A field of 48 will tee off Monday morning at Glendale Golf & Country Club looking to earn a birth into the 2023 CentrePort Canada Railpark Manitoba Open.

Of the 48, six are homegrown talents hoping to be one of the top eight qualifiers to play at Southwood Golf & Country Club starting Thursday.

The six Manitobans include:

Charlie Boyechko
Austin Dobrescu
Travis Fredborg
Ryan McMillan
Jose Mekish-Lacquette
Zach Sackett

If you scroll through a golfer’s smartphone, you’ll undoubtedly find a myriad of golf course images and swing videos. Most golfers enjoy capturing their golf experiences with their smartphone and sharing them with their friends via their favourite social networks – and now the Golf Canada Mobile App can be one of them.

The most recent version of Golf Canada’s Mobile App includes several enhancements that help golfers stay connected off the course, including a new friending system. The new version of the mobile app will also enable golfers to post images and videos to document, log and share great moments from their rounds.

Once you become friends with another Golf Canada Mobile App user, you’ll be able to follow their golfing experiences seeing their scores, photos and videos on your new in-app home screen feed. This home screen feed will also feature relevant news and stories from Canadian Golf. You’ll have the ability to like or comment on updates and also have the option to be notified of their updates via email or app push notifications.

“We recognize that many Canadians journeys with the game of golf are inherently social, this exciting update to the Golf Canada Mobile App, will enable golfers across the country to stay connected with their friends in a new and engaging way,” said Golf Canada Chief Marketing Officer Tim McLaughlin. “Whether it’s photos from a bucket-list course, a new career-low score, or telling your friends you’re headed out on a sunny Friday afternoon for a round, those conversations can all happen right within the Golf Canada Mobile App. We aim to create the largest golf centric social network in Canada.”

Golf Canada’s Mobile App is free for everyone, with an enhanced version available for Golf Canada members.

There are plenty of exciting features that already exist in the app. A major redesign and rebuild in 2020 introduced several enhancements including course GPS, enhanced stats tracking, game modes and Apple Watch compatibility. In 2022, live event features were added for patrons attending Golf Canada’s national golf championships – the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open.

Golf Canada also hopes the new features will encourage more Canadians to get outside, play golf and share their experiences. Research recently conducted by Golf Canada shows that while the No. 1 reason Canadians play golf was for physical activity, No. 2 is for socializing.

Golf Canada first launched its mobile app in 2013 as a member-only app that featured handicapping and scoring as its primary function.

The mobile app is a key component of Golf Canada’s digital marketing strategy designed to draw more people to the sport, improve the in-game experience and increase membership. It has also been developed in consultation with the provincial golf associations across Canada to ensure a grassroots connection.

“You are likely already talking with your golf buddies in a group chat, so Golf Canada wanted to help make it so you can add media and post in a place where everyone is alerted,” added McLaughlin. “This new friend functionality will give golfers even more reason to spend time engaging with what is already the #1 golf app in Canada.”

Golf Canada will continue to work on adding even more exciting updates in 2024. For now, the new update will let golfers from coast-to-coast share their photos, updates and start conversations with all those who love golf just as much as they do.  

The Golf Canada Mobile App is available for download for both IOS and Android operating systems from both the App Store and Google Play at no cost.

Learn more about these new enhancements.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome to the Russell Golf Club as our newest member club.

Located east of Russell along Highway #45, this 3,200 yard 9 hole course can be played from various sets of tee boxes with 10 greens available.

“Our course is a very family friendly course” said Executive Board Member Kevin Boucher. “What’s unique about our place is the 8th hole has two greens to shoot at so when you play your second nine holes it gives you a different look.”

The Russell Golf Club also features a driving range, putting green and a full menu in their restaurant.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member club, all rounds played at the Russell Golf Club are acceptable for handicap purposes and may be recorded toward establishing or maintaining an official Golf Canada Handicap Index.

For more information, call the proshop at (204) 773-2969.

The field of 88 competitors is set to tee off Wednesday morning at St. Boniface Golf Club for the 2023 Hodson Financial Men’s and Women’s Senior Championships.

70 Men and 18 Women will be vying for the 2023 championship over three rounds.

The Women’s event is led by Rhonda Orr (Southwood Golf & Country Club), who is looking for her eighth consecutive title and 10th overall since 2013. Three time champion Tammy Gibson (Niakwa Country Club) is the only other champion of this Women’s Senior tournament over the last 12 years.

It has been a whirl wind week for Orr, who recently qualified to play in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open August 24-27 in Oregon.

For the opening round tee times, click here.

For the Manitoba Blue Cross leaderboard, click here.

As for the Hodson Financial Men’s Senior Championship who will tee off Wednesday morning at 8:00, Rob Oliphant (Rossmere Country Club) is back to defend his title.

Also keep an eye on three time champion Mike Walker (St. Boniface) and five time Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur champion Todd Fanning (Niakwa).

For the opening round tee times, click here.

For the Manitoba Blue Cross leaderboard, click here.

Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club) shot a one over par 72 in her second round of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in New Brunswick.

