Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2026 Female and Male Amateur Golfer of the Year Awards. 

This year’s female and male award finalists were selected by a committee comprised of veteran golf media member Clayton Dreger; former Golf Manitoba champions Rob McMillan and Adam Speirs; PGA of Manitoba Executive Director Deb Pritchard; and Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Free Press.

The winners will be announced at the Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF on Monday, November 2nd at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club.

During the awards ceremony, we will also honour the Golf Manitoba Volunteer Distinguished Service Award winner, who will be announced on Thursday, October 8.

New in 2026, the Golf Manitoba Impact Award celebrates member facilities that are leading the way in innovation, breaking down barriers, and creating welcoming, inclusive environments for golfers across Manitoba and Northwest Ontario. The inaugural Golf Manitoba Impact Award winner will be announced on Thursday, October 15.

The 2026 Female Amateur Golf of the Year Finalists are Charmaine Hayden, Addison Kartusch, Angelina Sitarz and Camryn Thomas.

Charmaine Hayden

Hayden, 49, from Winnipeg, won the Taylor McCaffrey Women’s Four-Ball “A” Gross Division Championship with partner Stacey Borowski. She was the silver medallist in the Women’s Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre and Women’s City & District Championship. The Breezy Bend Country Club member earned a third place finish in the Alberta Women’s Mid-Master Division and fifth place in the Mid-Amateur Championship. She was T14 at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Master Championship, 22^nd in the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship and T28 at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Addison Kartusch

Kartusch, 20, from Winnipeg, won the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship, the NCAA National Golf Invitational and NCAA A-Ga-Ming Invitational. She finished second in the Ohio Women’s Amateur Championship and earned a silver medal representing Manitoba in the Inter-Provincial Team Championship at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. The St. Charles Country Club member placed third at the NCAA’s Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational and fourth at the Bowling Green Invite. Kartusch was T6 at the MAC Women’s Championship and T9 at the Powercat Invitational. She finished T31 at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Angelina Sitarz

Sitarz, 14, from Winnipeg, won the U15 Girls Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and the Junior Girls Division of the Elmhurst Invitational. A member of Team Manitoba, she also won three Maple Leaf Junior Tour U15 Girls division championships at the Order of Merit Series, Zeal Series and PLYR Series. Sitarz won silver medals at the Notah Begay III Western Championship and MJT Junior World’s Qualifier. The Elmhurst Golf & Country Club member finished third in the Junior Girls Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and sixth at the Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship. She was ninth on the leaderboard at the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship and finished T27 at the Canadian U15 Championship.

Camryn Thomas

Thomas, 16, from Winnipeg, won the Junior Girls Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and the Women’s City & District Championship. A Team Manitoba member, she also won the Maple Leaf Junior Tour’s Girls 15-19 Division at Junior World’s Qualifier and Zeal Series. Thomas finished second in the MJT’s Order of Merit Series and along with teammate Hannah Diamond won a silver medal at the Taylor McCaffrey Women’s Four-Ball “A” Division Gross Championship. The St. Charles Country Club member finished T3 at the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship and was a semi-finalist in the Women’s Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre. Thomas finished fifth at Golf Canada’s NextGen Prairie Championship and 74^th at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

The 2026 Male Amateur Golfer of the Year finalists are Todd Fanning, Evan Nachtigall, Rory Neill and David Spurr.

Todd Fanning

Fanning, 58, from Winnipeg, won the Hodson Financial Men’s Senior Championship. He was a member of Manitoba’s first ever gold medal victory representing our province in the Inter-Provincial Team Championship at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. The Niakwa Country Club member finished third in the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, T16 at the Elmhurst Invitational and T24 at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship.

