Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz shot a 2 under par 70 Tuesday in his third round at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Kamloops, British Columbia.

With a three round total of 206, the Breezy Bend Country Club member sits six stroke behind leader Jean-Philippe Parr of Quebec.

Dauphin’s Thomas Scott shot a 2 over par 74, which has him now tied for 41st on the leaderboard while Jack Moro of Thunder Bay, Ontario is tied for 51st after shooting a 76.

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

Wednesday’s final round tees at 10am Central.

Three members of Golf Manitoba have made the cut following 36 holes of play at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, led by Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz.

The Breezy Bend Country Club member made seven birdies on the day shooting a 67 and sits with a two day total 136, which is good for a tie of 7th place on the leaderboard.

Jack Moro of Thunder Bay carded a 1 under par 71 while Dauphin’s Thomas Scott shot even par 72. Both players are tied for 30th at 142.

Failing to make the cut (+2, 146) were:

Ryan Blair (Winnipeg) 72-150
Jack Taylor (Winnipeg) 78-154
Eric Prokopowich (Dauphin) 81-157
Grady Chuback (Headingley) 78-159

Team Manitoba moved up two spots during the Inter Provincial Team Competition. Kuntz, Blair and Chuback combined for a -5 today to put them at -2 and into 6th place.

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

Blair, Chuback, Prokopowich, Scott and Taylor are members of Team Manitoba’s Junior Development Program.

Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce a 5 year sponsorship extension with Hodson Financial for the Men’s & Women’s Senior Championships.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Gerry and his staff at Hodson Financial through the 2026 golf season” said Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk. “With the Hodson Financial Women’s & Men’s Senior Championships set to tee off later this week, our competitors will see first hand how partners like Hodson Financial are assisting in taking our events to the next level both on and off the course”.

“We are very pleased and excited to extend this partnership”, said Gerry Hodson, President of Hodson Financial Inc. “Golf is a sport of integrity and honesty. At Hodson Financial, that is how we conduct our business. For us to extend this partnership, it was an easy decision to make. We also appreciate giving back to a game that we really admire and one that I think is the greatest game of all time.”

The 2022 Championships will be contested at Larters at St. Andrew’s Golf and Country Club starting Wednesday with a field of 69 in the Men’s Senior Division followed by 20 competitors in the Women’s Senior Division.

There will be a new Men’s Senior Champion as Garth Collings of Breezy Bend Country Club will not return to defend his 2021 title, a three stroke victory at the Steinbach Fly-In Golf Club over St. Boniface Golf Club’s Mike Walker.

Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member Rene Abgrall, who won last year’s Forward Tee Division and Bruce North of the Carman Golf Club who took home the Super Senior Division Championship, are vying for back to back wins.

Following a Southwood Golf & Country Club Final a year ago where Rhonda Orr edged Fran Povoledo in the Women’s Senior Championship by two strokes, both ladies are back to headline this year’s event.

Nancy Porth of Niakwa Country Club, who won the Forward Tee Division and Super Senior Division winner Michelle Gisiger of the Fly-In Club, are in the field as well.

Wednesday’s Hodson Financial Men’s Senior Championship tee times

Wednesday’s Hodson Financial Women’s Senior Championship tee times

Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz made four birdies on the back nine in his opening round of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Kamloops, British Columbia.

The Breezy Bend Country Club member carded a 3 under par 69 placing him in a tie for 14th on the leaderboard.

James Newton of Ontario is the leader by three strokes on four players following a 9 under par 63. Newton made seven birdies and finished with an eagle on the 18th hole.

Also representing Golf Manitoba:

T23 Thomas Scott (Dauphin) -2, 70
T38 Jack Moro (Thunder Bay) -1, 71
T106 Eric Prokopowich (Dauphin) +4, 76
T106 Jack Taylor (Winnipeg) +4, 76
T124 Ryan Blair (Winnipeg) +6, 78
T124 Grady Chuback (Headingley) +6, 78

Team Quebec leads in the Inter Provincial Team Competition at 11 under par.

Team Manitoba (Kuntz, Blair and Chuback) are 8th at 3 over par.

For the complete opening round leaderboard, click here.

Blair, Chuback, Prokopowich, Scott and Taylor are members of Team Manitoba’s Junior Development Program.

Golf Canada’s 2022 championship season continues at Rivershore Estate & Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. for the 83^rd playing of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, from Aug. 7-10.

This national championship, which was first held in 1938 in London, Ont., offers an opportunity for the top junior male golfers from coast-to-coast to compete against the best in their class in a 72-hole stroke play competition. This year, 156 players will clash on the west coast of Canada aiming to add the Silver Cup to their trophy cases.

Representing Manitoba and Northwest Ontario in this year’s event include:

• Ryan Blair, Elmhurst Golf & Country Club
• Grady Chuback, St. Charles Country Club
• Braxton Kuntz, Breezy Bend Country Club
• Jack Moro, Whitewater Golf Club, Thunder Bay, Ontario
• Eric Prokopowich, Dauphin, Manitoba
• Thomas Scott, St. Charles Country Club

Blair, Chuback, Prokopowich and Scott are all members of the Team Manitoba junior development program.

