Golf Manitoba (Winnipeg) – The 2020 Junior Women’s & Men’s Championships presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation are set to go July 12-14 at the Selkirk Golf & Country Club.
JUNIOR WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
Kate Gregoire
Dates: July 12-14
Course: Selkirk Golf & Country Club
Yards/Par: 6,251 yards/73
Field: 8
2019 Champion: Kate Gregoire, Quarry Oaks Golf Course
2019 Runner-up: Mikyla Albert, Golf Manitoba Public Player
Format: 54 holes of stroke play
Awards/Placing: Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd lowest competitors. Age group prizes also available.
JUNIOR MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
Jacob Armstrong
Dates: July 12-14
Course: Selkirk Golf & Country Club
Yards/Par: 6,480 yards/71
Field: 64
2019 Champion: Jacob Armstrong, St. Boniface Golf Club
2019 Runner-up: Braxton Kuntz, Breezy Bend Country Club
Format: 54 holes of stroke play
Awards/Placing: Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd lowest competitors. Age group prizes also available.
LOOKING BACK
On a rain soaked final round at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club, Kate Gregoire saved her best round for last in the 54-hole event by posting a 7-over score of 80 for a 3-day total of 248. It was good enough for a 13-shot victory over Mikyla Albert who finished at 261 on rounds of 90-87-84. Finishing alone in third place was Cala Korman of Kilarney Lakeside Golf Club who finished at 267 with rounds of 87-89-91.
On the junior men’s side, Jacob Armstrong also saved his best for last in the four-day championship posting a 2-under par 69 that included a string of three birdies in a row on holes 13 through 15. Armstrong, who went 5 under on his last 11 holes, moved past 54-hole leader Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club. Kuntz posted a respectable final round of 75 in very difficult conditions to finish just two back of Armstrong at 295. Finishing alone in third place was first round leader Neel Soni who plays out of St. Charles Country Club. Soni also posted a final round 75 to finish 10-shots back at 303.
Event title sponsor: Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation. New for 2020, the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation was awarded title sponsorship of both the junior women’s and men’s championships in recognition of the tremendous support the Foundation has committed to junior golf in Manitoba. The resulting sponsorship has been used to help subsidize entry fees for all competitors.
The top three players will place in the Junior Women’s Championship. The top three players will place in the Junior Men’s Championship. Age group prizes will also be available in both events.
Exception: One parent allowed to spectate if the junior is playing in the Junior Bantam and/or the Junior Championship. Must adhere to the spectator code of conduct.
For media inquiries, please contact Lisa Andersen, Director of Competitions at lisa@golfmb.ca.
Scoring updates will be available on the Golf Manitoba Twitter and Facebook pages.
Leaderboards will be available on the event information webpage:
Presenting Sponsor Announced for Manitoba Junior Championships
WINNIPEG – Golf Manitoba is excited to announce a new presenting sponsor for the July 12-14, 2020 Manitoba junior women’s and junior men’s provincial golf championships to be contested at Selkirk Golf & Country Club. Starting this year, this annual event will be known as the Manitoba Junior Women’s & Men’s Championships presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation.
In addition to recognizing the incredible support for Manitoba junior golf provided by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation through the re-naming of these events, we are very pleased to announce that there will be funding from the Foundation towards subsidizing event entry fees in 2020 for all competitors. For ages 12 & under athletes, entry fees will be reduced from $140 to $90 and for 13 & older athletes entry fees will be reduced from $185 to $120.
“We wanted to acknowledge and honour Mr. and Mrs. Colonello in the naming of these championships and we cannot think of a better way to recognize the contributions that they both had on our sport and also what the Foundation will mean for the future of junior golf in Manitoba,” said Jared Ladobruk, Executive Director of Golf Manitoba. “The naming of these championships are just one of many ways that their legacy will continue on in our golf community and will be a perpetual reminder of the commitment of the Colonellos to junior golf in Manitoba. Reducing the entry fee for this season is consistent with the spirit of why Mrs. Colonello established the Foundation and that is to increase accessibility and to promote junior golf participation at all levels. We are encouraged that this will help to achieve that outcome.”
Additionally, the Golf Manitoba junior women’s and junior men’s bantam championships will also be re-named the Junior Women’s and Men’s Bantam Championships presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation. The 2020 championships will be contested June 27 and 28 at the Portage Golf Club. Entry fees will also be subsidized by the Foundation and reduced by $50 per player.
Under the government of Manitoba Restoring Services pandemic and economic recovery strategy, golf has been permitted to operate under enhanced health and safety guidelines. In recognition of these guidelines, all championships, including our junior women’s and men’s events, will operate under strict protocols and conditions of competition to ensure the health and safety of all competitors.
In 2018 at the age of 94, Peggy Colonello established the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation with a mandate to support junior golf in Manitoba. To support that endeavor, Mrs. Colonello created an endowment of $3 million dollars that will aid in the development of junior golfers through grassroots golf initiatives and high-performance programming. Since 2019, the Foundation has committed $120,000 to junior golf programs including the Future Links Golf in Schools initiative, provincial junior women’s and junior men’s team development and the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s and men’s golf programs.
