Inside Golf Manitoba

Golf Manitoba remembers Marion Goehring

Marion Goehring (left), with husband Harvey Goehring at the 2019 Manitoba Junior Championship.

It is with great sadness that Golf Manitoba mourns the loss of volunteer and friend, Mrs. Marion Goehring. Marion passed away on April 5, 2023.

Marion had been volunteering with Golf Manitoba since 2004 and was a long-time member of the Breezy Bend Country Club.

You can read her obituary here.

Golf Canada Inside Golf Manitoba

WATCH | 1on1 with Aaron Cockerill

Fresh off his best finish on the DP World Tour in Japan last week, Golf Manitoba Director of Communications Brian Munz catches up with Manitoba’s Aaron Cockerill.

DP World Tour Inside Golf Manitoba Media Release

Solid week for Cockerill in Japan

Manitoba’s Aaron Cockerill lost on a second playoff hole to finish in second spot Sunday at the ISPS Handa Championship on the DP World Tour.

Shooting a final round two under par 68 to finish 72 holes at -15, Cockerill would go on to par both playoff holes, while Lucas Herbert of Australia birdied the second extra hole to win.

Cockerill’s landing spot on this week’s leaderboard earns him just shy of $300,000.

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

WATCH | third round POST ROUND INTERVIEW (courtesy DP World Tour)

WATCH | first round POST ROUND INTERVIEW (courtesy DP World Tour)

Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation Inside the Ropes Manitoba Junior Boys Championship Manitoba Men's Amateur Championship

WATCH | 1on1 with Braxton Kuntz

As the college golf season starts to wind down south of the border, Golf Manitoba Director of Communications Brian Munz catches up with Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz

Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation Inside Golf Manitoba Manitoba Junior Boys Championship Manitoba Junior Girls Championship Manitoba Match Play Championship Manitoba Men's Amateur Championship Manitoba Men's Mid-Amateur Championship Manitoba Men's Senior Championship Manitoba Women's Amateur Championship Manitoba Women's Senior Championship Media Release

NOW OPEN – Registration for 2023 Championships

General registration for most Golf Manitoba championships is now open.

To be eligible to compete in all Golf Manitoba competitions, players must be an active Golf Manitoba/Canada member and must also hold a current Golf Canada Handicap Index.

Players who do not have an active Golf Manitoba/Canada membership through a member club or league can click HERE to learn more and join.

The championship registration process is easier, less time consuming and accessible through Golf Canada’s Score Centre.

To enter all Golf Manitoba events, you must first log into your Golf Canada Score Centre profile using a web browser and select the competitions tab found under the user menu on the top right-hand side of the web page.

Registration is open for the following:

  • Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre
  • Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Qualifier
  • Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Qualifier
  • Junior Girls Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation
  • Junior Boys Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation
  • Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship
  • Hodson Financial Women’s Senior Championship
  • Hodson Financial Men’s Senior Championship

Registration for our final six championships will be announced at a later date.

Please note that personal Golf Genius accounts that are active at the club level will not permit you to register for any Golf Manitoba Championship. 

New for 2023, entry deadlines for most events will now close 14 days prior to the start of the championship.

If you have any questions regarding registration, please do not hesitate to contact Amy at amy@golfmb.ca.

You can view the 2023 championship schedule and register HERE.

Golf Manitoba releases 2023 championship schedule

(April 6, 2023) Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce its 2023 championship schedule. The 2023 competition calendar includes fifteen Provincial Amateur Championships that will be contested at Golf Manitoba member clubs.

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.

Golf Manitoba’s championship season kicks off May 28 with the Match Play Championship, presented by St. Vital Dental Centre, at the Glendale Golf & Country Club and concludes with the return of the Men’s Four-Ball Championship that will be played on September 21 at the Bridges Golf Course in Starbuck, Manitoba.

Championship registration will open on Monday, April 10 at 10am and only for players who achieved exempt status based on their play in 2022. General registration will open on Monday, April 17 and also at 10am. Players who fall into the exempt category will receive an email informing them of their status.

To view Golf Manitoba’s 2023 Championship Schedule, including all host venues and registration requirements, click here.

Golf Manitoba Amateur Championships

Golf Manitoba annually conducts more than 15 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, TaylorMade, adidas Golf Canada, Manitoba Blue Cross, Nott Autocorp, Diamond Athletic, St. Vital Dental Centre, Hodson Financial and our sport partners at Sport Manitoba and Golf Canada. For more information and scheduling visit golfmb.ca/competitions.

WATCH | Second Shot

EVANS, GEORGIA - APRIL 04: during the Golf Canada Masters Week Party on April 04, 2023 in Evans, Georgia. (Photo by Derek White/Getty Images)

Canadians Dayton Price & Hayden Underhill were survivors of a horrific car crash in Texas that took nine lives, including seven members of the University of the Southwest golf team they were part of.

Here’s the story of their accident and how the game they love is helping them heal.

Inside Golf Manitoba

Golf Manitoba welcomes David Borowski

Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk is pleased to announce David Borowski has been named Director of Competitions & Rules.

Borowski joins Golf Manitoba after four years in event sales and management. His most recent golf posting was at Kingswood Golf & Country Club where he served as the Head Professional from 2017 to 2019.

“With over 25 years of experience in the golf, sales and service industries, David is a well-respected member of the golf community.” said Ladobruk. “We’re excited to see him apply his business acumen and leverage his years of golf experience in helping to grow our championships and Rules of Golf profile.”