With a 149 two day total, Kartusch is tied for 13th on the leaderboard.

Two other Manitobans made the cut. Cala Korman (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) is at 155 after carding an 80 while Jeri Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Course) is at 157 after a 77.

Also representing our province, however failing to make the cut:

Crystal Zamzow (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 84-81
Keira Krahn (Team Manitoba / Carman Golf & Curling Club) 84-91
India Young (Team Manitoba / Carman Golf & Curling Club) 84-87
Jewel Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Course) 85-91
Payton Oakden (Team Manitoba / Glendale Golf & Country Club) 99-82

In the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, Manitoba finished in fifth place at +28, Ontario won the event at +10.

For the second round leaderboard, click here.

For Wednesday’s third round tee times, click here.

Marissa Naylor of Niakwa Country Club is eight strokes off the lead after the opening round of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in Creemore, Ontario.

Naylor’s five over par 77 has her tied for fifth place on the leaderboard.

Judith Kyrinis of Ontario was the only player to go under par with a three under 69.

Also representing our province:

Hannah Diamond (St. Charles Country Club) 79
Charmaine Hayden (Breezy Bend Country Club) 79
Katherine McGlenen (Breezy Bend Country Club) 88
Nicole McGlenen (Breezy Bend Country Club) 88

Team Manitoba (Naylor, Diamond) are currently in second place in the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, only one stroke back of Quebec.

For the complete opening round leaderboard, click here.

For second round tee times, click here.

Cala Korman (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) is five strokes off the lead after the opening round of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in New Brunswick.

Korman’s four over par 75 is the top score of the eight Manitobans taking part.

Also representing our province:

Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club) 77
Jeri Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Course) 80
Crystal Zamzow (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 84
Keira Krahn (Team Manitoba / Carman Golf & Curling Club) 84
India Young (Team Manitoba / Carman Golf & Curling Club) 84
Jewel Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Course) 85
Payton Oakden (Team Manitoba / Glendale Golf & Country Club) 99

In the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, Manitoba (Korman, Jeri Lafleche, Zamzow) is fourth at +13. Ontario leads the way at two over par.

For the opening round leaderboard, click here.

For Tuesday’s second round tee times, click here.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome to Winnipegosis Golf Club as our newest member club.

Located 40 minutes north of Dauphin, this 9 hole course can be played from two sets of tee boxes.

“We are a first come first serve golf course where families can come out and enjoy the game” said Secretary Suzette Crandall. “We work on the honour system and are very low key where people just leave their 10 dollar green fee in an envelope and away they go.”

Winnipegosis Golf Club features an all day play rate of $15. They also have junior memberships (17 years of age and under) for only $75.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada member club, all rounds played at Winnipegosis Golf Club are acceptable for handicap purposes and may be recorded toward establishing or maintaining an official Golf Canada Handicap Index.

For more information visit the Winnipegosis Golf Club facebook page.

Golf Manitoba would like to congratulate Team Manitoba members Adam Blair (Pine Ridge Golf Club) and Payne Wood (St. Boniface Golf Club) along with Ashley Garland (Niakwa Country Club) for a successful trip to Halifax taking part in the North American Indigenous Games.

Blair won a gold medal, while Wood came home with a bronze, in the U16 age category.

Blair’s three round 213 total (72-69-72) at Links at Brunello was good for a three stroke victory over British Columbia’s Brody Book.

Wood finished third at 217 (74-71-72).

Garland won the Gold Medal finishing first overall in the U19 female age catagory.

With scores of 97-101-106 won the championship by 12 strokes.

Overall, Manitoba athletes won 70 medals at the North American Indigenous Games, including 32 gold.

For the third consecutive season, Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club is the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Champion.

Kuntz birdied the final hole to card a three under par 69 at Oak Island Golf earning a one stroke victory over Ryan McMillan of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club in the 112th playing of the Manitoba Men’s Amateur Championship.

Kuntz finished the 54 hole event at 11 under par 205. Only two other men have won the Amateur Championship three years in a row (Todd Fanning 1990, 91, 92 and R.J. Reith 1935, 36, 37).

For the second straight year, Kuntz will receive an exemption into the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open August 24-27 at Southwood Golf & Country Club.

McMillan had a strong start to his final round with four birdies over the opening nine holes to finish with a 68.

Niakwa Country Club’s Todd Fanning shot a one under par 71 to finish third overall at 209.

For a complete look at the Manitoba Blue Cross leaderboard, click here.

We appreciate the time and effort of the host club, Oak Island Golf led by General Manager & Business Partner Des Koop, Superintendent Greg Hollins, Co-Superintendent Joe Chartrand, Director of Food & Beverage Trish Foy, the staff, club members and volunteers for their warm welcome.

Golf Manitoba would like to thank our Official Performance Partners:

adidas Golf Canada – Paige Lawrence, Territory Manager

Manitoba Blue Cross

Taylormade Canada – Eric Johnson Sales & Marketing Territory Manager

New and exclusive Golf Manitoba coverage, presented by Manitoba Blue Cross, is available by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and online at www.golfmb.ca.