Volunteers have been at the heart of Golf Manitoba since its founding in 2003 and prior to that for both the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association and the Manitoba Golf Association. The time and expertise volunteers donate year after year enable Golf Manitoba to achieve its goals.  The volunteer contribution, dedication and commitment are vital to the growth of the organization.

Each year, Golf Manitoba recognizes the outstanding individual contributions of a long-serving volunteer through its Distiguished Service Award. The criteria for the award is long-time service to Golf Manitoba (including Manitoba Golf Association & Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association); going above and beyond the expectations of a volunteer; proving to be an advocate for the game and the Association, demonstrated commitment to amateur golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario and displaying qualities of a positive role model for other volunteers.

After 27-plus years of service to the game of golf, Lou Spado, will be honored with the Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award on October 23 at the St. Charles Country Club during the 2019 Golf Manitoba Annual Awards Reception.

Lou’s impactful volunteer career started in 1992 where he joined the Manitoba Golf Association as a starter and scorer for tournaments. In 1994, Lou served as the MGA representative for his home club, the St. Boniface Golf Club. His passion for volunteerism lead the retired Winnipeg police detective to obtain his certification as a Rules Official in 1996, a credential that he still holds to this day. In 2000, Lou joined the MGA Board of Directors which ultimately led to his two year term as President of Golf Manitoba from 2005 to 2007. More recently, Lou received his Level 3 Rules Referee certification through Golf Canada. In addition to these roles, Lou has served on a variety of Golf Manitoba sub-committees including co-chair of the Rules Committee, marketing, membership and tournament committees.

Golf Manitoba is very pleased to honour Mr. Lou Spado as the Distinguished Service Award Recipient for 2019.

WINNIPEG, MB – The Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award Selection Committee has announced the finalists for the 2019 Male and Female Amateur Golfers of the Year award, which will both be presented during the Annual General Meeting and Awards Reception on Wednesday, October 23 at the St. Charles Country Club.

The female nominees for 2019, and in alphabetical order, are: Hannah Diamond (St. Charles Country Club), Charmaine Mackid (Breezy Bend Country Club) and Rhonda Orr (Southwood Golf & Country Club).

Hannah Diamond of St Charles started the year with a win at the Golf Manitoba Women’s Match Play Championship. The win was her second in a row in the event. She followed her Match Play victory with a runner-up finish in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. The runner-up finish in the amateur helped to earn Diamond the opportunity to represent Manitoba in the inter-provincial team competition at the 2019 Golf Canada Women’s Amateur Championship where the team finished 5^th in the event.

Charmaine Mackid started her 2019 competitive campaign by making it to the semi-finals in the Women’s Match Play Championship. She also took the first women’s stroke play event of the year with a win at the City & District Championship and also finished 4th in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship.

Rhonda Orr won the 2019 Women’s Senior Championship; it was her fourth straight title in the event and 6th Senior crown in the last 7 years. Orr went on to represent Manitoba in the 2019 Golf Canada Senior Women’s Inter-provincial Team Competition where the team finished 5th. Individually, Orr finished 11th in the stroke play portion of the championship. Orr also finished 5th in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. Orr also qualified for a second straight year to compete in the 2019 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship where she qualified for the match play portion of the event and winning her first match and making it to the round of 32.

Four female golfers received honourable mention for their performance in 2019 and include Kate Gregoire of Quarry Oaks Golf Club (2019 Manitoba Junior Women’s Championship and 7th in the Women’s Amateur), Cala Korman of Kilarney Lakeside Golf Club (2nd in the Junior Bantam Championship and 3rd in the Manitoba Junior), Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge (3rd in the Women’s Amateur) and Crystal Zamzow of Swan River Golf Club (Junior Women’s Bantam Champion and 4th in the Manitoba Junior Women’s Championship).

The Male Amateur Golfer of the Year nominees for 2019, and in alphabetical order, are: Colwyn Abgrall (Southwood Golf & Country Club), Jacob Armstrong (St. Boniface Golf Club) and Austin Dobrescu (Shilo Country Club).

Colwyn Abgrall of Southwood had a successful start to his year with a runner-up finish in the Match Play Championship. He followed that performance with a 7th place in the Grey Owl and a 3rd at the Elmhurst Invitational. At the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur, he led the event after the second round and completed the run with a win, his first Amateur crown. Abgrall went on to represent Manitoba at the 2019 Golf Canada Men’s Amateur Championship where the team finished in 5th place. Abgrall completed his 2019 campaign by tying for medallist honours at the regional Qualifier in Fargo, ND to earn a spot in the United States Amateur that was held at the Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina, USA.

Jacob Armstrong of St. Boniface Golf Club kicked off his 2019 campaign with a T3rd in the Golf Canada Future Links Prairie Championship. The finish earned him direct entry into the 2019 Golf Canada Junior Amateur Championship. Armstrong didn’t require that exemption as he went on to win the Manitoba Junior Men’s Championship and a spot on team Manitoba. Armstrong helped the team to a 6th place showing and a T59th individually in the Golf Canada Junior Men’s Championship. Armstrong also finished T10th in the Elmhurst Invitational, won two Maple Leaf Junior Tour events and T12th in the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship.

Austin Dobrescu of Shilo Country Club took the first men’s event on the Golf Manitoba calendar with a win at the Match Play Championship. He followed that up with a 3rd place finish in the Elmhurst Invitational. That was followed up with a runner-up finish at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur which earned him a spot on team Manitoba that competed in the Golf Canada Men’s Amateur Championship. The team went on to finish in 5th place; Dobrescu was the only Manitoban to make the cut in the event where he finished in a tie for 31st overall and T11th among all Canadians to make the cut. Dobrescu also competed in the Players Cup where he posted opening rounds of 78-75.

Six male golfers received honourable mention for their play in 2019 and include Garth Collings of Breezy Bend (Senior Match Play Champion, T3rd in the Manitoba Senior, T15th Canadian Senior), Eric Johnson of Breezy Bend (2019 Mid-Amateur Champion), Drew Jones of Shilo Country Club (Semi-Finalist in Match Play Championship and winner of Elmhurst Invitational), Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend (2nd in Manitoba Junior and silver medalist in Western Canada Summer Games), Jordy Lutz of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club (3rd in Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur, 11th in Mid-Amateur and T38th Golf Canada Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship) and Neel Soni of St. Charles Country Club (T3rd in Future Links Prairie Championship, 3rd in Manitoba Junior and T72 in Golf Canada Junior Men’s Championship).

About the Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award – The Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year award recognizes outstanding performance by Manitoba golfers in all levels of competition with the first award presented in 1975. In 2015, the award was re-established to include both a female and male category.

About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is the governing body for golf in the province of Manitoba and North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf in Manitoba and North West Ontario for the benefit of all participants.

For more information:

Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204-925-5729
jared@golfmb.ca