic

• Player Representative Canadian Tour Board (2008 to 2011)

INDUCTION CEREMONY

Tickets are now available to celebrate the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame & Museum Class of 2022 & 2023. The Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at the Breezy Bend Country Club. Click below to purchase tickets.

Purchase Tickets

About the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame & Museum Inc. – The Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame & Museum Inc. was formed to acknowledge the contributions and accomplishments made by Manitobans as competitors, both amateur and professional, builders and course superintendents to the game of golf.  It is a tripartite organization, the partners being Golf Manitoba, Manitoba Golf Superintendents’ Association and the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of Manitoba. The annual induction ceremony is sponsored by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation.

Individual members and member clubs wishing to nominate an individual (amateur or professional golfers, superintendents, builders, media, etc.) for the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame may obtain nomination forms through any of the three member organizations or at manitobagolfhalloffame.com.

Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce its 2024 Championship Schedule.

As the Provincial Sport Organization and governing body of golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario, Golf Manitoba conducts premier amateur golf championships to support the development of the province’s competitive golfers at Golf Manitoba member clubs.

The 2024 championship season begins May 25^th at the Winkler Golf & Country Club with the Manitoba Match Play Qualifier presented by St. Vital Dental Centre and concludes with the Men’s Four-Ball Championship September 19th at Grand Pines Golf Club.

“With the calendar only a couple weeks away from January, we are excited to officially announce our 2024 Championship Schedule” said Director of Competition and Rules David Borowski. “2023 showed record numbers of people enjoying our sport and we are looking forward to growing those numbers even more in 2024. I would like to express our gratitude to the member clubs who have opened their doors allowing us to play at their course this year.”

Early registration will open from April 1^st to April 15^th for select players and based on their finish in 2023 Golf Manitoba Championships. These players will receive an email informing them of their status.

General registration will open on April 16^th.

To view Golf Manitoba’s 2024 Championship Schedule, including all host venues and registration requirements, click here.

In addition to Golf Manitoba’s annual events, we are pleased to celebrate our athletes August 11^th to 14^th who will take part in the Manitoba Summer Games in Dauphin.

2024 Golf Manitoba Championship Season Calendar at a glance:

The first competitive tee in the ground will be May 25 at the Winkler Centennial Golf Course for the Manitoba Match Play Championship Qualifier presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

Breezy Bend Country Club will then host the championship matches from May 27 to June 2. It will be the fifth time in course history they host the event. Looking back in the record books, Breezy Bend members Jesse Skelton (2011), Garth Collings (1996) and Bill Parker (1981) previously won the Men’s Championship on their home course.

The John Blumberg Golf Course will host the All Abilities Championship, Women’s City & District Championship and U15 Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation June 14^th and 15th.

For the first time in course history the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur and Women’s Amateur Championship will be played at the Neepawa Golf & Country Club July 4^th to 6^th. Jeri Lafleche of Clear Lake Golf Course will be vying for her third consecutive Women’s Amateur championship.

The Junior Boys & Girls Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation will be played July 10^th to 12^th at Niakwa Country Club. The last time this event was held at Niakwa, Stony Mountain’s Aaron Cockerill won the Junior Boys Championship in 2010.

Rossmere Country Club will host the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship July 22^nd to 24^th. Breezy Bend’s Braxton Kuntz will be looking to become the first player in Manitoba history to win four consecutive Men’s Amateur championships.

The busy month of July comes to an end at Selkirk Golf & Country Club from the 29^th to 31^st as they host the Hodson Financial Men’s & Women’s Senior Championship. Rhonda Orr of Southwood Golf & Country Club is vying for her ninth straight and 11^th Senior Women’s Championship.

The popular two person four-ball championships close our summer of competition with the Women playing August 8^th at Portage Golf Club, the Men’s Senior event at Shilo Country Club September 5^th followed by the Men’s championship two weeks later at Grand Pines Golf Club on September 19^th.

Manitoba Amateur Championships

Golf Manitoba annually conducts provincial golf competitions and qualifiers – which play host to more than 900 golfers who play over 1,700 rounds.

In partnership with our host clubs, volunteers, and our proud sponsors, Golf Manitoba is dedicated to supporting player development through first-class competition.

Golf Manitoba’s amateur championships are proudly supported by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation, Manitoba Blue Cross, Nott Autocorp, Diamond Athletic, St. Vital Dental Centre, Hodson Financial, Taylormade Canada and our sport partners at Sport Manitoba and Golf Canada.