Sport Manitoba has named Darcy Furber as the 2025 SBC Insurance Athlete of the Year.

Furber is a member of the Golf Manitoba Hall of Fame whose career reflects both excellence and perseverance. As a sighted golfer, he achieved significant success, winning the Wellington Cup multiple times and earning a golf scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi, where he competed from 1983 to 1987.

Due to a hereditary eye condition, Furber gradually lost his vision and stepped away from the game for two decades after the birth of his daughter. In 2015, inspired by the Manitoba Blind Sports Association, he returned to the sport alongside his brother Joe, competing as a B2 golfer. As his vision continued to decline, he transitioned to competing as a B1 golfer in 2024.
 
In 2025, he delivered an extraordinary season on the international and national stage, winning the World Blind Golf Championship (Low Gross in the B1 category) in Simcoe, Ontario, while also finishing runner-up in the Low Net category against all sight classifications. He also captured titles at the Canadian Blind Golf Championship, Western Blind Golf Championship, and the Manitoba Blind Golf Provincials as a B1 golfer.

“Behind every performance, podium finish, and breakthrough moment is a story of persistence, sacrifice, and belief.” said Sport Manitoba President & CEO Janet McMahon. “Night of Champions is about recognizing those stories and the people who bring them to life across Manitoba. We’re proud to celebrate this year’s nominees and recipients, and grateful to the sponsors, volunteers, and staff who make this celebration possible.”
 
Beyond his competitive success, Furber has made a lasting impact on the blind golf community in Manitoba. He is a dedicated mentor, supporting and encouraging new athletes to get involved and compete at both local and national levels. 
 
A key part of Darcy’s journey has been the unwavering support of his wife Pam, daughters Kaylee and Madisyn, and his brother-in-law, Ron Oliver, who serves as his guide and coach. Together, they continue to train and compete throughout the summer months, demonstrating the importance of teamwork and trust in the sport.

Furber will be recognized Thursday, April 16th during the Night of Champions presented by Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, a by invite only event, at the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Other award winners include:
Konica Minolta Official of the Year – Zdravka Tchonkova (Rhythmic Gymnastics)
Calm Air Team of the Year – Brandon University Bobcats (Men’s Volleyball)
2017 Canada Games Legacy Fund Volunteer of the Year – Colin Mark (Basketball)
Coach of the Year – Tammy De Jong (Baton Twirling)

Each award winner receives a bursary to put toward their involvement in sport, and a banner with their name and award will be displayed at the Sport Manitoba facility. 

Canada will be represented by three players at the Masters this week, with Corey Conners, Nick Taylor and former champion Mike Weir all set to tee it up at Augusta National.

Conners, from Listowel, Ont., is grouped with England’s Harry Hall and American Michael Brennan. They are set to begin play at 11:44 am CST on Thursday and 8:19 am on Friday. Conners has twice finished tied for sixth at Augusta National (2020, 2022), the best result among the Canadians in the field.

Taylor, of Abbotsford, B.C., will play alongside Americans Keegan Bradley and Ryan Gerard in the opening two rounds. Their group is scheduled to tee off at 8:31 am on Thursday and 11:44 am on Friday. Taylor’s best result at the Masters is a tie for 29th, recorded in 2020.

Weir, the 2003 Masters champion from Brights Grove, Ont., will play with American Wyndham Clark and Argentina’s amateur Mateo Pulcini. Their tee times are 10:27 am on Thursday and 7:02 am on Friday. Weir’s victory in 2003 remains the best result by a Canadian at the Masters.

Golf Manitoba would like to congratulate Southwood Golf & Country Club Superintendent Dustin How on being named as the newest Master Superintendent of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA).

How also currently sits on the CGSA Board of Directors as the Manitoba Director.

According to the CGSA, “the Master Superintendent designation is the highest recognition in the golf superintendent profession in Canada. This prestigious honour places Dustin among an elite group of professionals who have demonstrated exceptional experience, leadership, and dedication to their field. Master Superintendents are highly respected and play an important role in elevating industry standards and enhancing the prestige of the profession.”

For more information on the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association, click here.

The Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the Class of 2025 Induction Celebration will be held Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Pine Ridge Golf Club.

Tickets will go on sale Sunday, March 15 at 9:00am. Tickets will be available for purchase online.

To read the Hall of Fame inductees announcement media release, click here.

Golf Manitoba is pleased to announce 24 Junior Boys and 13 Junior Girls have been named to the 2026 Team Manitoba roster.