Returning this year is the interprovincial team competition. The interprovincial championship, first held in 1959, will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition, with three-player teams vying for the team title. In rounds one and two the best two scores of the three golfers from each provincial team count towards the team’s score. The lowest aggregate score over rounds one and two determines the champion. Blair, Chuback and Kuntz will represent Manitoba in the interprovincial team competition.

The Juvenile division – a subdivision for boys 16 and under – remains in place this year and will run concurrently with the Junior division through the 72-hole competition. Humphreys was awarded the Jack Bailey Trophy in 2021, winning by a commanding 13 strokes over runner-up Zhao. Since its inception in 1970, only ten players have won both the Junior and Juvenile division titles.

The winner will receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C., as well as a spot in 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

For pairings and living scoring, click here.

For more information about the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship click here.

When Luis Carrera woke up Thursday morning over 4800 kilometres from his hometown in Mexico City, Mexico, the Canadian Men’s Amateur title was an attainable dream he could visualize if he stayed confident. Clearly, the strategy worked. Carrera fired a 66 during the final round at Point Grey Golf and Country Club to claim the title for the117^th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

“I was like, I think I can win this if I play good, but I’ve got to go get it,” said Carrera. “I’ve got to go take the chances that I get, and I’ve got to make some putts, and I knew I had to come and play well.”

The 22-year-old came out of the gate hot this morning when he made eagle on his first hole. The momentum catapulted him up the leaderboard and his consistent play awarded him a solid, bogey-free round.

“I made some good putts today,” he recalled about his most memorable moments of the tournament. “But I think the eagle on one [would be the most memorable]. That really got me going.”

Carrera might be a long way from home, but the University of Central Florida senior quickly won over the hometown crowd at Point Grey. With a near-tangible excitement, a beaming Carrera hoisted the prestigious Earl Grey Cup to a round of enthusiastic applause and, after a quick lesson, sabered a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

With the win, Carrera becomes only the second Mexican golfer and first since Rafael Alarcon in 1979 to take home the title.

Arriving at the course on Tuesday, the 22-year old found an unexpected piece of home when he ran into Rodrigo Pena, a golf services employee at Point Grey Golf and Country Club and an old friend who shared membership at same club in Mexico City. The surprise clandestine meeting led to Rodrigo serving as Carrera’s caddie for the final round and, well, the rest is history.

Carrera and Mississauga, Ont. native Robbie Latter went wire to wire for the majority of the day, with Latter finishing just two strokes back for the tournament at -8. In third place was Canadian Remi Chartier at 6-under.

When Carrera’s name is etched into the Earl Grey Cup later this year, he’ll join a list of notable Canadian Men’s Amateur Champions including PGA TOUR winner and Olympian Mackenzie Hughes (2011-12), PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor (2007), Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Moe Norman (1955-56) and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Doug Roxburgh (1972, 1974, 1982, 1988) who was also in the field this week.

Along with the title, Carrera has earned an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, as well as the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship being contested August 15-22 in Paramus, N.J. This was his first time competing in the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club was the highest finishing Manitoban on the leaderboard at T54. He shot a final round 74 to finish the tournament at 291.

Ryan McMillan, also of Elmhurst, carded his second straight 77 to finish at 298.

Quick Links:

Leaderboard
Course details
Championship history & past champions

For more information on Golf Canada’s Amateur Championships, click here.

Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club birdied two of the final four holes he played to shoot a 71 Wednesday during the third round of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

Trstenjak is tied for 48th on the leaderboard at 4 over par 217.

Ryan McMillan, also of Elmhurst, is tied for 67th with a 221 total following a 77.

Despite the threat of rain in the forecast, skies remained dry over Point Grey Golf and Country Club. Robbie Latter and Eric Zhao lit up the leaderboard today, each shooting a cool 65 in the third round to tie for the top spot.

Latter, who calls Mississauga, Ont. home, carded five birdies and an eagle to ascend 14 spots in the race for the 117^th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship title. The Southern Miss sophomore finished T25 at last year’s event and won the Future Links (now NextGen) Québec Championship as a 17-year-old in 2018.

“My ball striking was very good today,” stated Latter. “Having my brother on the bag today definitely helped!

Though 14-year-old Eric Zhao faced challenges on the 11^th hole, the birdies far outweighed the bogeys with an impressive total of nine filling his scorecard. The west coast seems to be treating the National Junior Squad member quite well this season. In May, Zhao was crowned Champion of the Junior Boys Division at the NextGen Pacific Championship in Nanaimo, B.C.

“Today, I focused on staying patient and accepting the shots I hit,” said Zhao. “I only thought about my current shot and never the past or future ones. It did help as I made two bogeys and a double but being aware of my emotions and redirecting my focus allowed me to come back.”

