Golf Manitoba announces 2023/24 Board of Directors
Brian Munz
The 2023/24 Golf Manitoba Board of Directors was announced at the Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF at the Glendale Golf & Country Club. The twelve-member board was elected during the associations 21st Annual General Meeting.
The Board of Directors is comprised of dedicated volunteers from across the golf community in the Golf Manitoba jurisdiction of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.
The Board’s duties are to direct the business affairs of the association.
The members of the 2023/24 Golf Manitoba Board of Directors are:
OFFICERS
President: Susan Wright-Cassan, Emerald Greens Golf Course President Elect: Bob Peters, St. Charles Country Club Vice-President: Matthew Simmons, Whitewater Golf Club Past-President: Wayne McWhirter, Southwood Golf & Country Club Treasurer: Kathy Turner, Breezy Bend Country Club
DIRECTORS
Michael Berney, Delahunt Golf & Country Club John Braun, Pine Ridge Golf Club D’Arcy Lachance, Elmhurst Golf & Country Club Craig Martin, Minnewasta Golf & Country Club Justin Price, Glendale Golf & Country Club Janice Rees, Windsor Park Ladies Fred Smith, Wildewood Golf Club
In addition to the election, Golf Manitoba also released its 2023 Annual Report, which includes a recap of the past season, as well as the association’s 2022/23 Financial Statements.
About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is the governing body for golf in the province of Manitoba and Northwest Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the game of golf for the benefit of all participants.
For more information:
Brian Munz Director of Communications Golf Manitoba 204.899.1092 brian@golfmb.ca
Don fell in love with the sport of golf over 40 years when he joined St. Charles Country Club, where he is still an active member today.
Since 2001, Hargot has dedicated over 2000 hours in his primary volunteer role as a member of the course rating team. He has rated 90 courses across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.
Don has also volunteered as a pace of play official, tournament starter, and scorer.
He has also volunteered many hours at his home course serving as Club Captain and on the handicap committee.
Through Don’s decades of volunteering he has become a true Golf Manitoba advocate. He is always a friendly face and a positive influence within the volunteer family.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome & congratulate Mr. Don Hargot as our 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipient.
Also recognized were six individuals who reached milestone volunteer anniversaries with Golf Manitoba.
5 YEARS Marissa Naylor
10 YEARS Rick Kaye Wayne McWhirter
15 YEARS Jim Gosman 20 YEARS Bill Barbaza
30 YEARS Harvey Goehring
For more information about volunteering with Golf Manitoba, please visit golfmb.ca/volunteering.
WATCH | Bohunicky on Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF
Brian Munz
Following the Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF at Glendale Golf & Country Club, AVID GOLF Founder & CEO Luc Bohunicky spoke about last night’s event and their connection in the golf community.
Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club talks with Golf Manitoba Director of Communications Brian Munz about being named the 2023 Male Amateur Golfer of the Year.
Kuntz was unable to attend in person as he continues his studies at Ball State University in Indiana.
WATCH | Orr discusses winning the 2023 Female Amateur Golfer of the Year
Brian Munz
Following Wednesday night’s Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF at Glendale Golf & Country Club, Rhonda Orr of Southwood Golf & Country Club met with the media to talk about this year’s honour.
Orr & Kuntz named Female & Male Amateur Golfers of the Year
Brian Munz
On behalf of Selection Committee members Clayton Dreger, Jill Hardy, Adam Speirs and Ken Wiebe, Golf Manitoba is pleased to recognize the 2023 Amateur Golfer of the Year Award winners.
This year’s recipients were announced on October 25, 2023, at the annual Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF that was held at the Glendale Golf & Country Club.
Rhonda Orr of Southwood Golf & Country Club is the 2023 Female Amateur Golfer of the Year.
Orr, 62, from Winnipeg, won the Hodson Financial Women’s Senior Championship and Super Senior Championship. She finished third in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, fourth at the British Columbia Women’s Senior Championship, T7 at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship and ninth at the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. The Southwood Golf & Country Club member also qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
Orr has won the last eight consecutive and 10 of the last 11 Hodson Financial Women’s Senior Championships. With the selection, it is the fifth time that Orr has been recognized as Female Amateur Golfer of the Year (2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).
Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club is the 2023 Male Amateur Golfer of the Year. Kuntz, 19, from Winnipeg, won the Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre and the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship. Representing Nicholls State University (NCAA) south of the border he placed fourth in the Gulf Coast Collegiate Championship, T6 at the Colin Montgomerie Invitational and T7 at the Tunica National Intercollegiate Championship. The Breezy Bend Country Club member was also T8 at the Elmhurst Invitational and T9 at the Glencoe Invitational.
Kuntz was the first player in Manitoba to win both the Manitoba Junior and Men’s Amateur Championship in back-to-back seasons (2021 and 2022). He is also just the third player to have won the Men’s Amateur Championship in three consecutive years (Todd Fanning 1990, 91, 92 and R.J Reith 1935, 36, 37).
With the selection, it is the third time in as many years that Kuntz has been named Male Amateur Golfer of the Year (2021, 2022, 2023).
Kuntz was unavailable to attend the awards banquet in person as he is currently in his junior year at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
About the Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award – The 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 Northwest Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf for the benefit of all participants.
Finalists announced for 2023 Female & Male Amateur Golfer of the Year
Brian Munz
Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2023 Female and Male Amateur Golfer of the Year Awards.
This year’s female and male award finalists were chosen by the selection committee of Clayton Dreger of Golden West Radio, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press as well as former Golf Manitoba Junior and Amateur Champions Jill Hardy and Adam Speirs.
The 2023 Female Amateur Golf of the Year Finalists are Addison Kartusch, Cala Korman, Jeri Lafleche and Rhonda Orr.
Addison Kartusch
Kartusch, 17, from Winnipeg, won the Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre and the Women’s City & District Championship. She finished second in the Junior Division of the Elmhurst Invitational, third at the Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship and fourth in the Junior Girls Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation. The St. Charles Country Club member also placed seventh in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship, 31st in the Juvenile Division of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship and T42 in the Canadian Junior Girls Championship.
Cala Korman
Korman, 18, from Killarney, won the Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship at the Evergreen Golf Course in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. She finished second in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship and third in the Junior Girls Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation. The Golf Manitoba Public Player member also placed T35 on the leaderboard at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship and 78th at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.
Jeri Lafleche
Lafleche, 16, from Winnipeg, won the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship, finished second at the Junior Girls Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation, third in the Junior Girls Division at the Elmhurst Invitational and was a semi finalist in the Championship Flight of the Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre. The Clear Lake Golf Course member also completed the Canadian Junior Girls Championship T32 on the leaderboard in the Juvenile Division and T46 in the overall championship.
Rhonda Orr
Orr, 62, from Winnipeg, won the Hodson Financial Women’s Senior Championship and Super Senior Championship. She finished third in the Mid-Amateur Championship of the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship, 4th in the B.C. Women’s Senior Championship, T7 at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship and ninth at the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. The Southwood Golf & Country Club member also qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
The Golf Manitoba Awards selection committee would also like to recognize Charmaine Hayden (2nd place at the Mid-Amateur Championship of the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship and 3rd place at the Women’s City & District) and Crystal Zamzow (Champion of the Junior Girls Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and Champion of the Junior Girls Division at the Elmhurst Invitational) on their accomplishments during the 2023 season.
The 2023 Male Amateur Golfer of the Year finalists are Jay Doyle, Todd Fanning,Braxton Kuntz and Marco Trstenjak.
Jay Doyle
Doyle, 56, from Winnipeg, won the Hodson Financial Senior Men’s Championship and finished sixth in the Mid-Masters Championship of the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. The Niakwa Country Club member also placed T20 on the leaderboard at the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and T48 at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.
