The 89th playing of the Alberta Open gets underway on Monday and it promises to be a special one, as the event boasts a new look in 2025.

The Alberta Open has always brought together the best male amateurs and professionals in the province as they competed for the title. In 2025, the Open will now have a Women’s Division, providing the top female amateurs and professionals in the province a chance to compete against one another. The professionals will be competing for a $5,000 total purse. Katy Rutherford is one of the favourites in the female division and after an impressive amateur career the Silver Springs teaching professional won the 2023 PGA of Canada female Professional of the Year award and looks to continue her success. On the other side of things, there are plenty of amateurs who look like they’re primed to win the inaugural event. Sydney Bisgrove, who most recently battled Carys Code in the final group at the Alberta Women’s Amateur will likely be in the mix come the final day. The amateur division will be competing for the Low Amateur title which includes an exemption into the 2026 PNGA Women’s Amateur, which is part of the Elite Amateur Series.

On the Men’s side, the professional division is full of top level talent from teaching professionals to touring professionals. Wes Heffernan continues his chase of history as he is only two Alberta Open wins back from tying Stan Leonard’s record setting nine Open titles. Max Sekulic is back for the week after spending a year playing in PGA Americas events and looks to claim the title again after winning in 2023. The professional division is competing for a $35,000 total purse, while the amateurs will be competing for a spot on the 2026 Morse Cup Team, which is a chance to play in the Pacific Coast Amateur. The amateur division is full of past champions in the event like Brandon Markiw and Jesse Galvon, as well as the red hot Lucas Ortega who won the Calgary City Amateur this past Sunday.

The host club for the new look Alberta Open is River Spirit Golf Club outside Calgary. After hosting a successful Women’s Amateur in 2024, the ‘Spirit’ is primed to host again. Click the button below to hear from defending champion, Wes Heffernan, and the 89th Alberta Open Championship, straight from the Alberta Golf Yearbook.

89th Alberta Open Yearbook Article

Click the button below to find view the pairings for Rounds 1 & 2 and star them on the leaderboard to keep track of them throughout the week!

Round 1 & 2 Pairings

It’s that time of year again, as the Alberta-Montana Ryder Cup is slated to start August 4th at the Magrath Golf Club! Team Alberta looks to defend it’s two titles from last season, as 2024 saw both the Boys’ Championship and the Girls’ Championship come back across the border, after only winning the Girls’ Championship in 2023.

Event History & Objective

The Alberta vs Montana Junior Ryder Cup was established in 1992 as an annual event between top male and female juniors representing Alberta and Montana respectively. The cross-border battle has a rich history of talented players who step into the Ryder Cup format and thrive, leading to successful collegiate and amateur golf careers. 

The objective of the Ryder Cup is to provide a high-level competition to top junior players through a unique competitive experience while also providing game development opportunities to all competitors. 

Eligibility & Divisions

Players in the U19 category (18 years and younger) are eligible to compete. 

Teams will consist of 6 junior boys and 6 junior girls in the following age divisions; U15, U17, U19

Format

Teams compete within their age divisions to ensure fairness and enjoyment amongst players. The event takes place across three days, Day 1 consists of practice rounds and a player banquet. Day 2 consists of 36-holes, with a Four-Ball session in the morning and an Alternate Shot session in the afternoon. The final day is the Singles Matches and the crowning of our champions.

Scoring

Each 18-hole match will be broken down into two (2) separate 9-hole matches with the first match beginning on hole 1 and the second match beginning on hole 10. The first match will be completed after 9-holes, or less, and when it is completed, it will be deemed finished and the points will be awarded.  The second 9-hole match will begin on the 10^th hole and again, when completed will be deemed finished and points awarded.  

Each match will also reward a point for the overall 18-hole match where the front 9 match score continues onto the back 9, regardless of who ‘wins’ or ‘loses’ either of the 9-hole matches. 