Evan Nachtigall

Nachtigall, 25, from Brandon, earned a gold medal as a member of Team Manitoba during the Inter-Provincial Team Championship at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. He finished in second place at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and at the Men’s Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre. The Elmhurst Golf & Country Club member finished T2 in the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the Match Play Qualifier presented by St. Vital Dental Centre. Nachtigall was T3 at the Elmhurst Invitational, fourth on the leaderboard at the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship, finished sixth with teammate Drew Jones at the Taylor McCaffrey Men’s Four-Ball Gross Division Championship and T23 at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

Rory Neill

Neill, 23, from Winnipeg, won Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship. Representing the University of Manitoba Bisons, he finished second at the Canada West Fall Invitational and Augsburg Invitational. He was T2 at the Canada West Championship and Match Play Qualifier presented by St. Vital Dental Centre. The Glendale Golf & Country Club member was fourth on the leatherboard at the Canada West Cougar Cup. Neill finished T29 at the Canadian University Championship.

David Spurr

Spurr, 43, from Oakbank, won the Men’s Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre and the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Master Division. He also won the gold medal with teammate Patrick Perrin at the Taylor McCaffrey Men’s Four-Ball Championship and was a member of Team Manitoba’s first place finish in the Inter-Provincial Team Championship at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. The Elmhurst Golf & Country Club member finished T2 in the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, T3 at the Elmhurst Invitational and T8 in the Match Play Qualifier presented by St. Vital Dental Centre. Spurr was T9 on the Mid-Masters division leaderboard at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur. He finished T19 in the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship and T32 at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur.

Details on ticket sales for the Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF will be released in the near future.

About the Golf Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year Awards – 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

Past Distinguished Service Award winner recipients

About AVID GOLF: Located at 1580 Taylor Avenue in Winnipeg, AVID GOLF houses six 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 leagues and membership information, visit avidgolf.club.

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.

115 competitors were at La Broquerie Golf on Friday for the 2026 Provincial High School Golf Championship.

Makenzie Bartlett of Carman Collegiate won the individual girls championship with an 81, two strokes better than Sadie Blazeiko of Balmoral Hall School.

Blazeiko along with Annie Gording, Kyoumin Lee and Yingyue Zhang combined to lead the Balmoral Hall Blazers to the Team Championship with a 36 stroke victory over Birtle Collegiate.

Hunter Oakden of Vincent Massey High School edged Kelvin High School’s Xavier Delaquis by a single stroke to win the individual boys championship with a 2-under par 69.

The team of Brady Comaskey, Owen Conrad, Tanner Grose and Aris Mercury from St. Paul’s High School won the Team Championship with a 219 total. Vincent Massey finished in second place, four strokes back.

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Sam Diamond (St. Charles Country Club) and Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) (pictured) have both advanced to the next stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q School.

Diamond finished T15 on the pre qualifying leaderboard at 5-under par 211 (73-68-70) at the Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland, California

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Trstenjak finished T31 on the leaderboard at 6-over par 222 (75-75-72) at the Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Georgia.

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Both players will now wait to find out where the next stage takes them once all stage qualifiers are complete. That will happen by early October with first stage events all taking place in late October.

Darren Hesom (Minnewasta Golf & Country Club) has earned a trip to Spain.

The Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour announced on Monday that Hesom, Justin Mrazek of Brooks, Alberta, Preston Proudfoot of Squamish, British Columbia and Leo Savio of Welland, Ontario will represent the MJT and Canada at the 2026 Sergio García Junior Championship from October 2nd to 4th at the Mediterráneo Golf Club in Borriol, Castellón, Spain.

At age 16, Hesom is in his first year as a member of Team Manitoba and currently has a Golf Canada Handicap Index of +0.4.

For more information on the MJT, click here.

The team of Derrek Funk and Ken Funk along with Yanik Gagnon and Zach Romaniuk, both from La Broquerie Golf, have played their way to the BDO National Golf League Canadian Championship just prior to the 2027 RBC Canadian Open.

Using the net-stableford scoring system, both teams prevailed in a one hole playoff over the team of Don Normandeau and Jean-Claude Normandeau, also of La Broquerie Golf.

All three teams had tied for first place on the leaderboard at Falcon Lake Golf Course with 44 points during the 18 hole Regional Championship.

