The world just turned its attention to Toronto for the PGA TOUR’s RBC Canadian Open. Meanwhile, First Tee – Canada is also taking a moment to reflect in honour of National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day.  

This month serves as a reminder to acknowledge that we live, work, and play on the unceded traditional homelands of Indigenous communities, stand with those who are impacted by residential school systems and ongoing colonial structures and policies, and celebrate Indigenous cultures, traditions, and heritage together.  

Canada recognizes three groups of Indigenous peoples: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, each with unique histories, languages, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs. Nearly two million Canadians identify as Indigenous.

First Tee – Canada is made up of five chapters: First Tee – British Columbia, First Tee – Premier départ Quebec, First Tee – Atlantic, First Tee – Ontario, and First Tee – Prairies, with First Tee – Alberta launching later this year.  

Each chapter has unique and dynamic relationships with local Indigenous communities. 

BC has the greatest diversity of Indigenous cultures in Canada. First Tee – British Columbia opened its first program location, The Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy, on traditional Musqueam First Nation territory in 2021.  

Since then, it has expanded to over 53 program spaces and sold out every session this year. This summer, CPCK Women’s Open will be held at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, which is also located on Musqueam traditional territory. During tournament week, First Tee – British Columbia will host youth clinics at Musqueam Golf and Learning Academy, offer behind-the-scenes tours of the event grounds for local community groups, and provide children with positive experiences through golf.

Being home to more than 200 First Nations, First Tee – British Columbia hopes to continue to strengthen its existing relationships with Indigenous communities, but also strives to expand its network and collaborate with additional Indigenous communities across the province. 

In Quebec, there are over 40 Indigenous communities across the province. First Tee – Premier départ Quebec currently collaborates with the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, the Cree community of Waskaganish, and the First Nation of Mashteuiatsh through First Tee golf course, school, and community programming.  

The Quebec team also works closely with the Club 24 Athletics Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting young Indigenous leaders through sport and education.  

Last year, First Tee – Premier départ Quebec hosted programming for 18 Indigenous participants. The team hopes to more than double that number this year. 

In the Kahnawake First Nations reserve, there are seven golf courses in under 50 km. The community’s volunteer coaches are introducing as many children as possible to golf through First Tee, developing multisport athletes to open more doors in their futures.

First Tee – Premier départ Quebec has been able to provide most programming at no cost to participants, with an entirely Indigenous coaching staff.

Ontario is home to over 23 percent of all Indigenous peoples in Canada.

First Tee – Ontario currently works with Anishnabeg Outreach Kitchener and Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre to offer First Tee community programming at their locations throughout the summer and will provide an on-course fun day at nearby golf courses this summer, too. Ahkwesahsne Mohawk Board has also come on board and will offer First Tee school programming this fall.

Additionally, last week, First Tee – Ontario coaches supported Golf Ontario’s Indigenous Try Golf Day event held at Sandusk Golf Club and led First Tee programming for children who attended the event.

First Tee – Prairies and First Tee – Atlantic are in the beginning stages of building relationships with Indigenous communities within their provinces, but hope to launch programming soon, some even this summer.  

The continued focus for First Tee – Canada is to build out community hubs of accessible pathways for golf participation through community centres, schools, and golf courses, ensuring the sport of golf reflects the strengths of Canada’s diversity.

Each chapter is dedicated to building trusting and authentic relationships with community organizations, stakeholders, and volunteers in their provinces to provide support for equity-deserving groups, including Indigenous communities.  

Click here for learning resources about First Nations, Inuit, and Metis across Canada. Visit firstteecanada.ca to learn more about program efforts across the country. 

A look at Glen Lea Golf Course with General Manager Jason Earl.

For more details on Glen Lea Golf Course, click here.

Killarney’s Cala Korman, a member of Team Manitoba, shot a one under par 71 in her final round at the Evergreen Golf Club in Nipawin, Saskatchewan to win the NextGen Prairie Junior Girls Championship.

Korman’s 226 tournament total was three strokes better than Regina’s Hallie Crozier.

Addison Kartusch of Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club carded a final round 79 to finish in third place at 232.

Terence Rafferty of Team Manitoba / Southwood Golf & Country Club finished as the top Manitoban in the Junior Boys Championship in a three way tie for sixth place at 222 following a 73 today.

