TORONTO – Nick Taylor became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open, holing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to beat Tommy Fleetwood in the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday.

Taylor tossed his putter into the air and jumped into the arms of his caddie after the longest made putt of his PGA Tour career, and fellow Canadian players Mike Weir, Corey Conners and Adam Hadwin were among those who ran onto the green to congratulate him. Hadwin, Taylor’s close friend, was tackled by a security guard while spraying champagne from a bottle.

“I’m speechless. This is for all the guys that are here. This is for my family at home,” Taylor said with tears in his eyes. “This is the most incredible feeling.”

The last player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver. Fletcher was born in England; Carl Keffer had been the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Weir lost a playoff to Vijay Singh in 2004.

With galleries cheering his every move and even serenading him with “O Canada” on one tee box, Taylor curled in an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 17-under 271 at Oakdale, walking backwards with his fist raised as the ball dropped into the cup. He shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday.

Fleetwood needed a birdie on the reachable par 5 to win in regulation, but he missed his tee shot right, laid up into an awkward lie in the right rough and two-putted for par to force the playoff in rainy conditions.

The players traded birdies on their first time playing No. 18 in the playoff. They both parred 18 and the par-3 ninth before heading back to 18.

Taylor’s tee shot found a divot in the fairway, but he hit his second shot 221 yards to the front of the green, while Fleetwood laid up after his drive found a fairway bunker. Fleetwood hit his third shot to 12 feet, but didn’t need to putt after Taylor’s uphill eagle putt hit the flagstick and dropped.

Fans swarmed toward the green, and Hadwin who like Taylor grew up in Abbotsford, British Columbia got leveled amid the chaos. He said had so much adrenaline that the tackle didn’t faze him.

“It’s incredible. I mean, what do you say to one of the greatest moments of Canadian golf history?” Hadwin said. “I think we all predicted that this was going to happen.

“I’m not sure that any one of us predicted a 72-foot (eagle) putt … to get it done, but what a way to go.”

The 35-year-old Taylor, who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, won for the third time on the PGA Tour. He shot 75 in Thursday’s opening round but rallied with a 67 on Friday to make the cut, then shot 63 on Saturday to begin the final round three shots behind leader C.T. Pan.

Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy, two shots back of Pan entering the final round, closed with a 72 and finished in a tie for ninth, five shots back.

Fleetwood, a two-time Ryder Cup player from England and a six-time winner on the European tour, remains winless on the PGA Tour.

“I played great today, even though I missed some chances, if you like, on those playoff holes,” Fleetwood said. “Yeah, it was close. I just have to take the positives from it and start practicing tomorrow. I got a major next week. So can’t dwell on it too much.”

Tyrrell Hatton (64), Aaron Rai (69) and Pan (70) finished one shot out of the playoff.

A look at the Pinawa Golf Club with Apprentice Professional Todd Halldorson.

For more details on the Pinawa Golf Club, click here.

Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce its schedule of team competitions in 2023.

The Men’s Senior Four-Ball Championship will be held on August 28 at the Minnewasta Golf & Country Club in Morden. The Men’s Four-Ball Championship will be held on September 21 at the Bridges Golf Course in Starbuck. And new for 2023, the Women’s Four-Ball will be played on August 8 at the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club in Stony Mountain.

Previously know as the Women’s Interclub Championship, the Women’s Four-Ball Championship is open to all Golf Manitoba club member and public player female golfers. As in the men’s four-ball events, teams of two in the Women’s Four-Ball will each play their own ball. The teammate with the lower score on each hole provides that team’s score for that hole.

How to enter

To be eligible to play in any Golf Manitoba championship, you must be registered as a Golf Manitoba/Canada member either through a member club or as a public player. To learn more about membership and to join Golf Manitoba/Canada, please click here.

Club Entry
Golf Manitoba member clubs may enter a team(s) to represent the club in the respective four-ball championship. For clubs to enter a team, please contact Amy Coggan at Golf Manitoba.

Open Entry
All Golf Manitoba four-ball championships are open to all age eligible Golf Manitoba/Canada members including public players.  For more event information each event and to register online, please click below:

• Men’s Senior-Four Ball
• Men’s Four-Ball
• Women’s Four-Ball “A” Championship
• Women’s Four-Ball “B” Championship

Entry fees for the competitions are $190 per team (teams of two) per event including GST with online registration now open by visiting golfmb.ca/competitions.

For assistance with championship registration, please read our article on how to register for Golf Manitoba events.