Todd Fanning
Fanning, 55, from Winnipeg, finished second in both the Hodson Financial Senior Men’s Championship and the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Masters Championship. The Niakwa Country Club member placed third at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship, T8 at the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and T12 at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.
Braxton Kuntz
Kuntz, 19, from Winnipeg, won the Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre and the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship. South of the border he placed fourth in the Gulf Coast Collegiate Championship, T6 at the Colin Montgomerie Invitational and T7 at the Tunica National Intercollegiate Championship. The Breezy Bend Country Club member was also T8 at the Elmhurst Invitational and T9 at the Glencoe Invitational.
Marco Trstenjak
Trstenjak, 23, from Winnipeg, won the Elmhurst Invitational. He finished 2nd in the Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre and finished seventh at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship. The Elmhurst Golf & Country Club member also place T45 on the leaderboard at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
The Golf Manitoba Awards selection committee would also like to recognize Curtis Markusson (Mid-Masters Champion at the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship) and Patrick Perrin (Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion) for their play during the 2023 season.
Tickets are available for purchase until 5pm on Friday, October 20th by contacting Golf Manitoba at (204) 925-5730 or by email at info@golfmb.ca.
Tickets are $25 per person, appetizers and food stations included.
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:
Brian Munz Director of Communications Golf Manitoba (204) 899-1092 brian@golfmb.ca
The 2023 Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF, will be held on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at the Glendale Golf & Country Club.
The annual event recognizes and celebrates all that’s great about the sport of golf in the province – from volunteers to elite performers, teams and milestone achievements including the annual Male and Female Amateur Golfer of the Year awards.
The Golf Manitoba Annual General Meeting will also be held on October 25 and just prior to the start of the Awards banquet. Under Golf Manitoba by-laws, notice of the annual meeting has been sent to all member clubs and leagues via email and to the attention of the Club President & Member Club Representative. All member clubs are invited to RSVP one voting delegate to attend the meeting and to vote on behalf of the club/league.
Tickets are now available for $25 and can be purchased by emailing amy@golfmb.ca. Appetizers and food stations included with a cash bar available.
For more information about the Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF, please contact Golf Manitoba Director of Communications Brian Munz at brian@golfmb.ca.
About AVID GOLF: Located at 1580 Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba, AVID GOLF houses 6 indoor simulators using Foresight Sports technology, has an indoor putting green and a bar and lounge. AVID GOLF caters to both serious and recreational golfers in addition to providing a social venue for people looking for a fun and interactive experience.
For more about AVID GOLF including winter league and membership information, visit avidgolf.club.
Under the agreement, AVID GOLF will become the presenting partner of the annual Golf Manitoba Awards event until 2025.
“We are looking forward to embarking on this new relationship with AVID GOLF” said Ladobruk. “In speaking with Luc and seeing their business in operation, we have a common goal of growing the sport of golf for all age levels and playing abilities.”
“It’s hard to love something for only six months of the year so we created AVID GOLF in an effort to grow and allow everyone to enjoy the sport of golf 12 months of the year” said AVID GOLF Founder & CEO Luc Bohunicky. “It’s important to us to not just be looked at as just a sim lounge, we want to be active in the community and allow people to have fun while also improving their skills at the same time.”
About AVID GOLF: Located at 1580 Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba, AVID GOLF houses 6 indoor simulators using Foresight Sports technology, has an indoor putting green and a bar and lounge. AVID GOLF caters to both serious and recreational golfers in addition to providing a social venue for people looking for a fun and interactive experience.
About Golf Manitoba: Serving the Manitoba and Northwest Ontario golf communities since 1915, Golf Manitoba strives to provide quality, innovative and accessible golf programs and services. We strive to align with all golf stakeholders through a connected golf community while encouraging both youth and adults to play more golf, more often. Our Mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the game of golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario for the benefit of all participants.
About Golf Manitoba Awards:The annual Golf Manitoba Awards event recognizes and celebrates all that’s great about the sport of golf in the province – from volunteers to elite performers, teams and milestone achievements including the annual male and female Amateur Golfer of the Year awards.
