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Golfer of the Year GOY Justin McDonald Rhonda Orr

Rhonda Orr & Justin McDonald named Amateur Golfers of the Year

(Monday, October 22, 2018) – Southwood Golf & Country Club’s Rhonda Orr and Breezy Bend’s Justin McDonald were awarded the 2018 Female and Male Amateur Golfer of the Year Awards at Golf Manitoba’s Annual Awards Reception held at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club.

Rhonda Orr was the winner of the 2018 Manitoba Senior Women’s Championship and was a member of the provincial team where she finished tied for 18th in the Canadian Senior Women’s Championship.  In addition to her provincial title, Rhonda finished in a tie for 4th in both the Manitoba Women’s Amateur and the City & District Championships. Rhonda also qualified to compete in the 2018 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship by tying for medalist honours in a regional qualifier. Rhonda went on to qualify for the match play portion of the championship making it to the round of 64. Rhonda also finished in a tie for 12th in the Senior Women’s North & South Amateur held at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, U.S.A. This is Rhonda’s second Golfer of the Year Award winning her first in 2016.

The other finalists for Female Amateur Golfer of the Year were Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge and Camryn Roadley of Southwood. Charmaine Mackid of Breezy Bend, Bobbi Uhl of the Shilo Country Club and Veronica Vetesnik of Southwood earned honourable mentions for their 2018 accomplishments.

Justin McDonald  had an impressive 2018 campaign claiming both the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur and the Manitoba Mid-Amateur titles. Justin won both events in commanding fashion finishing 8 strokes ahead of the field in the Amateur and 9 strokes ahead in the Mid-Amateur. Justin went on to represent Manitoba by competing in the 2018 Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship where he recorded a T38th finish and was a member Team Manitoba that posted a 3rd place finish in inter-provincial play. Justin was the medalist in the Match Play Qualifier and also finished in 2nd place at the Grey Owl.

The finalists for the Male Golfer of the Year Award included 5-time winner Todd Fanning of Niakwa and Ryan McMillan of Elmhurst. Jacob Armsrong (St. Boniface),  Garth Collings (Breezy Bend), Jay Doyle (Niakwa), Eric Johnson (Breezy Bend) and Devon Schade (Elmhurst) received an honorable mention for their 2018 accomplishments.

The Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Award dates back to 1975, and was presented for the 44th time on October 22.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba Inc.
p. 204.291.8032
e. jared@golfmb.ca

Golfer of the Year GOY

Finalists named for the Golf Manitoba 2018 Female and Male Amateur Golfers of the Year and Distinguished Service Award Recipient Announced

(October 16, 2018) – The Golf Manitoba Selection Committee has announced the finalists for the 2018 Male and Female Amateur Golfers of the Year award, which will both be presented during the Annual General Meeting and Awards Reception on Monday, October 22 at the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club.

The Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year award recognizes a players outstanding performance in all levels of competition on an annual basis.

The female nominees for 2018, and in alphabetical order, are: Marissa Naylor (Pine Ridge), Rhonda Orr (Southwood) and Camryn Roadley (Southwood).

Marissa Naylor finished 5th in the Golf Manitoba City & District Championship and T4th in the Manitoba Women’s Amateur Championship. With the University of Manitoba Bisons, Marissa posted a number of top finishes including two wins, a 2nd and 6th place finish and a 16th place finish.

Rhonda Orr defended her 2017 title by winning the Manitoba Women’s Senior Championship and was a member of the provincial team where individually she finished T18 in the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship. Rhonda was T4th in both the Manitoba Amateur and City & District Championships. Rhonda also qualified to compete in the 2018 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship by tying for medalist in a regional qualifier. Rhonda made the match place portion of the event making it to the round of 64. Rhonda also finished in a T12 in the Senior Women’s North & South Amateur Championship played at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, USA.

Camryn Roadley won the 2018 Manitoba Women’s Amateur Championship where her victory earned her a spot on Team Manitoba and competing in the 2018 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. Camryn also finished in 3rd place in the City & District Championship. As a member of the North Dakota State University Golf Team, Camryn recorded an 8th place, T18th and a T26th in NCAA Division I competition.

Three female players earned honourable mentions for their 2018 accomplishments: Charmaine Mackid of Breezy Bend, Bobbi Uhl of Shilo and Veronica Vetesnik of Southwood.

Charmaine Mackid was the winner of the City & District Championship, placed 3rd in the Manitoba Women’s Amateur, competed in the 2018 Canadian Women’s Amateur as a member of team Manitoba as well recorded a T26th in the Canadian Women’s Amateur Mid-Masters and a T30th in the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Bobbi Uhl won the Manitoba Junior Women’s Championship, finished 6th in the Women’s Amateur Championship, made the Match Play finals and also finished 3rd in the Golf Canada Future Links Prairie Championship.

