GATINEAU, Que. – Team Ontario overcame a three-stroke deficit on Tuesday to avenge their runner-up finish from last year’s event and claim their 33rd Willingdon Cup, capping off a busy second round at the 120th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.  

Dawson Lew from Toronto, Ont. was a key player in Team Ontario’s resurgence, helping them reclaim the top spot in the annual Inter-Provincial Team Championship. Despite an early bogey, Lew impressively played his next 10 holes at 5-under par, ultimately helping his team best Team Quebec by 7 strokes.

Team Manitoba, represented by Ryan Blair (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club), Drew Jones (Shilo Country Club) and Evan Nachtigall (Shilo Country Club) shot a final round team score of 4-over par to finish in 7th place.

All ten players from Manitoba did not advance past the second round with the cut line posted at 3-over par.

For the complete second round re-cap, please click HERE.

Third round tee times are available HERE.

Manitoba Leaderboard

• Braxton Kuntz (Winnipeg, MB): Scores: 73, 72. CUT (+5)
• Ryan Blair (Winnipeg, MB): Scores: 71, 74. CUT (+5)
• Evan Nachtigall (Brandon, MB): Scores: 72, 73. CUT (+5)
• Kaleb Lambert (Lorette West, MB): Scores: 72, 74. CUT (+6)
• Drew Jones (Brandon, MB): Scores: 75, 71. CUT (+6)
• Rory Neill (Winnipeg, MB): Scores: 71, 75. CUT (+6)
• Curtis Markusson (Winnipeg, MB): Scores: 74, 77. CUT (+11)
• Tristan Schneider (La Salle, MB): Scores: 80, 78. CUT (+18)
• Thomas Scott (Dauphin, MB): Scores: 82, 81. CUT (+23)
• Payne Wood (Winnipeg, MB): Scores: 79, 76. CUT (+15)

GATINEAU, QC – Team Manitoba, featuring Evan Nachtigall (Brandon), Drew Jones (Brandon), and Ryan Blair (Winnipeg), wrapped up their opening round at the 2025 Willingdon Cup Inter-Provincial Team Championship today at the Rivermead Golf Club. This prestigious team event runs concurrently with the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship presented by BDO, which is contested at both the Rivermead Golf Club and the Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

Under the “play three, count two” format, Manitoba delivered a solid start. Ryan Blair led the charge with a 1-over 71, closely followed by Evan Nachtigall’s 2-over 72. Drew Jones rounded out the team play posting a 5-over par score of 75.

Manitoba currently sits in 6th place at +3 in the Willingdon Cup standings. While Quebec and Ontario hold the top spots, the race for the Willingdon Cup, which concludes after tomorrow’s second round, is wide open.

Beyond the official team, seven other Manitobans were also in the field for the Canadian Men’s Amateur on Monday. This group includes four-time Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Champion Braxton Kuntz, who opened with a 3-over 73 and is currently tied for 108th out of 264 players. Payne Wood, a member of Golf Manitoba’s Team Manitoba junior development program, opened with a 9-over 79 and is tied for 232nd.

The starting field of 264 players for the Canadian Men’s Amateur will be reduced to the low 70 and ties following the second round, with the final two rounds held exclusively at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

View the full first round leaderboard HERE.

Second round tee times are available HERE.

Manitoba Leaderboard

• Ryan Blair (Winnipeg, MB): +1 (71) – T54
• Evan Nachtigall (Brandon, MB): +2 (72) – T74
• Drew Jones (Winnipeg, MB): +5 (75) – T161
• Rory Neill (Winnipeg, MB): +1 (71) – T54
• Kaleb Lambert (Lorette West, MB): +2 (72) – T74
• Braxton Kuntz (Winnipeg, MB): +3 (73) – T108
• Curtis Markusson (Winnipeg, MB): +4 (74) – T136
• Payne Wood (Winnipeg, MB): +9 (79) – T232
• Tristan Schneider (La Salle, MB): +10 (80) – T239
• Thomas Scott (Dauphin, MB): +12 (82) – T254

Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) shot a 1-under par 71 in his final round at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship Thursday in Saskatoon to finish in a two way tie for third place.

With a 12-under par 276 total, Kuntz ended four days of competition just three strokes back of champion Tyler Mawhinney of Florida.

Kuntz’s round featured four birdies and 11 pars along with three bogeys.

Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) was the only other Manitoban to make the cut and finished T74 on the leaderboard at 9-over par 297.

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Photo Courtesy: Victor Pankratz

Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) shot a 3-under par 69 in his third round at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship Wednesday in Saskatoon.

Currently at 11-under par 205, Kuntz is in a three way tie for second place on the leaderboard, just one stroke back of American Tyler Mawhinney for first place.

Kuntz’s round featured an eagle on the 16th hole, four birdies and 10 pars along with three bogeys.

Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) shot a 77 to sit at T57.

For the third round leaderboard, click here.