About Golf Manitoba Championships

Golf Manitoba annually conducts more than 15 golf competitions and qualifiers province-wide – which play host to more than 875 golfers. In partnership with our host clubs, volunteers, and our proud sponsors, Golf Manitoba is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1915. Marquee Golf Manitoba championships include the Manitoba Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Manitoba Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships.

As the governing body of amateur golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario as recognized by Sport Manitoba, all Golf Manitoba championships are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and are officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials. Additionally, a suite of policies and procedures, developed under the guidance of both Golf Canada and Sport Manitoba, ensure that all competitions are conducted accordingly to preserve the integrity of the sport, of player and volunteer development and stakeholder safety.

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

The opening event of the 2023 Golf Manitoba Championship season is in the books with Addison Kartusch of St. Charles Country Club, Breezy Bend Country Club’s Braxton Kuntz and Blair Neal of Rossmere Country Club winning their respective divisions of the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre at Glendale Golf & Country Club.

Kartusch, a Team Manitoba member, claimed the Women’s division trophy with a 2&1 victory over Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member Clara Peake. Kartusch erased a one hole deficit through seven going on to win the 11th, 12th and 15th holes to secure the match.

For the complete Women’s division bracket, click here.

Neal won the Senior Men’s division on the 18th hole against Dwayne Heinrichs of Bel Acres Golf & Country Club. The lead was never greater than one hole between these players, with Neal taking his first lead of the day on 17.

For the complete Senior Men’s division bracket, click here.

Kuntz also went the distance versus Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club prevailing on the final hole. Kuntz had a strong run winning holes 9, 10 and 12 to go three up against the defending champion and was able to hold on for victory.

For the complete Men’s division bracket, click here.

Golf Manitoba would like to thank our Official Performance Partners:

adidas Golf Canada – Paige Lawrence, Territory Manager

Manitoba Blue Cross

Taylormade Canada – Eric Johnson, Sales & Marketing Territory Manager

We appreciate the time and effort of the host club, Glendale Golf & Country Club led by General Manager James Chapman, Head Professional Derrik Goodwin, Superintendent Reid McLeod, their staff, club members and volunteers for their warm welcome.

New and exclusive Golf Manitoba coverage, presented by Manitoba Blue Cross, is available by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and online at www.golfmb.ca.

The Men’s, Senior Men’s and Women’s Match Play Champions will be crowned Sunday at Glendale Golf & Country Club.

All three divisions, presented by St. Vital Dental Centre, will see the semi finals played in the morning starting at 7:24. The winners advance to their respective Championship Final teeing off at 1:00.

In the Men’s division, #1 seed Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) advanced Saturday with a 3&1 victory over Neel Soni (St. Charles Country Club). Kuntz will face #5 seed Jordy Lutz (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) who prevailed 2&1 over Allan McDonald (Breezy Bend).

#2 seed, and defending champion Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst) will play #3 seed Evan Nachtigall (Wheat City Golf Course) in the other semi final. Trstenjak beat Lyle MacKenzie (Niakwa Country Club) 6&4 while Nachtigall eliminated Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member Eric Prokopowich 3&2.

For the complete Men’s Division bracket, click here.

In the Women’s division, #1 seed Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles) will take on #4 seed Charmaine Hayden (Breezy Bend) in one semi final while #2 seed Jeri Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Course) plays #3 seed Clara Peake, a Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member.

Kartusch advanced with a 5&3 victory over Shannon Wales (Glendale) while Hayden was a 4&3 victor over India Young (Team Manitoba / Carman Golf & Curling Club). Lafleche knocked off Cala Korman (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Player) 1up while Peake beat Kate Gregoire (Quarry Oaks Golf Course) 6&5.

For the complete Women’s division bracket, click here.

The Senior Men’s division will have some interesting matchups with only defending champion, #2 seed Rob Oliphant (Rossmere Country Club) as the lowest seed heading into Sunday’s semis. Oliphant faces #14 seed Dwayne Heinrichs (Bel Acres Golf & Country Club) while #12 seed Kevin Nicholson (Southwood Golf & Country Club) takes on #17 seed Blair Neal (Rossmere).

In Quarter Final play, Oliphant edged Carl Lechman (Elmhurst) 2&1, Heinrichs was a 3&2 winner over Garth Collings (Breezy Bend), Nicholson beat Dan Scanlon (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 3up and Neal got past Brad Moore (Pine Ridge Golf Club) 2&1.

For the complete Senior Men’s division bracket, click here.

