Golf Canada’s 2023 championship season continues at the Evergreen Golf Club in Nipawin, Saskatchewan with the NextGen Prairie Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

The 36-hole stroke play competition runs today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday).

The starting field will feature 67 male and female competitors – 52 Junior Boys and 15 Junior Girls – vying for spots into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

Our province is represented by 20 competitors, including 12 members of Team Manitoba.

Junior Boys:

– Adam Blair (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Players Club)
– Carson Chapman (Glendale Golf & Country Club)
– Jackson Delaurier (Team Manitoba / Dauphin Lake Golf Club)
– Zostrianos Gross (Shilo Country Club)
– Carson Inman (Team Manitoba / Portage Golf Club)
– Kaleb Lambert (Team Manitoba / Elmhurst Golf & Country Club)
– Hunter McLean (Carman Golf & Country Club)
– Spence Mott (Team Manitoba / Shilo Country Club)
– Ethan Portey (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club)
– Terence Rafferty (Team Manitoba / Southwood Golf & Country Club)
– Jacob Taweel (Team Manitoba / Elmhurst Golf & Country Club)
– Ryan Tuck (St. Boniface Golf Club)
– Payne Wood (Team Manitoba / St. Boniface Golf Club)
– Finn Wylder Kidd (St. Charles Country Club)

Junior Girls:

– Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club)
– Cala Korman (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Players Club)
– Jeri Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Club)
– Jewel Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Club)
– India Young (Team Manitoba / Carman Golf & Curling Club)
– Crystal Zamzow (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Players Club)

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Prairie Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, click here.

The top six players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 14-17, at North Bay Golf and Country Club Ltd. in North Bay, Ont. The top six players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 24-27, at Hampton Golf Course in Hampton, N.B.

Evergreen Golf Course is located in the heart of Nipawin, known as Saskatchewan’s vacation capital. Surrounded by two spectacular lakes where the prairies meet the boreal forest, Nipawin is renowned for its exceptional outdoor recreation offering world class golf, superb fishing, camping and boating opportunities.

“Having the opportunity to host a Golf Canada event is an honour that not many facilities get. It is a chance for us to showcase the high-quality golf course we have. Our course management team, staff and members put a lot of effort into providing a first-class golf experience and this is a way to share with guests from across Canada,” said Derrick Tallon, Head Pro at Evergreen Golf Course. “It is our goal to have the golfers and visitors to the Evergreen Golf Course share a positive story with their friends and encourage more visitors to our golf course.”

About the NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards

The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2023 national championships. Two additional Fall Series events will be hosted to close the season. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. For more information on the NextGen Prairie Championship, click here.

Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz is off to an impressive start at the 2023 Digital Commerce Bank Glencoe Invitational.

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

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

Located 40 minutes south of Brandon along Highway #10, this 9 hole course can be played from three sets of tee boxes ranging from 2,702 to 3,290 yards.

“With a new season well underway, we are excited to join Golf Manitoba showcasing our course to everyone across the province” said Executive Board Member Skylar Canada. “We are open to host golfers and families of all skill levels for an enjoyable experience as well as businesses and charities looking for a venue to host their tournament.”

Boissevain’s club house is air conditioned with a licenced dining room and also features an outdoor patio.

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

For tee times and more information call (204) 534-2365, or visit them online at Golf Boissevain – Golf Course in Morton, MB.

Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz and Curtis Markusson are in Calgary this week taking part in the 2023 Digital Commerce Bank Glencoe Invitational.

54 holes of competition tees off this afternoon and concludes on Saturday at the Glencoe Golf & Country Club. Following tomorrow’s second round, the field will be cut to the low 20 and ties.

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

Kuntz, of Breezy Bend Country Club, is coming off a season opening victory in the men’s division of the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre at Glendale Golf & Country Club 11 days ago.

Markusson, of St. Charles Country Club, finished the 2022 season winning the Canadian Men’s Mid Masters Championship at The Thornhill Club in Thornhill, Ontario.

A look at the Dauphin Lake Golf Club with General Manager & Head Professional Shawn Woods.

For more details on the Dauphin Lake Golf Club, click here.

A look at the Pinawa Golf Club with Apprentice Professional Todd Halldorson.

For more details on the Pinawa Golf Club, click here.

The opening event of the 2023 Golf Manitoba Championship season is in the books with Addison Kartusch of St. Charles Country Club, Breezy Bend Country Club’s Braxton Kuntz and Blair Neal of Rossmere Country Club winning their respective divisions of the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre at Glendale Golf & Country Club.

Kartusch, a Team Manitoba member, claimed the Women’s division trophy with a 2&1 victory over Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member Clara Peake. Kartusch erased a one hole deficit through seven going on to win the 11th, 12th and 15th holes to secure the match.

For the complete Women’s division bracket, click here.

Neal won the Senior Men’s division on the 18th hole against Dwayne Heinrichs of Bel Acres Golf & Country Club. The lead was never greater than one hole between these players, with Neal taking his first lead of the day on 17.

For the complete Senior Men’s division bracket, click here.

Kuntz also went the distance versus Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club prevailing on the final hole. Kuntz had a strong run winning holes 9, 10 and 12 to go three up against the defending champion and was able to hold on for victory.

For the complete Men’s division bracket, click here.

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

We appreciate the time and effort of the host club, Glendale Golf & Country Club led by General Manager James Chapman, Head Professional Derrik Goodwin, Superintendent Reid McLeod, their staff, club members and volunteers for their warm welcome.