For the final round tee times, click here.

Team Manitoba (Ryan Blair, Drew Jones & Braxton Kuntz) finished in third place today in the 36 hole Inter-Provincial Team Championship at the Canadian Men’s Amateur in Saskatoon.

The trio combined to finish at even par, nine strokes back of first place British Columbia.

Individually, Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) and Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) are the two Golf Manitoba members to make the cut and will play rounds three and four.

Kuntz is T2 on the leaderboard carding a 5-under par 67 in his second round while Trstenjak is T31 following a 3-under par 69. Trstenjak’s round featured a hole-in-one on the seventh hole.

The cut was +1, 145. Failing to advance were:

Evan Nachtigall (Shilo Country Club) +2, 146
Jack Moro (Whitewater Golf Club) +3, 147
Ryan Blair (Elmhurst) +8, 152
Drew Jones (Shilo) +8, 152
Grady Chuback (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club) +12, 156
Eric Prokopowich (Dauphin Lake Golf Club) +12, 156
Hudson Hunnie (Team Manitoba / Rossmere Country Club) +12, 156
Brad Pardy (Shilo) +15, 159
Adam Blair (Team Manitoba / Pine Ridge Golf Club) +18, 162

For the second round leaderboard, click here.

For the third round tee times, click here.

Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) was the only Manitoban to shoot under par Monday in Saskatoon to open the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

With a 3-under par 69, Kuntz is T14 on the leaderboard.

Other Golf Manitoba members include:

Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) +1, 73
Jack Moro (Whitewater Golf Club) +1, 73
Evan Nachtigall (Shilo Country Club) +2, 74
Ryan Blair (Elmhurst) +3, 75
Drew Jones (Shilo) +3, 75
Grady Chuback (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club) +3, 75
Adam Blair (Team Manitoba / Pine Ridge Golf Club) +5, 77
Eric Prokopowich (Dauphin Lake Golf Club) +5, 77
Hudson Hunnie (Team Manitoba / Rossmere Country Club) +6, 78
Brad Pardy (Shilo) +11, 83

After the opening round in the 36 hole Inter-Provincial Team Championship, Team Manitoba (Blair, Jones & Kuntz) is sixth in the standings at even par. British Columbia and Ontario are tied for first place at 6-under par.

For the opening round leaderboard, click here.

For the second round tee times, click here.

Golf Manitoba is well represented this week as the 119th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO tees off this morning at both the Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Representing Team Manitoba in the 36 hole Inter-Provincial Team Championship are Ryan Blair (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club), Drew Jones (Shilo Country Club) and Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club).

Also in the 264 person field of competitors are:

Adam Blair (Team Manitoba / Pine Ridge Golf Club)
Brad Pardy (Shilo)
Jack Moro (Whitewater Golf Club)
Eric Prokopowich (Dauphin Lake Golf Club)
Evan Nachtigall (Shilo)
Grady Chuback (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club)
Hudson Hunnie (Team Manitoba / Rossmere Country Club)
Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst)

For the opening round tee times, click here.

For the opening round leaderboard, click here.

This year’s field features a number of top amateur golfers from around the world including, Max Kennedy of Dublin, Ireland, currently ranked no. 28 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). Joining Kennedy are Wang Ngai Shen of Hong Kong, China (no. 155 WAGR), Mateo Fuenmayor of Colombia (no. 264 WAGR) as well as defending champion, Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. McCulloch (no. 135 WAGR) has enjoyed a successful season at Michigan State and competed at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open and qualified for the 2024 U.S. Open.

The following 2024 Provincial Men’s Amateur Champions will also be competing in the field: Brett Jones (Alberta), Team Canada NextGen member Cooper Humphreys (British Columbia), Braxton Kuntz (Manitoba), Team Canada NextGen member Matthew Javier (Ontario), Ryan Lamswood (Newfoundland and Labrador), Alexander Mercier (Quebec) and from the host province, Kye Fisher (Saskatchewan).

Along with Humphreys, Javier and McCulloch there will be an additional nine Team Canada members competing in Saskatoon including, Laurent Desmarchais (Bromont, Que.), Isaiah Ibit (Orleans, Ont.), Alex Long (Toronto, Ont.), Ben MacLean (Niagara Falls, Ont.), Jean-Philippe Parr (St-Célestin, Que.), Luke Smith (Toronto, Ont.), Hunter Thomson (Calgary, Alta.), Ethan Wilson (St. Albert, Alta.) and Eric Zhao (North York, Ont.).

“We are excited to get the 119th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship underway next week at two beautiful golf courses here in Saskatoon,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Adam Cinel. “The staff and volunteers at both Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club been working tirelessly to ensure those competing will enjoy the test both courses present. We look forward to hosting a full field of 264 players as they compete for our prestigious national championship.”

Golfers from all 10 provinces and one territory are represented in the field along with 11 additional countries: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, England, France, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Ireland, South Africa, United States and Wales.

