Kuntz finishes T3 at Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
Brian Munz
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.
Kuntz T2, one stroke off the lead entering final round at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
Brian Munz
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.
Team Manitoba finishes 3rd in Inter-Provincial Team Championship at Canadian Men’s Amateur; Kuntz & Trstenjak make the cut
Brian Munz
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.
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.
Kuntz top Manitoban to open Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
Brian Munz
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.
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.
11 Golf Manitoba members set to tee off at 119th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in Saskatoon
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.
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.
Trstenjak & McMillan conclude Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
Brian Munz
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.
Trstenjak moves up the leaderboard at the Canadian Men’s Amateur
Marco Trstenjak (Golf Manitoba)
Golf Manitoba
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.
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.
Team Manitoba T5, McMillian T27 after round 1 of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
Ryan McMillan is the top Manitoban after round 1 of the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship.
Golf Manitoba
Team Manitoba sits in a two-way tie for 5th place after the first round of the inter-provincial team competition at the 118th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The team of Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club), Ryan McMillan (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club and Evan Nachtigall (What City Golf Course) shot a team score of 1-over par 143 to sit alongside of Team Prince Edward Island. Team Alberta is alone in first place shooting a team score of 6-under par.
Ryan McMillan currently leads the way for all Manitobans carding a 1-under par round of 70 on the Paintbrush course at the Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ontario. Evan Nachtigall posted a 2-over par score of 73 while Braxton Kuntz rounded out the Team Manitoba scoring with a 6-over par score of 77.
Scoring for all Manitobans in the field:
Ryan McMillan (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) 71 – T27 Evan Nachtigall (Wheat City Golf Course) 73 – T87 Curtis Markusson (St. Charles Country Club) +2 through 9-holes Grady Chuback (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club) +2 through 13-holes Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) 74 – T120 Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) 77 – T189 Neel Soni (St. Charles Country Club) +8 through 14-holes Trey Ross (Rossmere Country Club) 88 – 260
Round 1 was suspended due to darkness and will resume at 7:00am EST. The second, and final round of the inter-provincial team competition for the Willingdon Cup, will resume immediately following the conclusion of round 1 and will be played on on the Pulpit Course. Upon conclusion of the second round, the starting field of 264 players in this 72-hole event will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties.
Team Manitoba set for Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
The 2023 Men's Interprovincial Team (L to R: Evan Nachtigall, Ryan McMillian and Braxton Kuntz)
Brian Munz
Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club), Ryan McMillan (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) and Evan Nachtigall (Wheat City Golf Course) are in Caledon, Ontario this weekend set to open the 118th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship presented by BDO Monday at the Pulpit Golf Club.
Expectations are high as Kuntz and McMillan, who were separated by just a single stroke at Oak Island Golf to conclude the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur. Nachtigall finished only five strokes back with an impressive three under par 69 in his final round.
264 competitors will embark on the 72 hole event with a cut set for the top 70 players and ties following Tuesday’s second round.
Also taking part from Manitoba are Curtis Markusson (St. Charles Country Club), Grady Chuback (Team Manitoba / St. Charles), Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst), Neel Soni (St. Charles) and Trey Ross (Rossmere Country Club).
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.
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 new purse payout that was introduced in 2022 will continue at this year’s championship. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will compete for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Amateur golfers may accept prize money up to a maximum of $1,200 CAD, and payouts will be awarded to the top 10 finishers and ties.
The national championship will also feature an Inter-Provincial Team Championship that will take place over the first 36-holes of the tournament. Team Quebec will be defending their title as nine provinces and one territory will be vying to etch their names into the Willingdon Cup.
The 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion receives an exemption into the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. and the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. from August 14-20.