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.

The Men’s, Senior Men’s and Women’s Match Play Champions will be crowned Sunday at Glendale Golf & Country Club.

All three divisions, presented by St. Vital Dental Centre, will see the semi finals played in the morning starting at 7:24. The winners advance to their respective Championship Final teeing off at 1:00.

In the Men’s division, #1 seed Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) advanced Saturday with a 3&1 victory over Neel Soni (St. Charles Country Club). Kuntz will face #5 seed Jordy Lutz (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) who prevailed 2&1 over Allan McDonald (Breezy Bend).

#2 seed, and defending champion Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst) will play #3 seed Evan Nachtigall (Wheat City Golf Course) in the other semi final. Trstenjak beat Lyle MacKenzie (Niakwa Country Club) 6&4 while Nachtigall eliminated Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member Eric Prokopowich 3&2.

For the complete Men’s Division bracket, click here.

In the Women’s division, #1 seed Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles) will take on #4 seed Charmaine Hayden (Breezy Bend) in one semi final while #2 seed Jeri Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Course) plays #3 seed Clara Peake, a Golf Manitoba Public Players Club member.

Kartusch advanced with a 5&3 victory over Shannon Wales (Glendale) while Hayden was a 4&3 victor over India Young (Team Manitoba / Carman Golf & Curling Club). Lafleche knocked off Cala Korman (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Player) 1up while Peake beat Kate Gregoire (Quarry Oaks Golf Course) 6&5.

For the complete Women’s division bracket, click here.

The Senior Men’s division will have some interesting matchups with only defending champion, #2 seed Rob Oliphant (Rossmere Country Club) as the lowest seed heading into Sunday’s semis. Oliphant faces #14 seed Dwayne Heinrichs (Bel Acres Golf & Country Club) while #12 seed Kevin Nicholson (Southwood Golf & Country Club) takes on #17 seed Blair Neal (Rossmere).

In Quarter Final play, Oliphant edged Carl Lechman (Elmhurst) 2&1, Heinrichs was a 3&2 winner over Garth Collings (Breezy Bend), Nicholson beat Dan Scanlon (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 3up and Neal got past Brad Moore (Pine Ridge Golf Club) 2&1.

For the complete Senior Men’s division bracket, click here.

The top five seeds remain alive in the Men’s Division heading into Saturday’s Quarter Finals at the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

During Friday’s Round of 16 at Glendale Golf & Country Club:

#1 seed Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) beat Terence Rafferty (Southwood Golf & Country Club) 1up.
#2 seed, and defending champion Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) beat Kaleb Lambert (Elmhurst) 7&5.
#3 seed Evan Nachtigall (Wheat City Golf Course) beat Adam Guenther (Elmhurst) 5&4.
#4 seed Allan McDonald (Breezy Bend) beat Travis Bobychuk (Niakwa Country Club) 2&1.
#5 seed Jordy Lutz (Elmhurst) beat Justin Price (Elmhurst) 5&4.

For the complete Men’s Division bracket, click here.

It is a different story in the Senior Men’s division as three of the top five have been eliminated, including #1 seed Jay Doyle of Niakwa.

17th seed Blair Neal (Rossmere Country Club) upset Doyle 1up.
#2 seed, and defending champion Rob Oliphant (Rossmere) beat Ken Warwick (Niakwa) 4&3.
#4 seed Dan Scanlon (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) beat Karl Schroeder (Rossmere) 5&3.
#5 seed Gerald Diamond (St. Charles) lost on the 20th hole to #12 Kevin Nicholson (Southwood).

For the complete Senior Men’s division bracket, click here.

Saturday’s draw will also feature the Women’s Division Quarter Finals. Eight competitors are set to tee off at 1:36 led by #1 seed Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles).

For the complete Women’s division bracket, click here.

Nine out of the top 10 seeds advanced on opening day at Glendale Golf & Country Club to start the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

In the Men’s division, all five top seeds advanced to the Round of 16 led by #1 seed Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club. Kuntz beat Keaton Jameson (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 2&1.

Also in the Men’s Division:

#2 seed Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) beat Zostrianos Gross (Shilo Country Club) 2&1.
#3 seed Evan Nachtigall (Wheat City Golf Course) beat Ryan Orchard (Carman Golf & Country Club) 3&2.
#4 seed Allan McDonald (Breezy Bend) beat Jason Chuback (St. Charles Country Club) 4&3.
#5 seed Jordy Lutz (Elmhurst) beat Colin Skoleski (Niakwa Country Club) 3&1.

For the complete Men’s Division bracket, click here.

In the Senior Men’s Division:

#1 seed Jay Doyle (Niakwa) beat Wynn Edel (Golf Manitoba Public Player) 9&8.
#2 seed Rob Oliphant (Rossmere Country Club) beat Jack Zacharias (Elmhurst) 4up
#4 seed Dan Scanlon (Golf Manitoba Public Player) beat Walter Antoniuk (Golf Manitoba Public Player) 3&2.
#5 seed Gerald Diamond (St. Charles) beat Al Wheeler (Rossmere) 2up.

The only upset required five extra holes for 30th seed Feroze Barakat (Southwood Golf & Country Club) to eliminate #3 seed David Klowak (Golf Manitoba Public Player) on the 23rd hole.

For the complete Senior Men’s division bracket, click here.

With eight competitors in the Women’s Division, their Quarterfinals begin play Saturday.