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.

Addison Kartusch capped off a successful week at the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship carding a final round 77 to finish alone in 30th place. Kartusch played her last 54-holes at just 6-over par to earn the top 30th finish in the event.

The 15-year old, a member of the Team Manitoba junior development program, completed an impressive two weeks of championship golf winning the 2022 Manitoba Junior Championship by an impressive 13 shots, contributing to a 5th place team finish in the interprovincial portion of the national event and earning a top 30 finish at the top junior girl’s event in the country.

Clara Peake of Binscarth, Manitoba, posted a final round score of 80 to finish in a tie for 58th place. Jeri Lafleche of the Clear Lake Golf Club shot 79 to finish in a tie for 60th. Both Peake and Lafleche are also members of the Team Manitoba program.

Yeji Kwon, a member of Team Canada’s National Junior Squad, fired a two-under par 70 in Friday’s final round to win the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO.

For the final leaderboard, please click here.

A celebration of the life of Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame inductee Mrs. Peggy Colonello, will be held on Monday, August 8, 2022 from 6 to 8pm at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame at 145 Pacific Avenue. Guests wishing to attend the come and go celebration, are asked to RSVP with the Golf Manitoba office by contact Amy Coggan at amy@golfmb.ca.

Peggy Colonello made a huge impact on women’s golf in Manitoba and Canada as an administrator.  Her volunteerism spanned decades and started in 1974 where she served as president of the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association until 1976. Peggy continued her administrative work in golf serving a two-year term as president of the Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association from 1982-83. During her time on the national executive, Peggy attended World and Commonwealth championships in Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Columbia, Britain and Switzerland, including the various Canadian events in which she participated. Peggy, for her contributions to the sport, was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and was an inaugural inductee into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame on September 29, 2003.

The Colonello name was well known in golf and not only for Peggy’s contributions. Her husband Alex Colonello first moved to Winnipeg in 1941. In 1973, Alex purchased and become president of the Bay Bronze company and eventually acquired the golf accessory line from Bayco Industries to form Bayco Golf Inc. Bayco golf ball washers can still be found on the tee boxes of golf courses all over the world. Alex Colonello passed away in 2013 at the age of 93.

In 2018 and at the age of 94, Peggy Colonello established the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation with a mandate to support junior golf in the province of Manitoba. The Foundation established an unprecedented endowment of $3 million dollars that supports the development of new generations of golfers through grassroots golf initiatives and high-performance programming. Since 2019, the Foundation has supported junior golf programs including the Golf in Schools initiative, provincial junior team development and the University of Manitoba Bisons golf program. The annual induction ceremony for the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame is also sponsored by the Foundation.

Peggy Colonello passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at the age of 97. To read Mrs. Colonello’s obituary, please click here.

Addison Kartusch of the St. Charles Country Club continued to move in the right direction at the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. Kartusch posted an even par score of 72 to move up 12 places on the leaderboard into a tie for 26th place. Clara Peake of Binscarth, Manitoba, also moved up 6 places into a tie for 52 with her third consecutive score in the 70s shooting a 4-over par score of 76. Jeri Lafleche of Clear Lake Golf Club shot 77 to move up 5 places into a tie for 58.

Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C., leads the field at 9-under par for the event that was helped today with a 7-under par round of 65.

The 72-hole event concludes tomorrow.

To view the complete leaderboard, click here.

A look at the Oakview Golf & Country Club with President Delwyn Doerksen.

For more details on Oakview Golf & Country Club, click here.