“La Broquerie Golf would like to congratulate all the competitors who participated in this year’s BDO National Golf League Regionals and proudly represented their respective courses. A huge thank you to Falcon Lake Golf Course for hosting such an amazing event” said La Broquerie General Manager Pat Gauthier. “We are incredibly proud of our golfers and would like to congratulate Derrek, Ken, Zach and Yanik, two of our four teams that participated this year on qualifying for the Nationals! This marks the third year that La Broquerie Golf has participated in the BDO National Golf League, and once again, golfers from our course will have the opportunity to represent La Broquerie Golf and Manitoba at the National Championships. Over the past three years, we have proudly registered our entire Men’s League, with 128 golfers participating each year, allowing us to donate a total of $9,600 to the First Tee Program.”

For the final leaderboard, click here.

For more details on the BDO National Golf League, click here.

Judith Kyrinis is a Canadian national champion for the seventh time. Kyrinis needed a two-hole playoff win over Tina Papatolis to claim the 2026 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta on Friday.

“I didn’t really think that was going to happen today, so I am truly grateful to get this win,” said Kyrinis following the playoff. “The playoff was great, made that great and up down with a great putt so really just thrilled to win.”

The win gives Kyrinis her third Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, having previously won in 2016 and 2019 to go along with four Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships (2016, 2019, 2023, 2025).

“It’s special to win the Ada Mackenzie Trophy and the other trophies that go along with the Mid-Am, I’m 62 years old so I try to represent the older seniors as best I can and I am just super proud,” said a smiling Kyrinis.

Rhonda Orr (Southwood Golf & Country Club) finished T15 as the top Manitoban on the leaderboard at 27-over par 246 following her best round of week with an 81.

Fran Povoledo (Southwood) ended play T34 at 39-over par 258 after an 88 while Stacey Borowski (Breezy Bend Country Club) shot a 90 to finish T36 at 40-over par 259.

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Along with winning the Ada MacKenzie Challenge Trophy for a third time, Kyrinis also claimed the Super Senior Division title for the first time. Kyrinis joins Edie Creed, Nancy Fitzgerald, Terrill Samuel and Shelly Stouffer as three-time champions at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.

Kyrinis will now compete at the 2026 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, September 26 – October 1 at the Portland Golf Club in Portland, Oregon after previously earning an exemption into the field.

Additionally, Kyrinis has earned exemptions into the 2027 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, 113th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, 2027 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and a 10-year exemption into the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.

(Courtesy: Golf Canada)

Team Manitoba (Stacey Borowski, Tammy Gibson and Fran Povoledo) wrapped up play in the 36 hole Inter-Provincial Team Championship in fifth place on the final leaderboard Thursday at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.

Povoledo (Southwood Golf & Country Club) shot a 12-over par 85 while Borowski (Breezy Bend Country Club) carded an 87 to end play with a team total 47-over par. Ontario won the championship at 8-over par.

Three Manitobans made the cut.. they include Rhonda Orr (Southwood), Borowski and Povoledo.

Tina Papatolis of Washington and Ontario’s Judith Kyrinis are tied for the lead at 3-over par 149, one stroke better than first round leader Andrea Kosa of Calgary.

Golf Manitoba leaderboard:

T18 – Orr: 82-83-165 (+19)
T26 – Borowski: 82-87-169 (+23)
T30 – Povoledo: 85-85-170 (+24)

CUT

Susan Wright-Cassan (Emerald Greens Golf Course & Driving Range) 93-93-186
Lisa Benson (St. Charles Country Club) 92-94-186
Tammy Gibson (Niakwa Country Club) 93-98-191
Mary Turner (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 101-92-197
Angela Horrock (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) 100-97-197
Shannon Taweel (Elmhurst) 101-103-204

For the leaderboard, click here.

For third round tee times, click here.

Stacey Borowski (Breezy Bend Country Club) (pictured) and Rhonda Orr (Southwood Golf & Country Club) each carded a 9-over par 82 on Wednesday at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.

Both players are eight strokes back of Calgary’s Andrea Kosa who is alone atop of the leaderboard following a 1-over par 74.

Also representing our region:

Fran Povoledo (Southwood) 85
Lisa Benson (St. Charles Country Club) 92
Tammy Gibson (Niakwa Country Club) 93
Susan Wright-Cassan (Emerald Greens Golf Course & Driving Range) 93
Angela Horrock (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) 100
Shannon Taweel (Elmhurst) 101
Mary Turner (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 101

Team Manitoba (Borowski, Gibson and Povoledo) sit fifth on the Inter-Provincial Team Championship leaderboard at 21-over par, 14 strokes back of first place Ontario.