The Winnipeg product also gained valuable experience travelling throughout the province of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario serving as the Territory Manager for Nike Golf Canada.

A PGA of Canada Class “A” member and graduate of the Red River Business & Administrative Studies program, Borowski started his golf career at St. Boniface Golf Club before moving on to Golf Town and then to The Players Course.

“I’m honoured to join the team at Golf Manitoba” said Borowski. “I look forward to working with our volunteers during every event we host and putting on a first class championship for everyone involved.” 

Inside Golf Manitoba Media Release

Golf Canada launches National Golf League in support of First Tee – Canada

Your League Levelled Up!

(April 3, 2023) – Golf Canada has announced the launch of The National Golf League (NGL), a nationwide network of existing recreational golf leagues designed to enhance the league experience for participants and generate charitable support for First Tee – Canada.

Built for golfers of all skill levels, the National Golf League will feature a six-week regular season that takes place within existing recreational league play during the summer. A series of regional playoff tournaments across Canada will take place in the fall at premium golf courses. The National Golf League will culminate with the NGL National Championship at Hamilton Golf and Country Club as part of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open tournament week celebration.

The National Golf League will also contribute to the development of a more sustainable and inclusive future for the sport by supporting a charitable component through First Tee – Canada. First Tee is a youth development program that provides accessible pathways to golf participation at schools, community centres, and golf courses across the country.

“League play is one of the most popular ways that Canadians engage with golf. The National Golf League will build on the fun that league golfers already have by supplementing and levelling up existing leagues through a national platform for regular season play and an exciting and unique playoff format,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer, Kevin Blue. “The National Golf League will also provide important charitable support to First Tee – Canada, a program that creates youth participation opportunities for the next generation of recreational golfers.”

National Golf League competitions will utilize an official Golf Canada Handicap applied towards a net Stableford scoring system that allows golfers to earn points for the net score they record on each hole.

Regular season NGL competition will take place over nine holes during six weeks of identified league play called “NGL Majors” that are integrated into existing league play and scheduled at the convenience of the local league operator. A golfer’s best four net Stableford point totals of the six NGL Majors will count towards their season-long points total on the NGL leaderboard.

A portion of the top regular season finishers in each participating league will qualify for the NGL Regional Playoffs, which will take place at premium courses across Canada. Qualifying golfers will select a guest teammate who also played in their regular season league and participate as a team of two in a best-ball net Stableford competition over 18 holes. Successful teams in the NGL Regional Playoffs will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the NGL National Championship.

The NGL is open to recreational golf leagues played at both private and public courses. Participants must be Golf Canada members to ensure an official handicap is used. There is no registration fee for golfers or leagues to join the National Golf League. Participants will be asked to support First Tee – Canada in their home province by way of donation.

The size of the National Golf League will be limited in its launch year to ensure a positive experience for players and league operators. A limited number of spots remain for leagues to join the National Golf League in 2023—interested league operators should contact Ryan Logan (rlogan@golfcanada.ca) to express interest before April 15. For more information visit NationalGolfLeague.ca.

Canada’s Corey Conners wins Valero Texas Open

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - APRIL 02: Corey Conners of Canada speaks to the media after winning the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio on April 02, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

SAN ANTONIO – When Corey Conners won the Valero Texas Open in 2019 he got a pair of cowboy boots instead of a trophy.

Sometimes, especially during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, he would wear them around his Florida home.

Conners now has some footwear options after winning the Texas Open for the second time in five years on Sunday, closing with a 4-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over rookie Sam Stevens.

“I get a brown pair for winning the second time so at least I don’t have two black pairs,” said Conners with a laugh. “Maybe I’ll just switch it up and wear the brown pair around.”

Also the 2019 winner, Conners had a 15-under 273 total on TPC San Antonio’s Oaks Course. The 31-year-old from Listowel, Ont., now heads to the Masters, where he tied for sixth last year for his second straight top-10 finish at Augusta National.

He said that the two wins in San Antonio played out very differently for him.

“Today, I was definitely more in control. I feel like I made some mistakes in 2019,” said Conners after a bogey-free final round. “I also made a lot of really good shots in an up and down roller-coaster round in 2019.

“Today was a little more steady. Part of my plan was to be as steady as I could. Just get in play. Give myself lots of looks.”

Conners joins Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., as Canadians who have won on the PGA Tour this season.

It’s expected that Conners will move up to No. 18 on the FedEx Cup standings when they’re updated Monday.

Those three will all be at the Masters, joining Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., making it the first time that four Canadians are playing in the Masters, the first major of the men’s golf season.

“It’s really exciting,” said Conners, who represented Canada at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with Hughes. “Excited to get a (practice round) with Mack and the other guys on Tuesday. We’ve all been playing great.”

A shot behind Patrick Rodgers starting play, Conners had a three-shot lead after he birdied No. 15. Stevens eagled the 17th, but missed a nine-foot birdie putt at 18 that would have tied it. Connors ended it with a three-foot par putt on 18.

Stevens shot a 66. Sam Ryder (66) and Matt Kuchar (68) followed at 13-under.

Rodgers saw a chance for his first tour victory and first Masters spot slip away. He shot a 73 to finish fifth at 11-under.

Conner’s best finish since hoisting the 2019 Texas Open trophy was a third-place effort at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last year.

Conners led after the first round with a 64 when the weather-delayed opening 18 finished Friday. But his second-round 72 dropped him three behind Rodgers after 36 holes, which Conners cut to a stroke with his third-round 69.

Stevens was third last week at the PGA Tour’s stop in the Dominican Republic.