The first two rounds of this year’s tournament will be contested on both courses with the field playing each course once. Following the opening 36-holes of the championship, the field will be reduced to the top 70 players plus ties. Wednesday and Thursday’s rounds will both played at Riverside Country Club with an awards ceremony following Thursday’s final round.

“We are thrilled and honoured to co-host this prestigious national golf championship along with Riverside Country Club. It has been a great partnership as we work together with Golf Canada to make this a memorable experience for the players, spectators and volunteers,” said Warren Proctor, Host Club Committee Chair, Saskatoon Golf and Country Club. “We have had an unbelievable positive response from our membership in support of hosting this championship. I must also recognize our Club management, including course superintendent Terry McNeilly who, along with his staff have been working tirelessly to get our golf course in wonderful condition to be challenging and a fair test for the players.”

“Riverside Country Club has a long history of hosting prestigious golf events, and we look forward to welcoming some of the top tier national and international players for the 119th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship,” said Robert Klombies, Executive Director, Riverside Country Club. “It is heartening to see the level of excitement and engagement that our members and golf community exhibit to ensure players enjoy an incredible experience both at Riverside and within the City of Saskatoon.”

Established in 1895, the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is the third oldest amateur championship in the world. The tournament was first contested as one of the newly formed Royal Canadian Golf Association’s (RCGA), now known as Golf Canada, first orders of business in 1895 at the Ottawa Golf Club.

The national championship originally began as a match play competition but changed to stroke play for the 1969 championship. It remained that way through 1994 when it reverted to match play in honour of the RCGA’s and the championship’s centennial in 1995. The championship once again reverted to stroke play in 2008 and in 2010, the tournament changed to a double field format for the first time ever.

Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George S. Lyon won the Amateur eight times between 1898 and 1914 and was runner-up two more times. Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Sandy Somerville made it to the match play final ten times between 1924 and 1938, capturing six championships. Other past champions include Canadian Golf Hall of Famers and four-time winners, Nick Weslock (1957, 1963, 1964, 1966) and Doug Roxburgh (1972, 1974, 1982, 1988). Most recently, two-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion, Mackenzie Hughes (2011, 2012) and 2023 RBC Canadian Open and four-time PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor (2007). The last time the Canadian Men’s Amateur was held in the city of Saskatoon was in 2007 at Riverside Country Club, when Taylor won.

Nick Taylor is the only Canadian male golfer to have won the Canadian Junior Boys (2006), Canadian Men’s Amateur (2007) and RBC Canadian Open (2023) titles. Brooke Henderson is the only Canadian female golfer to win the national championship trifecta, having won the Canadian Junior Girls (2012), Canadian Women’s Amateur (2013) and the CPKC Women’s Open (2018).

The national championship will also feature an Inter-Provincial Team Championship that will take place over the first 36-holes of the tournament. Team Ontario will be defending their title as 10 provinces and one territory will be vying to etch their names into the Willingdon Cup.

The 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion receives an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. and the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. from August 12-18. The winner will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championship. In addition, the winner will receive $1,200 CAD.

For the full player field competing in the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) was Manitoba’s highest placing competitor as the 118th Canada Men’s Amateur Championship came to an end Friday.

Trstenjak shot a final round 80, to finish the 72 hole event at +12, 296, good for a tie for 45th overall.

Carding an 83 in his final round, Ryan McMillan (Elmhurst) finished tied for 63rd at +21, 305.

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Marco Trstenjak continued his steady play on day three of the 118th Canada Men’s Amateur Championship posting his second straight 71 on the Pulpit Course in Caledon, Ontario. The even-par round moved the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club member 14 places up the leaderboard where he will enter the final round in a tie for twenty-second place.

Club mate Ryan McMillan posted a 7-over par round of 78 to finish the day at T53.

For the complete third round leaderboard, click here.

For Thursday’s final round tee-times, click here.

Team Manitoba finished in fifth place during the final round of the annual inter-provincial competition for the Willingdon Cup. The Team of Evan Nachtigall (Wheat City Golf Club), Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) and Ryan McMillan (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) shot a score +5 148 for a two-day total of 7-over par 292. Team Ontario finished in 1st place with a two-day score of 3-under par 281.

It was a tough scoring day at the 118th Canadian Men’s Amateur with only two Manitobans making the cut. Ryan McMillan (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) started the day in T27 and slipped four spots to T31 after a 3-over par score of 74. Marco Trstenjak, also of Elmhurst, had the best Manitoba score of the day with an even par round of 71 on the Pulpit Course to finish the day in a tie for 36th place. Grady Chubak (79), Braxton Kuntz (74), Curtis Marksusson (81), Evan Nachtigall (78), Neel Soni (83), and Trey Ross (91) all fell short of making the cut.

For the complete second round leaderboard, click here.

For Thursday’s third round tee-times, click here.