It is with profound sadness to have learned of the passing of Jim Collins, the beloved golf professional at St. Charles Country Club for 37 remarkable years. Jim passed away the evening of September 10th, at the age of 86 years.
Jim became the Head professional at St. Charles in 1961 and retired in 1997. For nearly four decades Jim dedicated his life to St. Charles. Teaching, coaching, operating the Pro Shop and most of all, making the members at St. Charles feel special each and every day. His unwavering commitment to the Club, coupled with his kindness, patience, and infectious love for the game, made an indelible impact on everyone fortunate enough to know him.
Throughout his career, Jim has been a 3-time winner of the Manitoba Zone Championship (’65, ’77, ’78), a 5-time winner of the Manitoba Zone Seniors’ Championship (’89, ’90, ’91, ’94, ’00), and in 1980 Jim was the PGA Club Professional Champion of Canada.
Internationally, Jim has won 8 other Championships including the Bermuda Beefeater Championship, the Royal Oak Seniors Championship, and the Lake Nona Senior Invitational Championship.
In 1985, Jim was selected as a Rules Instructor and Member of the Golf Canada (formerly RCGA) Rules Advisory Committee. Jim was recognized and inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame in 2007 and the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame in 2019.
Jim remained a fixture at the Club as he was awarded an honorary membership at St. Charles upon his retirement and active at the Club until his passing. He remained passionate about St. Charles and the game of golf, shooting his age too many times to count.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jim’s wife Lucette, sons Glenn and James, and their families during this difficult time.
Fanning finishes T9 at Canadian Men’s Senior Championship
Brian Munz
For the third time in four rounds, Todd Fanning (Niakwa Country Club) shot a 1-under par 71 to conclude the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO at Saugeen Golf Club in Saugeen Shores, Ontario.
Fanning’s round on Sunday featured four birdies and 11 pars along with three bogeys. At even par 288, his 72 hole tournament total is good for a three way tie for ninth place on the leaderboard.
Jay Doyle (Niakwa) finished T58 following a final round 80 while Ron Cornell (Clear Lake Golf Course) shot an 84 to end play T68.
Polanski leads University of Manitoba Bisons in Minnesota
Brian Munz
Tyler Polanski shot rounds of 77 and 74 to finish T20 on the leaderboard and was the University of Manitoba Bisons highest finishing competitor at the Saint John’s University Fall Invitational.
The 36 hole tournament was played at St. Cloud Country Club and Blackberry Ridge Golf Club.
WATCH | Team Manitoba’s Payne Wood hits 292 yard Hole-in-One at St. Boniface Golf Club
Brian Munz
For the second time in St. Boniface Golf Club history, a Hole-in-One has been recorded on a par 4.
Following in the footsteps of David Borowski (Breezy Bend Country Club), who aced the 330 yard 15th hole in 2006, Team Manitoba member Payne Wood recently made a Hole-in-One on the 292 yard 2nd hole.
Fanning continues to lead Manitobans at Canadian Men’s Senior Championship
Brian Munz
Todd Fanning (Niakwa Country Club) shot a 1-under par 71 during Saturday’s third round of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO at Saugeen Golf Club in Saugeen Shores, Ontario to maintain his spot as the top Manitoban entering Sunday’s final round.
At 1-over par 217 through 54 holes, Fanning is T9 on the leaderboard.
Ron Cornell (Clear Lake Golf Course) and Jay Doyle (Niakwa) are T44 at 12-over par. Cornell shot a 76 Saturday while Doyle had a 74.
Fanning, Cornell & Doyle make the cut at Canadian Men’s Senior Championship
Brian Munz
Todd Fanning and Jay Doyle (Niakwa Country Club) along with Ron Cornell (Clear Lake Golf Course) have made the cut and will play into the weekend at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO at Saugeen Golf Club in Saugeen Shores, Ontario.
Fanning is T12 on the leaderboard at 2-over par through 36 holes following a 3-over par 75 in his second round.
Cornell and Doyle each carded a 5-over par 77 Friday. Cornell sits T44 at 8-over par while Doyle is T66 at 10-over par.
