Golf – Winnipeg Free Press

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS
An estimated 2.6 inches of rain pounded Breezy Bend Country Club during an intense, slow-moving thunderstorm Wednesday night that led to the course being waterlogged, postponing the Manitoba Open to a Saturday start.

‘We are at the mercy of what Mother Nature wants to do’

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Friday, Aug. 22, 2025

The Manitoba Open has gone from a marathon to a sprint.

By now, the field of 156 golfers should have been cut to the top 60 and ties for the final two rounds of the 72-hole event. Instead, Mother Nature intervened, forcing organizers to scramble. The result is a rare two-day tournament, set to tee off Saturday morning and conclude Sunday evening.

“There’s only so much you can do when the rain falls that fast,” a disappointed tournament director Brendan Baldwin told the Free Press on Friday as he surveyed the soggy scene around him.

An estimated 2.6 inches of rain pounded Breezy Bend Country Club during an intense, slow-moving thunderstorm Wednesday night, adding to more than three inches that had already fallen the previous week.

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Rain puts Manitoba Open on hold until Friday

Mike McIntyre 2 minute read Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025

A massive late-summer thunderstorm has delayed the start of the Manitoba Open.

Play was scheduled to begin early Thursday morning at Breezy Bend Country Club, but heavy overnight rain left the course too saturated for the 156 competitors to tee off.

The opening round is now set to begin Friday at 7:30 a.m.

Officials still hope to complete all 72 holes of the PGA Tour Americas event by late Sunday afternoon — weather permitting. The field will be cut to the top 60 players and ties after two rounds.

Honorary ‘third’ Manitoban White looking to secure Korn Ferry ticket at Open

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Preview

Honorary ‘third’ Manitoban White looking to secure Korn Ferry ticket at Open

Mike McIntyre 6 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025

Brett White’s birth certificate may say Michigan, but the 32-year-old golfer considers himself an adopted Manitoban — one who is thrilled to be “home” this week for the province’s most prestigious golf tournament.

“I love coming up here,” he said with a big smile on Wednesday after a practice round at Breezy Bend.

White’s wife, Natalie, is from Winnipeg, as is her entire family, who will be at the course starting Thursday to cheer him on in the Manitoba Open. The two met at Eastern Michigan University, where he was on a golf scholarship and she competed in gymnastics.

“It was in 2015, my last semester of school. She had two years left on her program,” he said. “Since then, I’ve been up here like every other Christmas.”

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Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025

Bruce Biglow Photo
Golfer Brett White tees off in his third Manitoban Open on Thursday hoping to secure crucial points for a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour.

New twists at Breezy Bend for Manitoba Open

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

New twists at Breezy Bend for Manitoba Open

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025

Cory Johnson can’t wait to reveal Breezy Bend Country Club to the top players on PGA Tour Americas.

As Manitoba’s professional tour stop gets set to return to Winnipeg next week, it will do so at Breezy Bend for the first time since 1993 — when Frank Edmonds of Thunder Bay, Ont., captured the event with a score of 18-under par.

Much has changed since the last time Breezy Bend held the event. More than $9 million has been spent on improvements during the past 15 years, including eight new greens and six new tee boxes built on the course.

“We think the club has come so far and now we can really showcase that,” said Johnson, who remembers serving as a caddie the last time Breezy Bend held the tournament. “The course has never been in better condition. It’s just pristine.”

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Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025

Thomas Friesen / The Brandon Sun Files
Four-time men’s amateur champ Braxton Kuntz will start his pro career on his home golf course at the Manitoba Open. The tourney runs from Aug. 21-24.

Jones takes one-stroke lead into final round at amateur

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Preview

Jones takes one-stroke lead into final round at amateur

Ken Wiebe 7 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 15, 2025

To say that Drew Jones has been here before is a massive understatement.

The golfer from Shilo Country Club has knocked on the door plenty of times, and he’s got a full collection of runner-up finishes to show for it.

But as the Brandon product steps to the first tee on Wednesday at Southwood Golf and Country Club, Jones enters the final round of the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship as the clubhouse leader, holding a one-stroke lead over clubmate and friend Evan Nachtigall.

“It’s funny, I have all of my second-place medals and always look at them,” said Jones, who carded a second consecutive round of 3-under 69 to move to minus-six for the tournament. “I always try to think ‘what did I learn from this one, what did I learn from that one?’ Last year, it was just to slow down a little. There was some very easy and basic stuff that just went over top of my head, strategy-wise. All of those little things add up to strokes. So, hit the smart shot.”

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Tuesday, Jul. 15, 2025

Golf Manitoba
Drew Jones of Shilo Country Club enters the final round of the Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship as the clubhouse leader, holding a one-stroke lead over Evan Nachtigall.

Kartusch, Mott claim junior links glory

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Kartusch, Mott claim junior links glory

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 9, 2025

That Spence Mott was able to make a pressure-free swing from the 18th tee box might’ve even surprised him after the way his day unfolded.

The Shilo teen watched his one-shot lead turn into a three-stroke deficit by the third hole earlier in the day before he weathered a roller-coaster final round in the junior men’s provincial championship.