In tomorrow’s final round, Zhao looks to stay consistently calm.

“I want to do something very similar tomorrow. My only expectation is that I learn from this experience playing under heavy pressure,” said a humble Zhao. “I also don’t want to overthink anything and just focus on each shot as I play it, and maybe I’ll go home proud of myself.”

Rounding out the top three is St-Célestin, Que. native Jean-Philippe Parr. The 18-year-old shot his lowest round of the tournament at 67 to sit one stroke off the lead. Parr is also a member of Team Canada’s National Junior Squad.

Tomorrow promises to be an exciting battle of top amateur talent with an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, as well as the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship on the line. Not only will the winner etch their name into the historic Earl Grey Cup, but also into Canadian golf history – the competition being the oldest amateur championship in the country.

Quick Links:

Leaderboard
Course details
Championship history & past champions

Ryan McMillan and Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club are the only Manitobans to advance into the third round of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

McMillan is tied for 44th on the leaderboard with a two day total 144 following a 75 today.

Trstenjak carded a 70 and is two strokes back at 146.

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

Manitoba finished 8th in the Willingdon Cup Inter Provincial Team Competition at +25. Quebec placed first at -3.

For Wednesday’s third round tee times, click here.

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Point Grey Golf and Country Club and Seymour Golf and Country Club played host to 250 golfers this holiday Monday as play commenced for the 117^th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

Elkhorn, Neb. native Luke Gutschewski had a hot start, making eight birdies to shoot a 65 for the day. Heading into his second season playing for Iowa State’s golf team, Gutschewski played a near bogey-free round, getting into the groove and making birdie on five consecutive holes in the middle of his round at Point Grey Golf & Country Club.

“I really just played solid all day, nothing too flashy,” said Gutschewski. “I did a good job of keeping it in play off the tee, left myself in good places when I missed greens, and then putted pretty nicely too.”

Despite the early lead, the 19-year-old isn’t getting too far ahead of himself. “It’s really a long week and we have a long way to go,” added Gutschewski. “If I can keep on doing what I’m doing and not get too wrapped up in the individual result of each shot then we can add up the scores at the end of the week and see what happens.”

Following closely, Banff, Alta. native Kai Iguchi sits just two strokes behind at -4. The 21-year-old recently finished fifth in the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship and is competing in his first Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. 

Elmhurst G & CC member Ryan McMillan is the top Manitoban in the field after posting a 2-under par round of 69 at the Point Grey Golf & Country Club.

In addition to Iguchi, nine other Canadians ended round one inside the top-10 including Marc Sweeney (Saskatoon, Sask.), Christopher Vandette (Beaconsfield, Qué.), Jean-Philippe Parr (St-Célestin, Qué.), Jace Minni (Delta, B.C.), Nasheel Kassam (Vancouver, B.C.), Robbie Latter (Mississauga, Ont.), Tony Li (Vancouver, B.C.), Tyler Hull (Toronto, Ont.), Ryan McMillan (Winnipeg, Man.).

Other Manitobans in the field:

T47 – Curtis Markusson, St. Charles CC: 72 PG course
T47 – Jack Werhun, Elmhurst G & CC: 72 PG course
T121 – Jody Lutz, Elmhurst G & CC: 75 PG course
T143 – Marco Trstenjak, Elmhurst G & CC: 76 SEY course
T200 – Troy Kehler, Elmhurst G & CC: 79 SEY course
T229 – Brent Ingram, Elmhurst G & CC: 82 SEY course
T229 – Nathan Wazney, Elmhurst G & CC: 82 SEY course

Tomorrow will mark the final day of play at Seymour Golf and Country Club after which the field will be cut to the low 70 players (including ties). The final 36 holes are scheduled to take place at Point Grey Golf and Country Club.

The winner of the championship will earn an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, as well as the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship being contested August 15-22 in Paramus, N.J.

After the halfway point of the Inter-Provincial competition Team Quebec, consisting of Christopher Vandette, Laurent Desmarchais, and William Forgues, leads by three strokes over Team British Columbia. Nine provinces and two territories will continue to battle for the Willingdon trophy tomorrow with Team Ontario looking to rally to defend their 2019 title. Team Manitoba (Marco Trstenjak, Nathan Wazney and Brent Ingram) currently sit in 9th place

Quick Links:

Leaderboard
Tee times
Course details
Championship history & past champions

For more information on the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

It is with great sadness that Golf Manitoba mourns the loss of volunteer, colleague and friend, Mr. Phil Guenther, who passed away on July 29, 2022, following a brief illness. He was 61 years old.

Phil was a member of the board of directors for both Golf Manitoba and the Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund since 2020, where he gave generously of his both his time and expertise. He was also a long-time member and past president of the Steinbach Fly-In Golf Club in Steinbach, Manitoba.

To view Mr. Guenther’s obituary, please click here.