WATCH | Rhonda Orr wins 2022 Female Amateur Golfer of the Year
Orr & Kuntz named 2022 Female & Male Amateur Golfers of the Year
On behalf of selection committee members Clayton Dreger, Jill Hardy, Adam Speirs and Ken Wiebe, Golf Manitoba is pleased to recognize the 2022 Female and Male Amateur Golfer of the Year Award winners.
This year’s recipients were announced at the annual Golf Manitoba Awards reception that was held at the Breezy Bend Country Club.
Rhonda Orr of Southwood Golf & Country Club is the Female Amateur Golfer of the Year.
Orr, 61, from Winnipeg, won the Mid-Amateur Flight and finished second overall at the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. She represented Team Manitoba at the Canadian Women’s Amateur. The Southwood Golf and Country Club member won the Hodson Financial Women’s Senior Championship, her seventh senior provincial championship in a row and ninth in the last ten years. Orr went on to finish 10th on the leaderboard playing for Team Manitoba at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship. Orr also tied for eighth place at the AGA Women’s Senior Amateur Championship in the United States.
With the selection, it is the fourth time that Orr has been recognized as Female Amateur Golfer of the Year (2016, 2018, 2019).
Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club is the Male Amateur Golfer of the Year.
Kuntz, 18, from Winnipeg, won the Manitoba Junior Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and represented Team Manitoba finishing in a tie for fifth place at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The Breezy Bend Country Club member also won the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship. Kuntz is the first player in Manitoba to win both the Manitoba Junior and Amateur Championship in back to back seasons (2021 and 2022). He also finished tied for third place at the Elmhurst Invitational.
With the selection, it is the second time in as many years that Kuntz has been named Male Amateur Golfer of the Year (2021).
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 North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf for the benefit of all participants.
Finalists announced for 2022 Female & Male Amateur Golfer of the Year
Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2022 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 Rogers Sportsnet as well as former Golf Manitoba Junior and Amateur Champions Jill Hardy and Adam Speirs. The winners will be announced at the Golf Manitoba Awards reception on Tuesday, November 2, 2022 at the Breezy Bend Country Club.
The 2022 Female Amateur Golf of the Year Finalists are Addison Kartusch, Jeri Lafleche, Charmaine Mackid and Rhonda Orr.
Kartusch, 16, from Winnipeg, won the Manitoba Junior Girls Championship presented by the Alex and Peggy Colonello Foundation and represented Manitoba with a 30th place finish at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. She was a semi-finalist in the Manitoba Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre, placed fourth in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship, tied for fifth at the Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship and finished ninth at the Canada Summer Games. The St. Charles Country Club member also qualified to take part in the 2022 Golf Canada NextGen Selection Camp that was held at TPC Osprey Valley in Toronto, Ontario.
Lafleche, 15, from Winnipeg, won the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship and was a member of Team Manitoba at the Canadian Women’s Amateur. The Clear Lake Golf Course/Niakwa Country Club member placed fifth at the Manitoba Junior Girls Championship presented by the Alex and Peggy Colonello Foundation, made the cut at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship (T61), seventh at the Women’s City & District Championship and eighth at Golf Canada’s Prairie NextGen Championship.
Mackid, 45, from Winnipeg, was a semifinalist in the Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre. She finished second in the Mid-Amateur Flight of the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship and third overall. The Breezy Bend Country Club member also tied for sixth place on the leaderboard in the Mid-Master Flight of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship where she finished in a tie for ninth place overall.
Orr, 61, from Winnipeg, won the Mid-Amateur Flight and finished second overall at the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. She represented Team Manitoba at the Canadian Women’s Amateur. The Southwood Golf and Country Club member won the Hodson Financial Women’s Senior Championship, her seventh senior provincial championship in a row and ninth in the last ten years. Orr went on to finish 10th on the leaderboard playing for Team Manitoba at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship. Orr also tied for eighth place at the AGA Women’s Senior Amateur Championship in the United States.
The Golf Manitoba Awards selection committee would also like to recognize Cala Korman (1st Women’s City & District and 3rd at the Manitoba Junior Girls), Marissa Naylor (2022 Women’s Match Play Champion) and Veronica van der Meer (T19 Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion) on their accomplishments during the 2022 season.
The 2022 Male Amateur Golfer of the Year finalists are Braxton Kuntz, Curtis Markusson, Rob Oliphant and Marco Trstenjak.
Kuntz, 18, from Winnipeg, won the Manitoba Junior Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and represented Team Manitoba finishing in a tie for fifth place at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The Breezy Bend Country Club member also won the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship. Kuntz is the first player in Manitoba to win both the Manitoba Junior and Amateur Championship in back to back seasons (2021 and 2022). He also finished tied for third place at the Elmhurst Invitational.
Markusson, 41, from Winnipeg, won the Canadian Men’s Mid-Master Championship and tied for 12th place representing Team Manitoba at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. He tied for second place in the Mid-Masters Flight and tied for ninth place at the Manitoba Mid-Amateur Championship. The St. Charles Country Club member also tied for seventh place at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship.
Oliphant, 57, from Winnipeg, won the Manitoba Match Play Senior Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre. The Rossmere Country Club member also won the Hodson Financial Men’s Senior Championship. While representing Team Manitoba, he tied for 65th on the leaderboard at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.