Yet, by the end of it, Mott had reclaimed the game that had him leading the tournament through 18 and 36 holes, respectively, and swung easy to a par on the last hole to cap a six-shot victory at Quarry Oaks on Wednesday.

“It feels nice to win again. It’s been a while,” the 18-year-old said.

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Wednesday, Jul. 9, 2025

Golf Manitoba photos
Spence Mott (left) had an up-and-down round Wednesday while Addison Kartusch repeated her women’s triple-crown triumph from last year.

Lafleche takes seven-stroke lead into final round

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Preview

Lafleche takes seven-stroke lead into final round

Joshua Frey-Sam 6 minute read Tuesday, Jul. 8, 2025

Jeri Lafleche has played enough competitive golf to know her lead can disappear in a few swings.

With the way the Winnipeg teen is striking the ball, however, perhaps that’s all it’ll take for her to become unreachable on Wednesday.

Lafleche, who began the day with a two-shot advantage, ended Tuesday’s round at the junior women’s provincial championship with a seven-stroke lead after firing a rock-solid 2-under 70 at Quarry Oaks in Steinbach.

The Niakwa member is not afraid to recognize that she’s played outstandingly through two days, but she’s also not wiping away her game face with 18 holes remaining.

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Tuesday, Jul. 8, 2025

MIKE PETERS / GOLF MANITOBA
Niakwa’s Jeri Lafleche shot 70 on Tuesday at Quarry Oaks, growing her lead to a seven-shot advantage in the Junior Girls Championship.

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Double repeat as Kartusch and McDonald retain amateur golf titles

Mike McIntyre 4 minute read Preview

Double repeat as Kartusch and McDonald retain amateur golf titles

Mike McIntyre 4 minute read Friday, Jul. 4, 2025

It was an exciting case of deja vu for Addison Kartusch and Allan McDonald.

The reigning champions of the Diamond Athletic Manitoba Women’s Amateur and provincial Men’s Mid-Amateur held off some stiff competition to claim their second consecutive titles Friday afternoon at St. Charles Country Club.

Kartusch, 18, ended up pulling away for an eight-stroke victory following rounds of 73-70-74 which left her at one-over par for the 54-hole event. Minnedosa’s Clara Peake (76-70-79) and Killarney’s Cala Korman (76-72-77) finished tied for second.

“It was pretty special to play on my home course,” Kartusch said. “It was nice to play the way I wanted to and the way I know I could here.”

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Friday, Jul. 4, 2025

GOLF MANITOBA PHOTO
Allan McDonald (left) and Addison Kartusch both repeated as champions in the provincial Men’s Mid-Amateur and Manitoba Women’s Amateur golf tournaments on Friday at St. Charles.

Kartusch on track to repeat as women’s amateur champion

Mike McIntyre 4 minute read Preview

Kartusch on track to repeat as women’s amateur champion

Mike McIntyre 4 minute read Thursday, Jul. 3, 2025

Addison Kartusch has her sights set on a second consecutive provincial title.

The defending Manitoba women’s amateur champion carries a three-shot lead into Friday’s final round of the annual summer tournament, which is being held this year at her home course of St. Charles Country Club.

Kartusch, 18, fired a two-under 70 on Thursday after opening the 54-hole event with a one-over 73 on Wednesday. She’s back in town after finishing up her first year at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and picking up where she left off.

Clara Peake of Minnedosa isn’t going away quietly, at one point grabbing the lead on Thursday. She’s at two-over for the event after rounds of 76-70. Killarney’s Cala Korman is also within striking distance at four-over following rounds of 76-72.

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Thursday, Jul. 3, 2025

Thomas Friesen / The Brandon Sun
Addison Kartusch has a three-shot lead entering Friday’s final round of the Golf Manitoba women’s amateur championship.

Perrin jumps out to mid-amateur lead; Kartusch giving it a college try

Zoe Pierce 5 minute read Preview

Perrin jumps out to mid-amateur lead; Kartusch giving it a college try

Zoe Pierce 5 minute read Wednesday, Jul. 2, 2025

For the golfers who teed up Wednesday morning for the Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur and Women’s amateur championships at St. Charles Country Club, the weather couldn’t have been more ideal.

And it wasn’t just the sunny, no-wind conditions that were perfect for Patrick Perrin, who found himself atop the men’s leaderboard after Round 1.

Perrin, who plays out of Elmhurst Country Club, ended the day with a 3-under-par 69, burying two birdies in the final three holes to take the lead.

“I feel great about my golf game,” Perrin said Wednesday. “It’s an age-old thing in golf, but you know, I’ll say it again: You can’t win it on the first day, but you can lose it on the first day. And I think I did a good job of avoiding that today, I just relied on my golf game.”

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Wednesday, Jul. 2, 2025

MIKE PETERS PHOTO
Addison Kartusch was hoping to drop a few more putts but has the first-round lead at the provincial women’s amateur championship.