For the leaderboard, click here.

For second round tee times, click here.

The field is set for the 2026 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, set to take place Wednesday, September 16th to Friday, September 18th at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.

Representing the Golf Manitoba region are:

Lisa Benson (St. Charles Country Club)
Stacey Borowski (Breezy Bend Country Club)
Tammy Gibson (Niakwa Country Club)
Angela Horrock (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club)
Fran Povoledo (Southwood Golf & Country Club)
Rhonda Orr (Southwood)
Shannon Taweel (Elmhurst)
Mary Turner (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club)
Susan Wright-Cassan (Emerald Greens Golf Course & Driving Range)

For the opening round tee times, click here.

For the leaderboard, click here.

Defending champion and three-time winner, Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, British Columbia (2021, 2022, 2025) leads the field of 123 competitors from across Canada and the United States. Joining Stouffer are fellow three-time winners, Canadian Golf Hall of Famer, Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas, Ontario (2010, 2011, 2023), and Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke, Ontario (2012, 2015, 2024) and two-time champion Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ontario (2016, 2019). In July, Kyrinis added the Irish Senior Women’s Amateur Championship title to her long list of accomplishments. Stouffer, who was defending champion, finished second in Ireland. In June, Stouffer won her seventh consecutive British Columbia Senior Women’s Championship.

“We are excited to welcome a strong field with four past champions competing for our Canadian Women’s Senior Championship this week at Pine Hills Golf Club,” said Madeline MacMillan, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “We’d like to sincerely thank the course staff and volunteers for their warm hospitality in the buildup to this national championship and we look forward to another memorable tournament this week.”

The Canadian Women’s Senior Championship features a pair of competitive divisions, the Senior division and the Super Senior division that run concurrently throughout the competition’s 54 holes. Females with a handicap index of 16.4 or less are eligible to compete in the 2026 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship. After 36 holes the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties based off the Senior division with a minimum of five Super Seniors making the cut and anyone within 10 shots of the lead in the division. Hayward enters as the defending champion of the Super Senior title. Hayward and Samuel have both won the title twice in the past four years.

Team British Columbia will look to claim the Katherine Helleur Trophy for a third consecutive year and fourth in five years. Since 2002, Team British Columbia and Team Ontario have claimed the coveted team title 11 times. Team Alberta was the last province outside of B.C. or Ontario to win in 2001. The Inter-Provincial Team competition runs concurrently over the first 36 holes of the national championship.

Borowski, Gibson and Povoledo will be representing our province in the Inter-Provincial Team Championship.

Pine Hills Golf Club is the perfect balance of challenge and beauty with 18 performance inspiring holes embraced by countless awe-inspiring scenic views. The Club is perfectly secluded with nature and is considered a delight to play yet difficult to master. Pine Hills was established in 1964 originally as a 9-hole layout. In 1989 renowned Canadian golf course architect Sid Puddicombe integrated an additional nine holes in unison with other improvements resulting in an 18-hole, Par 72 championship golf course that harmonizes perfectly with nature. The 2026 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship will mark the first time that Pine Hills has hosted a national championship.

“Pine Hills along with the community are extremely honoured to be able to host this event and showcase our club and surroundings to competitors from all over North America. Our staff, members and volunteers are looking forward to ensuring our club shines during the championship week,” said Dave Drake, Executive Professional and General Manager, Pine Hills Golf Club. “The field can expect a challenging yet fair setup during the week with an emphasis on accuracy off the tee as the rough will be penal and the greens will definitely test the players short game nerve.”

Conducted since 1971, the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has featured many of the country’s top senior golfers. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Marilyn O’Connor, Margaret Todd and Mary Ann Hayward all own senior championship titles.

The event’s historic past is paired with a notable list of exemptions awarded to the winner of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, including a spot in the field at the 2026 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship set for September 26 – October 1 at the Portland Golf Club in Portland, Ore. Additionally, a spot in the 2027 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, 113^th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, 2027 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and a 10-year exemption into the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.