During the competition there are 27 total points available for each the juniors’ boys and junior girls’ matches. The first team to 14 points is deemed champion of the event! If teams tie with 13.5 points, the current champions retain the trophy.

Follow along the action with links to the matches below!

BOys’ Ryder Cup Results

Girls Ryder Cup Results

Alberta Golf (Ponoka) – On a sunny and breezy day at the famed Old Course at Wolf Creek Golf Resort, Kevin Temple from Country Hills Golf Club shot a final round even par 70 to claim the championship by 3 strokes over defending champion David Schultz. A chip in birdie on the first hole by Temple and a clutch par on the 18th hole bookended a solid round with 2 birdies and 2 bogeys to claim the title.

Kevin Temple – 2025 Alberta Men’s Senior Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION KEVIN TEMPLE

The Alberta Interprovincial Team that will represent the province at nationals in September in Nova Scotia are Kevin Temple, David Schultz and Brian Laubman.

Brian Laubman, Kevin Temple and David Schultz

The Old Course at Wolf Creek Golf Resort is a renowned course in Alberta and thank you to General Manager Jim Boomer, Food and Beverage Manager Matt Burton and Superintendent Mike Stewart for being amazing hosts along with and all the volunteers who helped make this event possible.

Matt Burton, Jim Boomer and Assistant Pro Connor Ackroyd

We look forward to the 2026 Alberta Men’s Senior Championship at Trestle Creek Golf Resort and 2027 at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort.

Players at the 2025 Alberta Men’s Senior Championship are excited to be taking on a familiar foe, the Old Course at Wolf Creek. The championship will run from July 29-31 at ‘The Wolf’.

The Men’s Senior Championship is one of Alberta Golf’s most competitive events with three regional qualifiers taking place in the spring every year. With over 200 players trying to qualify each year, a position in the field is coveted amongst men that are aged 55 years or older as of the first day of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.

Up For Grabs

As always there’s a lot at stake this week, with top place being crowned as the Alberta Men’s Senior Champion and a number of quota spots for the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. Additionally, what most players likely have their sights set on is one of the three Interprovincial Team spots. The Men’s Senior Interprovincial Team has historically been one of the best performing teams in the last twenty years with nine championship wins including six of the last seven and four additional podium finishes.

Click the link below to hear from members of past Interprovincial Teams and what the team aspect means to them and the culture of golf in our province.

Friends Before Foes: THe Culture of the Men’s Senior Championship

In The Field

Looking at the list of potential winners for this year’s event, it’s tough to ignore the long list of past champions; Frank Kilgore, Senan Foley, James Varnam, Howard Broun, Grant Oh, Kelly Risling, and many more. At the top of this list would be David Schultz, who is the defending champion this year. Schultz had impressive finishes at the Men’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur this spring. Brian Laubman is another name that has been at the top of a lot of leaderboards this season and plenty of others in the past, he will certainly be a player to watch this week. Host club exemption Leon Sulzle will also be looking for a way to navigate his home course towards a victory.

The long-time past home of the Alberta Open, Wolf Creek promises to crown a great champion and another formidable Interprovincial Team. Click the link below to learn more about ‘The Wolf’ and hear from the defending champion in the 2025 Alberta Golf Yearbook.

2025 Men’s Senior Yearbook Article

Click below to find your favourite player’s tee time and make sure to star them on the Golf Genius leaderboard!

2025 Men’s Senior Tournament Results

2025 Men’s Senior Round 1 & 2 Pairings

Alberta Golf (High River) – After the 2nd round of the 2025 Alberta Women’s Senior Championship was rained out on Tuesday, sunny skies for the final round in the rain shortened event at Highwood Golf. Daniela Pacheco from Mickelson National Golf Club fired a final round 1-under 71 for a 5 stroke victory over Jackie Little. Pacheco, playing in only her 2nd ever Alberta Golf event had 2 bogeys in her first 5 holes but had 3 birdies the rest of the way including an impressive birdie on 18 to cap off the win.