Lorette’s Lambert prevails at rain-shortened Elmhurst Invitational

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Preview

Lorette’s Lambert prevails at rain-shortened Elmhurst Invitational

Joshua Frey-Sam 5 minute read Thursday, Jun. 26, 2025

Kaleb Lambert wanted to go shot-for-shot with Mother Nature.

While the Lorette teen never got the chance to do that, he won’t complain about the end result.

Lambert notched his first victory in a provincial men’s event earlier this week at Golf Manitoba’s Elmhurst Invitational after carding a one-under 70 in the lone round of play. Typically a 36-hole event, the tournament was shortened to one round during the second round due to inclement weather.

“I really wanted to finish all 18 because I love playing in the rain, tough conditions, I love competing against the guys,” said Lambert, who was on the fourth hole when play was called. “Initially, a bit disappointed, but at the end, I mean, there’s nothing I could do, so I just had to take the win, I guess.”

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Thursday, Jun. 26, 2025

Photo courtesy of Kaleb Lambert
Kaleb Lambert would have preferred to play 36 holes to win the Elmhurst Invitational, but Mother Nature had other ideas.

Killarney golfer home for summer after successful season on U.S. college circuit

Zoe Pierce 4 minute read Preview

Killarney golfer home for summer after successful season on U.S. college circuit

Zoe Pierce 4 minute read Friday, May. 30, 2025

It’s been a year of improvements for Cala Korman. The golfer out of Killarney is back in Manitoba after completing her sophomore NCAA Division I season at Weber State University in Utah — and she’s come in hot to kick off the 2025 Golf Manitoba championship season.

It will be more of a quiet summer tournament-wise for Korman now that she’s home, especially compared to her second year with the Weber State team, where she posted the second-best stroke average on the squad at 73.85 across 10 tournaments. She improved nearly two strokes from her freshman average of 75.44, placing in the top five twice and finishing in the top 10 in four events.

One of those top-five performances was at the Fresno State Classic in March, where Korman set a program record with a 6-under-par 66 in the final round. She finished the tournament at 1-under 215, earning a fourth-place finish.

“My season in the spring was really good and I had a solid fall season,” said Korman. “Overall, it’s just fun being with the team and I did improve.”

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Friday, May. 30, 2025

GOLF MANITOBA PHOTO
Cala Korman earned a bye to the quarterfinals of the Golf Manitoba Match Play Championships.

City tees up plan to take over Canoe Club golf course

Nicole Buffie 4 minute read Preview

City tees up plan to take over Canoe Club golf course

Nicole Buffie 4 minute read Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

The City of Winnipeg’s public service has recommended the city overtake operations at St. Vital’s Canoe Club golf course after terminating its current lease.

A report to be presented to the property and development committee next week also calls for the city to hire four full-time equivalent and eight seasonal staff for the 2025 golf season.

While the St. Vital golf course land is owned by the city, it is leased to B.S.E. Limited, which operates the nine-hole course at 50 Dunkirk Dr.

The report says Winnipeg Golf Services is “concerned about the current state and future direction of the operation as the condition of the golf course and service level being offered to the public has rapidly declined.”

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Friday, Jan. 31, 2025

BORIS MINKEVICH/ FREE PRESS FILES
The Canoe Club golf course, a nine-hole course at 50 Dunkirk Dr., is operated by B.S.E. Limited.

PGA Tour 2K25 cover features Homa, Fitzpatrick, Woods

The Associated Press 2 minute read Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

The cover of PGA Tour 2K25 will feature Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick and Tiger Woods, 2K announced Monday.

The three golfers are on the cover of the game's standard and deluxe editions together. Woods alone is on the legend edition.

Homa is making his franchise debut in the game, which typically features some of the Tour's top golfers as well as LPGA Tour golfers.

A release date for the game has not been announced. Its last installment, PGA Tour 2K23, hit the market three years ago in October.

Nick Taylor comes through in the clutch. Now he wants more chances to be there

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press 5 minute read Monday, Jan. 13, 2025

HONOLULU (AP) — Nick Taylor never looked more clutch than when he birdied the 18th hole three times in the WM Phoenix Open, first to force a playoff and the last to win it.

And then he went 23 starts over 11 months without a top 10.

Who can forget that 70-foot eagle putt to win the Canadian Open before a delirious home crowd? During the next seven months and 12 tournaments, he had only one top 10.

The trade-off for the 36-year-old Canadian are the trophies — one in each of the last three years and five overall.

Indoor golf breaks out of box

Gabrielle Piché 6 minute read Preview

Indoor golf breaks out of box

Gabrielle Piché 6 minute read Friday, Jan. 3, 2025

Winnipeg’s largest golf simulator hub is opening a second — albeit smaller — location next month.

The St. Vital site will add to an increasing network of golf simulators throughout the province — in new businesses, established golf courses, basements, garages, apartment complexes and office towers.

But before Golf Square plants roots at 200 Meadowood Dr., a high-tech indoor league led by two of golf’s biggest names, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, is set to be televised from Florida.

“It’s a perfect example of how big the simulator world is right now,” said Brian Munz, Golf Manitoba communications director.

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Friday, Jan. 3, 2025

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