These junior golfers will train and compete in various tournaments throughout the season representing our province under the guidance of Golf Manitoba Director of Player Development Sean Murray. We are also excited to announce Derrik Goodwin (Glendale Golf & Country Club), Nick Einarson (Breezy Bend Country Club) and Gracie McMillan (Pine Ridge Golf Club) have been named assistant coaches.

Returning to the Junior Boys Gold Team are:

– Gavin Carver & Owen Conrad of St. Charles Country Club
– Hunter Oakden of Wheat City Golf Course
– Niakwa Country Club’s Ryder St. Laurent
– Pine Ridge member Adam Blair
– Hudson Hunnie & Ryder Pufahl of Rossmere Country Club
– Quarry Oaks Golf Course’s Ty Brewster

New to the Gold team are Brady Comaskey (Pine Ridge), Rhett Dyck (Minnewasta Golf & Country Club), Tanner Grose (Southwood Golf & Country Club) and Liam Silvagio (Niakwa).

The Junior Girls Gold Team welcomes the returning roster players:
– Angelina Sitarz, Annika Gording & Kate McMillan of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club
– Pine Ridge’s Sadie Blazeiko
– Payton Chapman of Glendale
– Camryn Thomas of St. Charles

New to the Gold team are Mackenzie Bartlett (Carman Golf & Curling Club) and Kora Montour (Scotswood Links).

Adding depth to the program, 12 Junior Boys and five Junior Girls have been recognized for their potential and named to Team Manitoba’s Black teams.

The boys roster includes Xavier Delaquis (St. Charles), Colton Drul (Elmhurst), Rylan Gordon (St. Boniface Golf Club), Brayden Hamm (Wheat City Golf Course), Hunter MacLean (St. Charles), Tiago Miranda (St. Charles), Ty Montour (Scotswood Links), Gavin Oleksiew (Glendale), Grant Secord (St. Charles), Ryan Small (Pine Ridge), Ethan Sitarz (Elmhurst) and Dane Wojcik (Elmhurst).

Isla Dent (Golf Manitoba Public Player), Leah Klippenstein (Golf Manitoba Public Player), Mikaila Pador (Golf Manitoba Public Player), Annabelle Pinette (Elmhurst) and Annabelle Talampas (Glendale) are on the girls roster.

Team Manitoba will once again benefit greatly from the generosity of the Alex and Peggy Colonello Foundation while also receiving support from the Integrated Support Team at Sport Manitoba Performance that will help enhance the athletes’ skills through fitness, nutrition, and development of the mental side of the game.

“With the generous support of the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation, we continue to provide what we believe is the most comprehensive development program in the nation” said Murray. “The high number of returning players this year is a testament to the program’s success. It demonstrates that the resources and high-performance programming provided to these athletes are truly fueling their growth and long-term development. We also want to extend a big congratulations to our newest athletes joining the program. Their inclusion is a direct result of their stellar play throughout 2025, we look forward to seeing them continuing their development.”

“Identifying the next generation of talent is always a highlight for our association,” added Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk. “We are proud to have the continued support of the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation, whose generosity helps make this programming possible at a more accessible cost. Their commitment ensures our province’s golfers can focus on their development and reach their full potential as competitors.”

About Team Manitoba: The Team Manitoba program provides enhanced training, development, and competitive opportunities for both aspiring and accomplished junior female and male athletes from the Golf Manitoba region. The program encompasses fitness, sports psychology, nutrition, technique, equipment management and regional, multi-sport, and national level competition.

For more, please visit golfmb.ca/team-manitoba.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce its full 2026 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at member clubs across Canada.

Coming to Manitoba is the NextGen Prairie Championship June 19th to 21st at Neepawa Golf & Country Club followed by the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship September 8th to 11th at Niakwa Country Club.

Golf Canada’s 2026 competition calendar includes 11 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, two Canadian Collegiate Invitationals, the BDO National Golf League Finals and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by BFL CANADA.

As the National Sport Organization and governing body, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships to support the development of the nation’s top talent through world-class competition.

“We are proud to announce the full championship schedule for 2026 and are excited to welcome the top golf athletes from across Canada and around the world competing for our prestigious national championships,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Golf Canada Director, Amateur Championships and Rules. “On behalf of Golf Canada and all of the competitors, I would like to thank our corporate partners, our host clubs, tournament staff and volunteers across the country for their continued commitment and support of our championships and our sport.”

The Canadian Financial Assistance Program supported by Gary Cowan Heritage Fund and the Canadian Senior Golf Association will once again be available for juniors competing in the NextGen Championships, all National Junior Championships (Juniors and U15), and players competing at the Canadian All Abilities Championship who meet eligibility requirements. More details on the program for the 2026 season will be released next month.