The top five seeds remain alive in the Men’s Division heading into Saturday’s Quarter Finals at the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

During Friday’s Round of 16 at Glendale Golf & Country Club:

#1 seed Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) beat Terence Rafferty (Southwood Golf & Country Club) 1up.
#2 seed, and defending champion Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) beat Kaleb Lambert (Elmhurst) 7&5.
#3 seed Evan Nachtigall (Wheat City Golf Course) beat Adam Guenther (Elmhurst) 5&4.
#4 seed Allan McDonald (Breezy Bend) beat Travis Bobychuk (Niakwa Country Club) 2&1.
#5 seed Jordy Lutz (Elmhurst) beat Justin Price (Elmhurst) 5&4.

For the complete Men’s Division bracket, click here.

It is a different story in the Senior Men’s division as three of the top five have been eliminated, including #1 seed Jay Doyle of Niakwa.

17th seed Blair Neal (Rossmere Country Club) upset Doyle 1up.
#2 seed, and defending champion Rob Oliphant (Rossmere) beat Ken Warwick (Niakwa) 4&3.
#4 seed Dan Scanlon (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) beat Karl Schroeder (Rossmere) 5&3.
#5 seed Gerald Diamond (St. Charles) lost on the 20th hole to #12 Kevin Nicholson (Southwood).

For the complete Senior Men’s division bracket, click here.

Saturday’s draw will also feature the Women’s Division Quarter Finals. Eight competitors are set to tee off at 1:36 led by #1 seed Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles).

For the complete Women’s division bracket, click here.

Nine out of the top 10 seeds advanced on opening day at Glendale Golf & Country Club to start the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

In the Men’s division, all five top seeds advanced to the Round of 16 led by #1 seed Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club. Kuntz beat Keaton Jameson (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 2&1.

Also in the Men’s Division:

#2 seed Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) beat Zostrianos Gross (Shilo Country Club) 2&1.
#3 seed Evan Nachtigall (Wheat City Golf Course) beat Ryan Orchard (Carman Golf & Country Club) 3&2.
#4 seed Allan McDonald (Breezy Bend) beat Jason Chuback (St. Charles Country Club) 4&3.
#5 seed Jordy Lutz (Elmhurst) beat Colin Skoleski (Niakwa Country Club) 3&1.

For the complete Men’s Division bracket, click here.

In the Senior Men’s Division:

#1 seed Jay Doyle (Niakwa) beat Wynn Edel (Golf Manitoba Public Player) 9&8.
#2 seed Rob Oliphant (Rossmere Country Club) beat Jack Zacharias (Elmhurst) 4up
#4 seed Dan Scanlon (Golf Manitoba Public Player) beat Walter Antoniuk (Golf Manitoba Public Player) 3&2.
#5 seed Gerald Diamond (St. Charles) beat Al Wheeler (Rossmere) 2up.

The only upset required five extra holes for 30th seed Feroze Barakat (Southwood Golf & Country Club) to eliminate #3 seed David Klowak (Golf Manitoba Public Player) on the 23rd hole.

For the complete Senior Men’s division bracket, click here.

With eight competitors in the Women’s Division, their Quarterfinals begin play Saturday.

Four days of head to head competition is on the course at Glendale Golf & Country Club with the 2023 Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

32 competitors in the Senior Men’s division were first off the tee, led by #1 seed Jay Doyle of Niakwa Country Club.

32 golfers are also in the men’s division, led by #1 seed Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club.

For today’s tee sheet, click here.

To following along on the Senior Men’s bracket, click here.

To follow along on the Men’s bracket, click here.

Competition in the Women’s division begins Saturday.

Five members of the University of Manitoba Bisons Men’s Golf team are in Komoka, Ontario taking part in the Canadian University/College Championship at FireRock Golf Club.

The Bisons team consists of team members Cameron McIntyre, Trent Robertson, Cole Peters, Connor Stewart and Derek Benson.

Full the full leaderboard click here.

Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club shot a four under par 68 at Glendale Golf and Country Club to finish with the low score of 59 Amateur Men vying for a spot in the 2023 Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

Kuntz finished one stroke better than 2022 Amateur Men’s Champion Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club and Wheat City Golf Course’s Evan Nachtigall. Allan McDonald of Breezy Bend Country Club (70) was the only other player in the 108 person field to break par

2021 Amateur Women’s Champion and Team Manitoba member Addison Kartusch of St. Charles Country Club along with Jay Doyle of Niakwa Country Club each finished their 18 holes at even par 72 to card the best respective score of the 12 Amateur Women and 35 Senior Men taking part.

For the complete Manitoba Blue Cross leaderboard, click here.

The three division brackets will be announced Tuesday afternoon.

Four days of Match Play competition gets underway Thursday, June 1, also at Glendale.