Whitewater Golf Club Director of Golf & PGA of Canada Head Professional Matt Simmons talks with Golf Manitoba Director of Communications & Development Brian Munz during the NextGen Prairie Championship in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

For the second round tee times, click here.
For the second round leaderboard, click here. 

Team Manitoba‘s Kaleb Lambert of Elmhurst Golf & Country talks with Golf Manitoba Director of Communications & Development Brian Munz as the opening round of the NextGen Prairie Championship continues at Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

For the opening round tee times, click here.
For the opening round leaderboard, click here. 

Manitoba will have strong representation starting Friday morning at 7:30am as the NextGen Prairie Championship begins with a field of 84 Junior golfers set to compete at the Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  

The starting field will feature – 64 Junior Boys and 20 Junior Girls competing for spots each into their respective Canadian Junior Championships this summer. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 53 Junior Boys and top 17 Junior Girls, including ties. 

Representing Manitoba are:

Adam Blair (Team Manitoba / Pine Ridge), Aris Mercury (Team Manitoba / Glendale), Brady Comaskey (Team Manitoba / Pine Ridge), Brayden Boge (Team Manitoba / Rossmere), Carson Chapman (Glendale), Carson Inman (Team Manitoba / Breezy Bend / Portage), Emerson Kollinger (Glendale), Finn Kydd (St. Charles), Gavin Carver (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Player), Hunter Oakden (Team Manitoba / Glendale), Jackson Delaurier (Team Manitoba / Dauphin Lake), Jacob Taweel (Elmhurst), Jeri Lafleche (Niakwa), Jewel Lafleche (Niakwa), Kaleb Lambert (Team Manitoba / Elmhurst), Liam Comaskey (Team Manitoba / Pine Ridge), Luka Hanson (Rossmere), Maisy Shewchuk (Team Manitoba / Golf Manitoba Public Player), Owen Conrad (Team Manitoba / St. Charles), Payne Wood (Team Manitoba / St. Boniface), Payton Bailey (Wheat City), Payton Oakden (Team Manitoba / Glendale), Ryan Tuck (St. Boniface), Spence Mott (Team Manitoba / Shilo), Terence Rafferty (Team Manitoba / Southwood), Ty Brewster (Team Manitoba / Steinbach Fly-In).

For the opening round tee times, click here.
For the opening round leaderboard, click here. 

“Hosting the Golf Canada NextGen Prairie Championship is a tremendous honour for Whitewater Golf Club and for the Thunder Bay community. This event not only showcases the talent and dedication of junior golfers from across the country but also highlights the exceptional quality of our course and the natural beauty of Northwestern Ontario,” states Director of Whitewater Golf Club, Matt Simmons. “We are excited to welcome these young athletes and provide them with a challenging and memorable experience & it’s an opportunity for our club to contribute to the growth of the game, support the next generation of golfing stars, and proudly represent our region on a national stage.” 

Practice rounds are scheduled for Thursday, June 6 before the official 54-hole tournament kicks off on Friday, June 7. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, June 9 and will determine who has qualified to compete in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.  

The Whitewater Golf Club stretches north from the banks of the Kaministiquia River and is known for its two McBroom designed courses – the Forest and River – which is one of the finest 18- hole golf courses in the province.  The golf course features a chipping, putting green and a 400-yard driving range, allowing all golfers to enjoy various aspects of the game. Off course additions are continuing to be developed with a planned community of 500 homes, a resort hotel, community amenities and new recreational activities.  

“We really look forward to hosting the 2024 NextGen Prairie Championship this week. Our team of Volunteers in place strive to run an efficient and quality NextGen Championship and we certainly can’t thank you enough for travelling to Thunder Bay,” said NextGen Prairie Tournament Host Chairman, Chris Gardner. “On a deeper level, this has been a long time coming for our community and we celebrate it with respect and gratitude. We really want to show you our Northern Touch with great hospitality and genuineness at its finest. To all the competitors, I wish you so much luck but most of all I wish you great memories to take away from this Championship. Play hard and go get it.” 

This week’s tournament marks the fourth stop on the NextGen Series schedule for the 2024 golf season. The NextGen Prairie Championship is one of Golf Canada’s six regional junior championships. Kye Fisher of Leduc, Alta. and Cala Korman of Killarney, Man. claimed their respective divisions in the 2023 NextGen Prairie Championship last season. 

About the NextGen Championships 

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six 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 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf 

– with files courtesy Golf Canada

Team Manitoba member Addison Kartusch of St. Charles Country Club, Rob Oliphant of Rossmere Country Club and Elmhurst Golf & Country Club’s Marco Trstenjak opened the 2024 Golf Manitoba Championship season on a winning note Sunday in the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre at Breezy Bend Country Club.

Kartusch earned a 6&5 victory over Jeri Lafleche of Niakwa Country Club winning the Women’s title for the second straight year and third time in the past four years.