Registration for both the junior and bantam championships are now available at golfmb.ca.
For more information:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba jared@golfmb.ca
204.291.8032
Peggy Colonello, women’s golf ambassador and philanthropist, passes at age 97
Photo: Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame
It is with great sadness that Golf Manitoba has learned of the passing of Peggy Colonello on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at the age of 97.
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.
In addition to her volunteerism, Peggy also enjoyed the competitive side of golf. She represented Manitoba on three Manitoba Senior Provincial golf teams, and many winning Nassau teams for Elmhurst. Peggy was very active in the affairs of her home club, the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club in Winnipeg, where she and her husband Alex had been members since the 1940s.
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 will aid in supporting the development of new generations of golfers through grassroots golf initiatives and high-performance programming. Since 2019, the Foundation had committed $130,000 to junior golf programs including the Golf in Schools initiative, provincial junior team development and the University of Manitoba Bisons golf program. The Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame also received support in recognizing and celebrating contributions to golf at the annual Hall of Fame Induction ceremony and will continue to be supported from the Foundation.
Because of her continued devotion to grow the sport for which she and Alex loved so much, the legacy of Alex & Peggy Colonello will carry on through junior golf and for generations to come.
To read Mrs. Colonello’s obituary, please click here >>
Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame announces class of 2019
WINNIPEG, MB – The selection committee for the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to announce the class of 2019.
Brionie Brown and Bruce North will be inducted as Honoured Members in the Athlete category. Rob Officer will be inducted in the Builder category and the 1985 Manitoba Junior Men’s Team that won the Canadian Junior Men’s Inter-Provincial Team Championship will be inducted in the Team category.
“The Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame is very pleased to announce this year’s inductees and to thereby permanently recognize their outstanding achievements in golf and their contributions to the game. We look forward to the Induction Ceremony, which is sponsored by the Alex and Peggy Colonello Foundation, to celebrate the accomplishments of the new Honoured Members” said Don MacDonald, President of the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Inc.
The official induction ceremony will take place on Monday, September 30, 2019 at the Southwood Golf & Country Club.
Mid-Amateur Team Appearances (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2005)
Senior Team Appearances (2011 and 2019)
Willingdon Cup Appearances (1986, 1992)
Runner Up , Canadian Mid-Amateur (2001) to Graham Cooke
On Manitoba Mid-Amateur Team that won the Canadian Mid-Amateur Team Competition (2005)
3-time Manitoba Amateur Golfer of Year Runner Up (1982, 1998, 2001)
8-time winner of Tamarack Golf Tournament (7 Men, 1 Junior)
3-time winner of International Golf Tournament (1979, 1980, 1982)
2-time winner of the Grey Owl Golf Tournament (1982 and 1984)
2nd place, Manitoba Men’s Amateur (1996)
Rob Officer
Since 1997 has been integral in developing the Greenspace Program at Red River College
Grow in and Construction Superintendent at Grand Pines Golf Course (1995 – 1996)
Canadian Golf Superintendents Association John B. Steel Distinguished Service Award (2015) – awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the profession of Golf Course Superintendent
Member of CGSA Board of Directors (1992 – 1998) Member of CGSA Education and Certification Committee (1994 – 2001)
Chairperson CGSA National Occupational Standards (1994 – 1998)
President of MGSA (1994 and 1995)
Diploma, Turfgrass Management, Fairview College (1987)
University of Winnipeg Bachelor of Arts (Business Administration – 2008) and (Environmental Studies – 2009)
University of Manitoba Master of Environment (2012)
Assistant Golf Superintendent, Elmhurst Golf and Country Club (1987)
Golf Superintendent, Elmhurst Golf and Country Club (1988 – 1992)
Assistant Golf Superintendent, Selkirk Golf & Country Club (1993)
Golf Superintendent, Swan River Golf & Country Club (1993 – 1994)
Lead Instructor, Fairview College Grounds and Golf Course Program (1994 – 1995)
Golf Superintendent, Grand Pines Golf Course (1995 – 1997)
Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame Board of Directors member 1996-1998.
Member Membership Standards Committee Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, 1997.
Member of the Canadian Golf Superintendents National Occupational Standards Marketing/Communications Committee 1994-2000.
Member of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association Education and Certification Committee’s, 1994-2001
Recipient of the Inaugural (1991) Gord Witteveen Article of the Year Award for Greenmaster Magazine- National Magazine of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.
Member, Canadian Golf Superintendents Association Public Relations, Communications & Marketing Committee, 2005-2013
Member, City of Winnipeg Advisory Committee, Golf Courses Operating Agency, 2005-2009
Member, City of Winnipeg Topsoil Advisory Committee, 2005- 2008
Member of the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association Environmental Resource Manual Committee, 1999.
Advisory Committee Member for the Red River College/Assiniboine Community College Turfgrass Management Committee 1992-1997.
Vice Chairman of the Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation 1997.