For the complete leaderboard featuring all Manitoba born competitors, click here.

Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz finished in a tie for ninth place on the leaderboard at the 2023 Digital Commerce Bank Glencoe Invitational in Calgary.

The Breezy Bend Country Club member carded a 75 in his final round Saturday to finish the 54 hole event at four over par 220.

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

Addison Kartusch (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club) has a one stroke lead over Regina’s Hallie Crozier entering Sunday’s final round of the NextGen Prairie Championship at the Evergreen Golf Club in Nipawin, Saskatchewan.

Kartusch shot a 79 Saturday for a two round total 153.

Cala Korman (Team Manitoba / Killarney) is only two strokes off the lead in third place following a 78 today.

Team Manitoba / Dauphin Lake Golf Club’s Jackson Delaurier is four strokes off the lead in the junior boys championship following a 74. His 36 hole total is 147.

For the complete junior boys and girls leaderboards, 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.

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.

The field is set for the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur and Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur at Pine Ridge Golf Club.

Following today’s men’s division qualifier at Carman Golf & Curling Club, 81 men and 27 women will compete for the 2023 Championship July 10th to 12th at Pine Ridge.

The final two spots decided in Carman needed one playoff hole for Feroze Barakat of Southwood Golf & Country Club and St. Boniface Golf Club’s Nick Hinse to advance.

For today’s Manitoba Blue Cross qualifier leaderboard, click here.

The Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Qualifier is underway at Carman Golf & Curling Club.

Golf Manitoba’s Director of Communications Brian Munz caught up with Carman’s General Manager & Head Professional Dean North.

78 competitors are vying for one of 57 spots where the final field of 81 men and 27 women will compete for the 2023 Championship July 10th to 12th at Pine Ridge Golf Club.

For today’s Manitoba Blue Cross qualifier leaderboard, click here.

Winnipeg’s Braxton Kuntz is ninth on the leaderboard, four strokes off the lead after two rounds at the 2023 Digital Commerce Bank Glencoe Invitational in Calgary.

The Breezy Bend Country Club member carded a two over par 74 Friday for a two round total 144.

Curtis Markusson of St. Charles Country Club failed to make the cut by 10 strokes after shooting an 82.

Curtis Markusson of St. Charles Country Club is tied for 23rd after a five over par 77.

For the complete leaderboard, click here.

Addison Kartusch of Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club shot a two over par 74 Friday to open the NextGen Prairie Championship at the Evergreen Golf Club in Nipawin, Saskatchewan.

Kartusch birdied the fourth, seventh, 14th and 16th holes on her way to a three stroke advantage over Team Manitoba / Killarney’s Cala Korman in the junior girls championship.

Team Manitoba / Dauphin Lake Golf Club’s Jackson Delaurier had five birdies on his scorecard enroute to a one over par 73, good for a tie for third place on the junior boys leaderboard.

Other Manitobans taking part –

Junior Boys:

– Carson Chapman (Glendale Golf & Country Club) 101
– Zostrianos Gross (Shilo Country Club) 77
– Carson Inman (Team Manitoba / Portage Golf Club) 80
– Kaleb Lambert (Team Manitoba / Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) 79
– Hunter McLean (Carman Golf & Country Club) 100
– Spence Mott (Team Manitoba / Shilo Country Club) 80
– Ethan Portey (Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 80
– Terence Rafferty (Team Manitoba / Southwood Golf & Country Club) 77
– Jacob Taweel (Team Manitoba / Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) 83
– Ryan Tuck (St. Boniface Golf Club) 85
– Payne Wood (Team Manitoba / St. Boniface Golf Club) 80
– Finn Wylder Kydd (St. Charles Country Club) 94

Junior Girls:

– Jeri Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Club) 87
– Jewel Lafleche (Clear Lake Golf Club) 94
– India Young (Team Manitoba / Carman Golf & Curling Club) 88
– Crystal Zamzow (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Players Club) 88

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.

79 competitors will tee off Saturday afternoon at the Carman Golf & Curling Club vying for one of 57 spots in the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship Qualifier.

There will be a new men’s champion as defending champion Ryan Sholdice of Breezy Bend Country Club is not taking part.

For Saturday’s tee times, click here.

The final field of 81 men and 27 women will compete for the 2023 Championship July 10th to 12th at Pine Ridge Golf Club.