For the Women’s division Manitoba Blue Cross bracket, click here.

For the second time in three years, Oliphant is the Senior Men’s champion following a 2&1 victory Niakwa’s Jay Doyle.

For the Senior Men’s division Manitoba Blue Cross bracket, click here.

Trstenjak is also a two time winner. The 2022 champion was 4-under par through the opening five holes going on to beat Thomas Scott of Dauphin Lake Golf Club 4&3 to win the Men’s title.

For Men’s division Manitoba Blue Cross bracket, click here.

Golf Manitoba would like to thank our title partner St. Vital Dental Centre and Dr. Terry James for their continued support of the Match Play Championship.

We would like to acknowledge our Official Performance Partners:

Manitoba Blue Cross

PUMA GOLF – Ryan Sommerfeld, Territory Manager

Taylormade Canada – Eric Johnson, Sales & Marketing Territory Manager

We appreciate the time and effort of the host club, Breezy Bend Country Club led by General Manager Cory Johnson, PGA of Manitoba Head Professional Kris Ehnes, Superintendent Craig McLeod, Director of Food and Beverage Services Jennifer McArthur, 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.

Six days of competition comes to an end Sunday morning at Breezy Bend Country Club as the Finals are set in the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

In the Senior Men’s division championship, #1 seed Rob Oliphant of Rossmere Country Club tees off at 8:00 against Niakwa Country Club’s Jay Doyle who entered this week as the third seed.

For the Senior Men’s division Manitoba Blue Cross bracket, click here.

In the Men’s division championship at 8:07, #1 seed Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club plays #7 seed Thomas Scott of Dauphin Lake Golf Club.

For Men’s division Manitoba Blue Cross bracket, click here.

In the Women’s division championship at 8:15, it’s #1 seed Addison Kartusch, a Team Manitoba member from St. Charles Country Club, versus #3 seed Jeri Lafleche of Niakwa.

For the Women’s division Manitoba Blue Cross bracket, click here.

The final four competitors in each of the Senior Men’s, Men’s and Women’s division have been determined and will tee off starting at 1:30 Saturday afternoon at Breezy Bend Country Club in the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre.

In the Senior Men’s division, #1 seed Rob Oliphant of Rossmere Country Club takes on #5 seed Ken Warwick of Niakwa Country club while defending champion Blair Neal, the #2 seed from Rossmere, will play Niakwa’s Jay Doyle who entered this week as the third seed.

For the Senior Men’s division Manitoba Blue Cross bracket, click here.

In the Men’s division, top seed Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club tangles with #5 seed Evan Nachtigall of Shilo Country Club while a pair of players from Dauphin Lake Country Club will meet as #7 Thomas Scott goes up against #11 Eric Prokopowich.

For Men’s division Manitoba Blue Cross bracket, click here.

All four of the top seeds advanced in the Women’s division. Team Manitoba’s Addison Kartusch of St. Charles Country Club plays #4 seed Cala Korman while it’s #2 seed Charmaine Hayden of the host course versus #3 seed Jeri Lafleche of Niakwa.

For the Women’s division Manitoba Blue Cross bracket, click here.

Braxton Kuntz of Breezy Bend Country Club will tee off Monday at Cherry Hill Golf Club in Ridgeway, Ontario looking to earn a spot in the 2024 U.S. Open.

Kuntz will play 36 holes on the 7,067 yard par 72 course.

For more details, click here.

The final 8 competitors in each of the Senior Men’s, Men’s and Women’s division are in the quarterfinals today at Breezy Bend Country Club as the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre continues.

For the Senior Men’s division live scoring, click here.

For Men’s division live scoring, click here.

For the Women’s division live scoring, click here.

Three of the top five seeds advanced to the quarterfinals in the Men’s division of the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre at Breezy Bend Country Club.

#1 seed Marco Trstenjak of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club won 2up over Justin McDonald of the host course, #4 seed Adam Ingram of Elmhurst Golf & Country Club eliminated Connor Stewart of Niakwa Country Club 5&4 while Shilo Country Club’s Evan Nachtigall beat Niakwa’s Jesse Miller 7&6.

Failing to advance were #2 seed Grady Chuback of St. Charles Country Club and #3 Terence Rafferty of Southwood Golf & Country Club. Elmhurst’s Kaleb Lambert knocked out Chuback 2&1 while Rafferty fell 5&3 to Trent Robertson of Niakwa.

Thursday is a day off for competition.

Action resumes Friday afternoon with the quarter finals in all three divisions.

For the Senior Men’s division starting at 3:00, click here.

For the Men’s division brackets starting at 3:15, click here.

For the Women’s division bracket starting at 3:30, click here.

16 competitors look to advance into the quarterfinals at Breezy Bend Country Club this afternoon as the Match Play Championship presented by St. Vital Dental Centre continues.

For live scoring, click here.