Veronica Vetesnik finished 6th in the 2018 Golf Canada University/College Championship and 11th in the Manitoba Women’s Amateur. Playing for the University of Manitoba Bisons, Veronica had a T3rd and a 13th place finish in the fall season.

The 2018 Male Amateur Golfer of the Year nominees are and in alphabetical order: Todd Fanning (Niakwa), Justin McDonald (Breezy Bend), and Ryan McMillan (Elmhurst).

Todd Fanning successfully defended his Golf Canada Mid-Masters (40+) Championship with his win at the Victoria Golf Club. Todd also finished T7th in the Canadian Mid-Amateur. Todd finished 3rd in the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur, T9th in the Manitoba Mid-Amateur and won the Elmhurst Invitational.

Justin McDonald had an impressive season claiming both the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur and the Manitoba Mid-Amateur titles. Justin represented Manitoba by competing in the 2018 Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship where he recorded a T38th finish and was a member Team Manitoba that posted a 3rd place finish in inter-provincial play. Justin was the medalist in the Match Play Qualifier and also finished in 2nd place at the Grey Owl.

Ryan McMillan defended his 2017 title by winning the Manitoba Junior Men’s Championship. Ryan went on to represent Team Manitoba by competing in the Golf Canada Junior Men’s Championship where he finished in an impressive tie for 4th place. Ryan placed 14th in the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship and went on to record a T15th in the Glencoe Invitational.

Five additional male golfers are being recognized with honourable mentions:

Jacob Armstrong of St. Boniface finished T3rd in the Manitoba Junior Men’s Championship, he placed T7th in the Nott Autocorp Amateur and had a strong T4th place showing in the Golf Canada Future Links Prairie Championship. Jacob also qualified for and played in the Golf Canada Junior Men’s and Men’s Amateur Championships.

Garth Collings of Breezy Bend had another fine year finishing in second place in the Manitoba Mid-Amateur and winning the Mid-Masters division. Garth also finished T4th in the Manitoba Men’s Senior Championship which qualified him to play for Team Manitoba in the Golf Canada Senior Men’s Championship where he placed T17th overall. Garth was also a member of the provincial team that finished 3rd in inter-provincial play in the Golf Canada Mid-Amateur Championship.

Jay Doyle of Niawka made the semi-finals of the Match Play, finished T3rd in the Mid-Amateur and T14th in the Nott Autocorp Amateur. Jay went on to represent Manitoba in the 2018 Golf Canada Mid-Amateur where the team finished in 3rd place in inter-provincial play. Individually, Jay finished in a T22nd and T9th in the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Masters divisions respectively.

Eric Johnson of Breezy Bend had a great season finishing in a tie for 3rd in the Manitoba Mid-Amateur as well a 2nd place showing in the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur. Eric went on to play in the Golf Canada Mid-Amateur Championship where he finished in a tie for 44th spot.

Devon Schade of Elmhurst had another solid year where he finished 12th in the Nott Autocorp Amateur, T4th in the Golf Canada College/University Championship as member of the team that finished 3rd overall and placed T15th in the Glencoe Invitational. As a member of the University of Manitoba Bison Men’s Golf Team, he had an outstanding fall showing where he recorded three individual wins.

The Amateur Golfer of the Year Award dates back to 1975.

Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award

Winnipeg’s Rick Thain has been name as the recipient of the 2018 Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award.

Rick’s involvement with the Manitoba Golf Association (M.G.A.) dates back to 1978 when he became an M.G.A. Council Representative for the City of Winnipeg Municipal Golf Courses. He remained in this capacity until 2000 serving on many and various committees and executive positions. During that time and continuing to the present, Rick has provided volunteer service to the former Manitoba Golf Association and Golf Manitoba for the past 40 years.

All of these extra-curricular activities were performed while Rick was employed with the City of Winnipeg as the Superintendent of the Municipal Golf Courses where he managed the administration, financing affairs, club and maintenance operations of the Kildonan Park, Windsor Park, Crescent Drive, John Blumberg and Harbour View Golf Courses.

After 33 successful years with the City of Winnipeg, Rick retired in January of 2005. He is now enjoying life with his wife Angie and their son Sean. Rick still remains as an active volunteer with Golf Manitoba.

Golf Manitoba is very pleased to honor Mr. Rick Thain as the Distinguished Service Award Recipient for 2018.

Past recipients include: Jerry Budyk (2007), Don Forsyth (2008), Betty Grant (2009), Brian Gilhuly (2010), Rudy Boivin (2011), Joyce Collier (2012), Bob Forcand (2013), Don MacDonald (2014), Barbara Hamill (2015), George McLeod (2016) and Irv Benne (2017).

For more information, contact:
Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director – Golf Manitoba
204.925.5729