The province’s top amateur golfers are at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club this weekend competing in the Elmhurst Invitational Amateur Championship.
The 36 hole event teed off yesterday and will conclude tonight with the crowning of a junior girls, junior boys and men’s division champion.
Entering today’s final round:
Junior Girls: Addison Kartusch +2, 75 (Team Manitoba / St. Charles Country Club) has a five stroke lead on Crystal Zamzow +7, 80 (Team Manitoba / Swan River Golf & Country Club).
Junior Boys: Grady Chuback -2, 69 (Team Manitoba / St. Charles) has a five stroke lead on Terence Rafferty +3, 74 (Team Manitoba / Southwood Golf & Country Club)
Men’s: Ryan McMillan -5, 66 (Elmhurst) has a three stroke lead on Jack Werhun (Elmhurst), Marco Trstenjak (Elmhurst), Neel Soni (St. Charles) and Grady Chuback (Team Manitoba / St. Charles) -2, 69.
Congratulations to Taylormade Canada’s Eric Johnson (Breezy Bend Country Club) on a hole in one during his opening round acing the 11th hole.
As previously announced in February, this year’s championship will see the addition of Golf Manitoba’s top junior boys and girls players to the field. Thanks to the generous contributions of the Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation and in partnership with the Elmhurst Golf & Country and Golf Manitoba, the winners of each division in the 2023 event receive a spot in the respective Golf Canada Canadian Junior Championship along with financial travel support.
“I am thrilled to see this opportunity presented to our junior players” said Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk. “The Alex & Peggy Colonello Foundation has been such a tremendous partner in helping us to grow our junior programming and this is another example of their dedication to junior golf in Manitoba. I also want to thank the membership of the Elmhurst Golf & Country Club for their support of player development in our province in adding a junior division to this great event.”
“We are delighted as a club to be able to carry on the Colonello name and its legacy of supporting junior golf,” added Elmhurst Golf & Country Club Director of Golf Operations Dave McMillan. “Alex and Peggy were both honorary life members of Elmhurst and did so much for the club and continue to give back to Manitoba Golf through their foundation. We are happy to be able to affiliate The Elmhurst Invitational with Alex and Peggy’s vision of providing opportunities for junior golfers at their long-time golf home. I want to thank Golf Manitoba’s Jared Ladobruk for their partnership, supporting the event through the years, and moving ahead with this new initiative. Special thanks to the members of Elmhurst, long-time member and former champion John Multan and Head Professional Matt Lorenz for keeping the event alive and well. We look forward to celebrating the event’s rich tradition and adding the Colonello foundation’s support will only enhance the event for years to come.”
Once again this year, an exemption will be available to either the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship or the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion for the winner in this year’s men’s field. Invitation criteria will be adjusted and subject to the approval of the tournament committee as well as Golf Manitoba being able to accommodate the junior players on the field.
Founded in 2003 by long-time Elmhurst member John Multan, the Elmhurst Invitational Amateur Championship has become one of the highest regarded amateur events held in the province outside of the Golf Manitoba championship calendar. The field is continually one of the strongest of the year with most of the province’s top players taking part.
Past champions include the likes of the DP World Tour’s Aaron Cockerill, along with past Manitoba Men’s Amateur Champions Garth Collings, Derek East, Todd Fanning, Matt Johnston, Brad Kirton, Justin McDonald, Peter More and Marco Trstenjak.