The Board of Directors of the Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund (GMSF) are pleased to announce its award recipients for 2026.

These students are active in the Manitoba golf community either through participation or employment, have demonstrated academic excellence and are pursuing post-secondary studies at Canadian universities and colleges.

Two new scholarships have been created honouring the legacies of Rob Damsgaard and Harvey & Marion Goehring.

The Rob Damsgaard Memorial Scholarship has been established by family and friends to honour Rob’s lifelong dedication to the game of golf.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, Rob made significant contributions to the sport, with a particular commitment to fostering youth involvement.  He was deeply dedicated to the development of junior golf programs and took great pride in mentoring young golfers, both on the course and through their roles in the Pro Shop. Rob began his professional career in Dauphin and later served as Head Professional at Swan River, Winnipeg’s Wildewood Club and the Player’s Course. Applicants must be entering or continuing post secondary studies and demonstrate active involvement in the game of golf, either through employment or actively playing in competitions at a recognized golf club. 

Karly Cote, an employee and member at La Broquerie Golf, is the inaugural recipient of the Rob Damsgaard Memorial Scholarship. Over the past five years, she has worked at La Broquerie in various roles including Pro Shop Attendant, Server, Bartender, Beverage Cart Attendant, Marshall and Assistant Pro Shop Manager. Cote attends the University of Manitoba focusing on her Masters of Interior Design.

The Harvey and Marion Goehring Award honors two Golf Manitoba Volunteer Distinguished Service Award recipients who dedicated over six decades of combined volunteer service to golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario. Passionate advocates for grassroots youth development, Marion mentored junior golfers and led the Breezy Bend Ladies League, while Harvey spent 30 years in leadership, including serving as Golf Manitoba President (2009–2011) and on Golf Canada committees. Their humble teamwork and belief that golf is a “sport for a lifetime” perfectly embody the ideals of community dedication. This award is available to a male or female student entering their first (or subsequent year to a max of 4 years) of studies at a Canadian post-secondary institution and awarded based on a 50/50 combination of high academic standing and competitive golf background with Golf Manitoba.

Matthew Michaleski, a member at Selkirk Golf & Country Club, is the inaugural recipient of the Harvey & Marion Goehring Award. He is attending the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba. On the golf course, Michaleski finished T12 at the Junior Boys Championship presented by the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and in third place at the Maple Leaf Junior Tour’s Bieber Classic.

For background information and details on the following individual scholarship awards, click here.

DR. DWIGHT PARKINSON AWARD – Ryder Pufahl

Pufahl, a member at Rossmere Country Club, graduated from College Miles Macdonell Collegiate and is entering the Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba.

BRIAN GILHULY AWARD – Griffin Rarog

Rarog, a member at Pine Ridge Golf Club, is enrolled at the I.H. Asper School of Business – University of Manitoba taking his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours).

ED DEARDEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP – Luke Perrett

Perrett, a Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member, is enrolled at Brock University studying Sport Management.

CRAIG YAHIRO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Eryn Czirfusz
Golf Manitoba Public Players Club  
University of Manitoba – Bachelor of Arts (Criminology)
Employed at Golf Manitoba, Glendale Golf & Country Club

Rory Neill
Glendale Golf & Country Club
Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba
Employed at St. Charles Country Club

GOLF MANITOBA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Gabriela Lerat
Golf Manitoba Public Players Club
University of Manitoba / Bachelor of Commerce

Erin Nowicki
Pine Ridge Golf Club
University of Manitoba / Bachelor of Science

Tyler Polanski
Elmhurst Golf & Country Club
University of Manitoba / Bachelor of Arts

Elle Wood
St. Boniface Golf Club
University of Manitoba / Advanced Bachelor of Arts

The Board of the Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund extends its sincere congratulations to the 2026 recipients and wishes them all the best in their post-secondary studies.

This year, the Fund awarded $18,000 in scholarships to 11 deserving students.

Scholarships are made possible through contributions from GMSF as well from the family and estates our of named awards.

For more information about the Scholarship Fund including information on how to apply or to make a donation, please visit golfmb.ca/scholarship.