Trstenjak, 22, from Winnipeg, won the Manitoba Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre. He finished second at both the Elmhurst Invitational and the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship. The Elmhurst Golf and Country Club member placed 54th on the leaderboard while representing Team Manitoba at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
The Golf Manitoba Awards selection committee would also like to recognize Jacob Armstrong (T2 Canadian College/University Championship), Jay Doyle (T7 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship), Ryan McMillan (T7 Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur & T76 Canadian Men’s Amateur) and Ryan Sholdice (2022 Mid-Amateur Champion) for their play during the 2022 season.
Tickets for the 2022 Golf Manitoba Awards reception Tuesday, November 2, 2022, at Breezy Bend Country Club are available by contacting Golf Manitoba.
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.
Past Amateur Golfer of the Year recipients >>
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
Golf Manitoba Awards to be held November 2
The 2022 Golf Manitoba Awards reception will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2022, at the Breezy Bend Country Club. 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.
The Golf Manitoba Annual General Meeting will also be held on November 2 and just prior to the start of the Awards event. 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.
For more information about the Golf Manitoba Awards event and annual meeting, please contact Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk at jared@golfmb.ca.
Bobbi Uhl & Braxton Kuntz named 2021 Amateur Golfers of the Year
November 18, 2021 – On behalf of selection committee members Clayton Dreger, Jill Hardy, Adam Speirs and Ken Wiebe, Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce the 2021 Female and Male Amateur Golfer of the Year Award winners.
Bobbi Uhl of Shilo Country Club is the Female Amateur Golfer of the Year.
Uhl had a flawless 2021 provincial competitive season. She started with a win at the Women’s City & District Championship, her first ever title in the event and carried that momentum going on to capture the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. It was the first provincial women’s amateur title for Uhl and her second straight tournament victory. With the amateur win, Uhl has now won every single Golf Manitoba major women’s event including the Junior Girls, City & District, Match Play and Amateur championships.
Having won this award in 2020, the 21 year old follows in the footsteps of 2018 and 2019 winner Rhonda Orr.
Uhl is currently in her senior year at Longwood University majoring in Athletic Training.
Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club is the Male Amateur Golfer of the Year.
Kuntz was a perfect 2-0 in provincial competition in 2021. He led wire-to-wire at the Junior Boys Championship shooting a three-day total of 219, good for a three-shot victory. The 18 year old carried the momentum from his first junior boys title into the Nott Autocorp Amateur Championship where he posted an impressive 16-under par total winning his first men’s amateur title.
With the win, Kuntz set a new Men’s Amateur scoring record in relation to par and becomes only the 4th golfer in Manitoba golf history to win both the junior boys and the men’s amateur championships in the same year joining Todd Fanning, Rob McMillan and Mike Keast, who also accomplished the feat.
Kuntz is currently in his first year at Nicholls State University majoring in Finance.
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 North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf for the benefit of all participants.
For interview requests with Uhl and Kuntz, contact:
Brian Munz
Director of Communications
Golf Manitoba
(204) 899-1092
Email: brian@golfmb.ca
Rhonda Orr & Colwyn Abgrall named Amateur Golfers of the Year
WINNIPEG, MB – Southwood Golf & Country Club’s Rhonda Orr and Colwyn Abgrall were awarded the Golf Manitoba Female and Male Golfer of the Year Awards at the Golf Manitoba Annual Awards Reception on Wednesday, October 23 at the St. Charles Country Club.
Rhonda Orr started her 2019 campaign with a 5th place finish in the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. Orr then went on to win the Manitoba Women’s Senior Championship; her fourth straight title in the event and 6th in the last 7 years. The win helped secure a spot for Orr to represent Manitoba at the 2019 Golf Canada Senior Women’s Inter-provincial Team Competition where the team finished in 5th. Individually, Orr was the low Manitoban finishing in 11th place overall. Orr also went on to qualify 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. The Golfer of the Year Award is Orr’s second in a row and third in the last four years.
The other finalists for Female Amateur Golfer of the Year were Hannah Diamond of St. Charles Country Club and Charmaine Mackid of Breezy Bend Country Club. Four female golfers received honourable mention for their performance in 2019 and include Kate Gregoire of Quarry Oaks Golf Club, Cala Korman of Killarney Lakeside Golf Club, Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge and Crystal Zamzow of Swan River Golf Club.
Colwyn Abgrall 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 finish in the Grey Owl and a T3rd finish at the Elmhurst Invitational. At the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur, Abgrall led the event after the second round and completed the run for his first Amateur title. The win earned Abgrall a spot on Team Manitoba and the chance to compete at the 2019 Golf Canada Men’s Amateur Championship; the team finished in 5th place. Abgrall continued his fine play by tying for medallist honours at the regional Qualifier in Fargo, ND and earning a spot in the United States Amateur that was held at the Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina, USA. The Golfer of the Year Award is the first for Abgrall.
The finalists for the Male Golfer of the Year Award included Jacob Armstrong of the St. Boniface Golf Club and Austin Dobrescu of Shilo County Club. Six male golfers received honourable mention for their play in 2019 and include Garth Collings, Eric Johnson and Braxton Kuntz of Bend Country Club, Drew Jones of Shilo Country Club, Jordy Lutz of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club and Neel Soni of St. Charles Country Club.
The Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award was presented for the 45th time at this year’s Award Ceremony.
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
Lou Spado named as the recipient of the Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award
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.
Finalists announced for 2019 Amateur Golfer of the Year awards
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 5th 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