Red River College:
Program Facilitator/ Instructor – Greenspace Management Program (1997 – 2005)
Program Instructor – Greenspace Management Program (2005 – 2016)
Program Instructor and Academic Planner – Civil Engineering and Landscape technician Programs (2016 – June 2019)
Executive Director – Manitoba Nursery Landscape Association (June 2019-present)
During 12 years as Superintendent had 10 staff members go on to become Superintendents; while teaching at RRC has had over 300 graduates including over 30 who have become Superintendents
Director of Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association (1988 – 1998)
1985 Manitoba Junior Men’s Team
Won the Canadian Junior Men’s Interprovincial Team
Team members:
Glenn Collins, St. Charles Country Club
Todd Fanning, Southwood Golf & Country Club
Dave McMillan, Rossmere Country Club
Ken Tresoor, Jr., Rossmere Country Club
Jim Bristow, non-playing captain
Played during first two days (August 27 and 28) of Canadian Junior Men’s Championship at Rossmere Country Club from August 27 – 30, 1985
Second time that Manitoba won the Interprovincial Junior Men’s Team Championship (1967 at Toronto Golf Club with Steve Bannatyne of Rossmere, Dave Hill of Southwood, Kenny Redfern of Elmhurst and Manfred Braovac of Thunder Bay)
Led by Provincial Junior Men’s Champion Todd Fanning with rounds of 69 and 71
Won by 4 shots over New Brunswick and Ontario
Manitoba was 7 shots back starting Day 2
Todd Fanning won the Canadian Junior Golf Championship in 1985 and in 1986
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.
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
About the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation – In 2018, the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation was established with a mandate to support junior golf in the province of Manitoba as well act as the title sponsor of the annual Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Foundation will eventually commit a total of $3 million dollars to an endowment that will aid in supporting the development of new generations of golfers through grassroots golf initiatives and high-performance programming.
Peggy Colonello served as president of the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association in 1974 – 76 and was an active participant at her home course, the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club, where she and husband Alex had been members since the 1940s.
Peggy also served 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 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.
Alex Colonello first moved to Winnipeg in 1941 where, in 1949, Bay Bronze Company asked him to start a machinery division for them. Alex eventually bought control of the company in 1973 becoming President until his retirement in 1996. In 1998, Alex purchased the golf accessory line from Bayco Industries to form Bayco Golf Inc. Alex Colonello passed away in 2013 at the age of 93.
For more information:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204-925-5729
jared@golfmb.ca
Future Links driven by Acura Golf in Schools campaign will officially come to a close on June 28, 2019. Created by Golf Canada in partnership with PGA of Canada and Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada), the Golf in Schools program brings the game of golf to Canadian Schools and is regionally administered by Golf Manitoba. The program has been developed to provide students the opportunity to develop aspects of “physical literacy” related to the sport of golf, and increase student knowledge and appreciation for the sport.
Since the start of May, NCCP and PGA of Canada certified
Community Golf Coaches have visited over 45 local schools and have introduced approximately 7,000 early years students to the game of golf. The lessons delivered through the Golf in Schools program help students to learn within specific skill themes including movement skills, health-related fitness, skill-related fitness and life skills and all in relation to golf. With less than 1% of elementary school populations playing golf, the ultimate goal of the Golf in Schools program is to change this statistic and offer students the opportunity to develop a skill set and have experiences that will encourage and support their lifelong participation in golf.
Moving into the summer months, Golf Manitoba will continue to deliver Future Links junior golf programming to community centres and rural golf courses through Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.
In addition to the support of Acura Canada, the regional Golf in Schools program received funding support from the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation.
For more information:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204.925.5729
jared@golfmb.ca
Local Teachers Become Manitoba’s Newest Community Golf Coaches
Winnipeg, MB – Physical Education Teachers from the Seven Oaks School Division and staff from the Lorette Golf Course are the newest members to receive PGA of Canada Community Golf Coach training. PGA of Canada golf professional and Community Golf Coach Facilitator Glen Sirkis, lead the session at the Sport Manitoba Sport for Life Centre on Thursday, May 16.
The PGA of Canada’s Community Golf Coach training workshop is designed for the individual who works with children or youth to introduce the basic skills of golf to them. The workshop helps to prepare Coaches to run Future Links, driven by Acura programs by focusing on a variety of coaching components from the basic rules and etiquette of golf, safety, equipment, using modified games and of course teaching the basic skills of golf.
The training session is a new initiative from Golf Manitoba that is focusing on sport development in the school system. By training and certifying educators and community leaders, Golf Manitoba is able to expand its Golf in Schools capacity thereby introducing more young girls and boys to the sport with physical literacy in mind. The training initiative was made possible by funding from the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation.
Community Golf Coach workshops are administered by Golf Manitoba and delivered by PGA of Canada Community Golf Coach Facilitators. For more information, please contact Garth Goodbrandson, Director of Player Development at garth@golfmb.ca.
About Future Links, Driven by Acura
Future Links, Driven by Acura gives children ages 6-18 the chance to enjoy and learn the game of golf via affordable and accessible programs that align and support the principles of golf’s long-term player development guide, which has been endorsed by Sport Canada. More than one million junior golfers have successfully participated in Future Links, Driven by Acura programming since its inception in 1996.
For more information:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204-925-5730
jared@golfmb.ca
The 2019 spring 
Since the start of May, NCCP and PGA of Canada certified 