Fanning leads Manitoba to open Canadian Men’s Senior Championship
Brian Munz
Todd Fanning (Niakwa Country Club) was one of only nine players in the 156 person field to shoot under par in the opening round of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO at Saugeen Golf Club in Saugeen Shores, Ontario.
Fanning’s 1-under par 71 (one birdie and 17 pars) currently places him T6 on the leaderboard, just three strokes off the lead.
Walker is also competing in the Super Senior Championship, and currently sits T8, five strokes off the lead.
Team Manitoba (Fanning, Heinrichs, Moore) is sixth in the 36 hole Inter Provincial Team Championship at 7-over par. That’s eight strokes back of first place Team Ontario.
FINAL RESULTS | Canadian All Abilities Championship
Brian Munz
Kristian Hammerback (Southwood Golf & Country Club) shot a final round of 10-over par 81 to finish in ninth place at the Canadian All Abilities Championship at Timber Ridge Golf Course in Brighton, Ontario.
Hammerback’s three day total of 29-over par 242 (84-77-81) was Manitoba’s best performance.
7 Manitobans set to tee off at Canadian Men’s Senior Championship
The 2024 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO is set for September 12-15 with a field of 156 amateur golfers competing over four rounds at Saugeen Golf Club in Saugeen Shores, Ont.
The field competing for the John Rankin Memorial Trophy features five past winners including defending champion Doug Hanzel of Savannah, Ga., Darren Ritchie of St. John, N.B. (2021), Brady Exber of Las Vegas, Nev. (2018), Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga. (2015) and David Schultz of Calgary, Alta. (2013).
Along with the past champions, among those in the field are Dave Bunker of Ridgeway, Ont. who won the 2024 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship in July. Miles McConnell, a Canadian who now resides in Tampa, Fla. who has enjoyed a successful season having won the 2024 Gate Senior Invitational back in January and followed it up with three runner-up finishes and a third-place finish in tournaments throughout the season. Accomplished Australian golfer, Ken Brewer of Newcastle, Australia will also be heading to Saugeen Shores.
“We are very excited to welcome an incredible and talented field of golfers set to compete for our Canadian Men’s Senior Championship this week at Saugeen Golf Club,” said Daniel Suppa, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “The staff, volunteers, host committee along with the entire community have really gone to great lengths to ensure that those competing for our national championship are given an experience they won’t soon forget at Saugeen.”
Founded in 1925 by a group of local visionaries, Saugeen Golf Club stands as a testament to their vision and community spirit. Recognizing the growing popularity of golf, they established a premier golfing destination in Port Elgin and Southampton. Hiring renowned golf architect Stanley Thompson, they crafted the initial nine holes now known as Legacy with meticulous attention to detail, setting the stage for a Legacy of excellence.
Expanding their vision over the decades, first with the addition of the Sunset nine in 1956 and the Sunrise nine in 1996 solidified their reputation for exceptional golf and camaraderie for players of all levels. Next year, Saugeen Golf Club will celebrate its centennial anniversary as it celebrates the enduring legacy of their founders and guide their team into the next century with pride and a reverence for the past.
“Saugeen Golf Club is extremely proud to be hosting this prestigious national championship. The process began four long years ago, and we cannot be more exhilarated to display what our golf club and community has to offer,” said Brad Young, General Manager and COO, Saugeen Golf Club. “With playing conditions that rival any in our country, to the 200 plus volunteers that are donating their time, we’re confident that this weeklong event will set the precedence of national championships for years to come”
The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship was established in 1962 for golfers aged 55-and-over and includes a Super Senior division for golfers 65-and-over that was introduced in 1995. The national championship consists of 72 holes of stroke-play with a cut after 36 holes. The Super Senior Championship is contested concurrently over the four rounds of the championship. In addition, the Senior Inter-Provincial Team Championship was added in 1977 and runs concurrently through the first 36 holes of the tournament.
A trio of Canadian Golf Hall of Famers lead the way having won the most Canadian Men’s Senior Championships in tournament history including, Bob Wylie of Calgary, Alta. with seven (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995). Nick Weslock of Oakville, Ont. with six (1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983) and Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que. with four (2001, 2002, 2008 and 2009).
The champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, N.C.