Golf Canada will also conduct several professional and amateur championship qualifiers including five RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers along with Final Qualifying for both the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open. The 2026 schedule features two National Open Championships — the 115th playing of the RBC Canadian Open, taking place at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. June 10-14 and the 52nd playing of the CPKC Women’s Open, being held at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alta., August 19-23.

Following changes to PGA TOUR field sizes for the 2026 season, players who finish within the top ten per cent of the field (and ties) at each Regional Qualifying event will earn a spot into Final Qualifying. The Final Qualifier will take place on Sunday, June 7 at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont. The top four finishers will earn an exemption into the 2026 RBC Canadian Open.

The She Plays Golf Championship Series will award three exemptions into the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open through three tournaments across Canada. The first will be the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open, taking place June 11-13 at Nicklaus North Golf Course in Whistler, B.C., followed by the Peloton Glencoe Invitational, taking place June 18-20 at The Glencoe Golf and Country Club in Calgary, Alta. The final stop will be the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada with more information announced later. Each tournament winner will earn an exemption into the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open.

Other notable qualifiers conducted for USGA Championships on the 2026 schedule include a U.S. Open Local and Final Qualifier, a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier in addition to qualifiers for the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Amateur and Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Junior Amateur and Girls’ Junior Championship.

Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off May 1-3 with the NextGen Pacific Championship at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C. The season concludes with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by BFL CANADA at Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont. from September 30 to October 3.

To view Golf Canada’s 2026 Championship Schedule including all host venues, registration requirements and volunteer opportunities visit golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/.

2026 Amateur Championship Season at a Glance:

The third annual BDO National Golf League Finals will be held at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. on June 6 ahead of tournament week for the RBC Canadian Open. Fifty-two teams will compete in a four-ball net stableford format to crown the BDO National Golf League champions and earn an invitation to represent Canada at The R&A’s 9 Hole Challenge.

The Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO, will be held June 15-19 at Club de Golf La Tempête in Lévis, Que. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent. The winning men’s and women’s team will qualify for their respective 2026 Canadian Collegiate Invitationals, and the individual winners will receive exemptions into their respective 2026 Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championship.

The 112th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, takes place July 20-24 at The Toronto Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont. The champion will earn an exemption into the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open, the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2027 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

The 121st Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested July 25-30 in Calgary, Alta. at Mickelson National Golf Club and Heritage Pointe Golf Club. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2027 RBC Canadian Open, as well as an invitation to the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship. The winner will also receive an exemption into Final Qualifying for the 2027 U.S. Open and into the 2027 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be held August 5-7 at the Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont. The field is open to female amateurs aged 25-and-over. The winner will receive exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, 2027 Canadian Women’s Amateur and the 2027 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships.

The Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, will be played at Hylands Golf Club in Gloucester, Ont. from August 5-7. The national championship for players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments, is contested over 54-holes. Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. is the five-time defending champion on the women’s side, while Josh Williams of Tavistock, Ont. won his first men’s title last year. The gross stroke play men’s and women’s champion earn an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Adaptive Open (if eligible).

The Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested August 11-14 at Wascana Country Club in Regina, Sask. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, 2027 Canadian Junior Boys (if eligible) and 2027 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont. became the 12th player to claim both the Junior Boys and Juvenile titles in the same year last summer.

The Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, will run August 11-14 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (Heathlands Course). The winner will earn an exemption into the 2027 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, the 2027 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and the 2027 Canadian Junior Girls Championship (if eligible).

The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be held August 17-21 at Brantford Golf & Country Club in Brantford, Ont. The field is open to male amateurs aged 25-and-over. The winner will receive exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, 2027 Canadian Men’s Amateur and the 2027 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships.

The Canadian U15 Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested August 24-27 at Loyalist Country Club in Bath, Ont. The boys and girls’ individual champions will earn exemptions into their respective 2027 Canadian Junior Championships and invitations into the 2026 NextGen Selection Camp.

The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, will be played at Niakwa Country Club in Winnipeg on September 7-11. The winner will earn exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, the 2027 Canadian Men’s Amateur, 2027 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur and the 2027 Canadian Men’s Senior Championships. Last year, Don Martone of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. comfortably claimed his first national championship by eight shots.

The third playing of the Men’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational will return to Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. from September 12-15. The tournament will be once again co-hosted by Kent State University and Penn State University. The tournament features 13 NCAA Division I teams along with the winners from the 2026 Canadian University/College Championship. The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2027 RBC Canadian Open and the top five will earn exemptions into the 2027 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish successfully defended their team title last fall, led by Calen Sanderson (Notre Dame) who took home individual honours. The 2026 Boys NextGen Selection Camp will run concurrently during tournament play.

The Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, will take place September 15-18 at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. The winner will receive an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur Championship, the 2027 U.S. Women’s Senior Open, as well as the 2027 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and the 2027 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championships.

The second playing of the Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational will take place at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., from September 20-22. The tournament will be co-hosted by Kent State University and the University of Michigan. The tournament will feature 11 NCAA Division I teams along with the team champions from the 2026 Canadian University/College Championship. The individual winner will earn an exemption into the 2027 CPKC Women’s Open and the top five will earn exemptions into the 2027 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

The season will conclude with the 11th playing of the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by BFL CANADA and will take place at Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont., from September 28 to October 3. Teams compete as three-member squads while also competing for an individual title. The Republic of Korea are the two-time defending champions, holding off Team Canada 1 and Spain for the title last year. The 2026 individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2027 CPKC Women’s Open.

2026 NextGen Championships

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series. 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 2026 national junior championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

The 2026 NextGen Championship host clubs include: Morningstar Golf Club (Parksville, B.C.), Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club (Thornton, Ont.), Wolf Creek Golf Resort (Ponoka, Alta.), Neepawa Golf & Country Club (Neepawa, Man.), Club de golf Lachute (Lachute, Que.), and Hampton Golf Club (Hampton, N.B.).

2026 Registration Information

Registration for Golf Canada’s 2026 competitions will open on the following dates:

• NextGen Championships: Wednesday, February 18 at 12:00pm EST
• RBC Canadian Open Qualifying: Wednesday, February 25 at 12:00pm EST
• National Amateur Championships: Wednesday, March 4 at 12:00pm EST

Please visit the Golf Canada competitions calendar and select the tournament of your choice for more information or to register, following the dates listed above.

Five familiar faces will be among 105 competitors teeing off on the Gold Course at The Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa in the Asher Tour’s Wigwam Gold Championship.

Taking part in the three day, 54 hole championship in Litchfield Park, Arizona are Sam Diamond (St. Charles Country Club), Jade Jones (Whitewater Golf Club), Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club), Spence Mott (Shilo Country Club) and Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club).

For the live leaderboard, click here.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome Pinseekers Golf Lounge as our newest off-course member facilities.

With two locations, one at 54 South Landing Drive in Oak Bluff and one at 1045 St. James Street in Winnipeg, both location feature five hitting zones using Golfzon technology with food services and beverages available.

Lessons and coaching are available at the both locations. They also have club rentals and a proshop on site.

The South Landing and St. James locations are an accessible facility.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada off-course member facility, members may purchase a Golf Manitoba / Canada membership at a special rate to take advantage of various benefits and to record outdoor scores towards establishing or maintaining an official Golf Canada Handicap Index.

For more information on the South Landing location call (204) 487-6808 or to book a tee time online, click here.

For more information on the St. James Street location call (204) 786-1777 or to book a tee time online, click here.

Braxton Kuntz (Breezy Bend Country Club) shot an 8-under par 63 in Gilbert, Arizona earning a T10 finish on the leaderboard at the Asher Tour Power Ranch Championship.

Kuntz completed the 54 hole championship at 16-under par 197 (69-65-63) at the Power Ranch Golf Club. Along with 12 pars during his final round, Kuntz eagled the third and 17th holes and made birdies on the first, fifth, ninth and 13th holes.

Jaden Jones (Whitewater Golf Club) finished T33 at 1-over par 214 (70-72-72).

Zander Winston of Texas won the championship at 22-under par 191 (62-63-66).

Failing to the make the 36 hole cut (-7) were:

Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) 70-70-140 (-2)
Charlie Boyechko (Southwood Golf & Country Club) 70-71-141 (-1)
Spence Mott (Shilo Country Club) 74-78-152 (+10)

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Golf Manitoba, in association with Golf Canada, is pleased to welcome the Selkirk Golf & Country Club Sim Hut as our newest off-course member facility.

Located at Selkirk Golf & Country Club, 100 Sutherland Avenue in Selkirk, the Sim Hut is open to golfers of all ages featuring two hitting zones with food services and beverages available.

The Sim Hut offers PGA of Manitoba instruction available to all levels of golfer led by Head Professional Mike Dern.

As an official Golf Manitoba / Canada off-course member facility, members may purchase a Golf Manitoba / Canada membership at a special rate to take advantage of various benefits and to record outdoor scores towards establishing or maintaining an official Golf Canada Handicap Index.

For more information call (204) 482-2050 or to book a tee time online, click here.