Daniela Pacheco – 2025 Alberta Women’s Senior Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION DANIELA PACHECO

Tournament runner up and 2025 Alberta Golf Hall of Fame inductee Jackie Little posted rounds of 75-77 to win the Super Senior Championship for competitors over 65 years of age.

Jackie Little – 2025 Alberta Super Senior Champion

Ena Spalding is the 2025 Alberta Diamond Division Champion for competitors over 70 years of age.

Ena Spalding – 2025 Alberta Diamond Division Champion

The Alberta Interprovincial Team that will represent the province at the 2025 Canadian Women Senior’s Championship consists of Daniela Pacheco, Gisselle Willimus and Lynn Kuehn.

Lynn Kuehn, Daniela Pacheco and Gisselle Willimus

At the prize presentation the entire field had high praise for Superintendent Troy Hurl and his staff for getting the course tournament ready for the final round after Tuesday’s heavy rain. Thanks to General Manager J.D. Scheller, Head Professional Dan Warwaruk, Food and Beverage Manager Crista Watt and all the Highwood Golf volunteers for all they did to create a great championship.

Highwood Golf Head Professional Dan Warwaruk

As the summer continues to roll on, so does the Alberta Golf Championship schedule. Up next, the 2025 Alberta Women’s Senior Championship, July 21-23. The championship returns to a course that’s very familiar to competitive players in Alberta, as Highwood Golf will host the event in 2025.

Highwood is a familiar course to many players in Alberta, as it’s been a terrific host for a variety of championships. Last year, Highwood hosted the Men’s Senior Championship where we saw David Schultz win the championship. In previous years Highwood has hosted the U19 Championships and the Women’s Amateur making it no stranger to hosting a provincial championship.

For the Women’s Senior Championship there’s a lot up for grabs this week. Players will be competing for the Women’s Senior, Super Senior, and Diamond Division Championships. There are also national championship quota spots up for grabs and the coveted Women’s Senior Interprovincial Team has three spots up for grabs.

As for potential winners this week, there are a lot of players to watch. Celina Lam, the defending champion, is on the cusp of history with the chance to win three straight Women’s Senior Championships. The other two members from last year’s interprovincial team, Lisa Hall & Lynn Kuehn, are also in the field and will be on the hunt this week. The championship also marks the return of Kim Carrington, a long time competitor in Alberta who has been sidelined for injury in recent years. Jackie Little will defend her Super Senior title from last year and has the chance to claim the 2025 Women’s Senior title in the same year that will see her get inducted into the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame.

For the full event preview and hear from the defending champions, click the button below for the 2025 Women’s Senior Championship Yearbook Article written by Gord Montgomery.

2025 Women’s Senior Championship Preview

For Round 1 & Round 2 pairings, click the button below to find and star your favourites for the event this week!

Women’s Senior Pairings

Alberta Golf (Sundre) – A day that started in driving rain ended in glorious sunshine at Sundre Golf Club as Neil Thomas defended his Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur title. Thomas started the day with a 2-shot lead and by the 15th tee had built the lead to 4. A bad break on his 2nd shot into the par 5 15th hole landed him behind a tree and his punch out led to bogey. The cushion came in handy, despite a couple more bogeys coming in, Thomas’s even par round of 72 was good for a one stroke win over Alex Cartwright and Mike Valk and defended the title he won in Barrhead last season.

Neil Thomas – 2025 Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION NEIL THOMAS

The Alberta Interprovincial team that will represent Alberta at the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship in mid-August in Vancouver are Neil Thomas, Mike Valk and Alex Cartwright.

Alex Cartwright, Neil Thomas and Mike Valk

Thank you to Head Professional Scott Shouldice, Associate Professional Leighton Bearchell, Food and Beverage Manager Mike Gallagher and Superintendent Chad Kossowan along with the all the volunteers who made this a memorable championship.

EDMONTON, Alta. – Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) announced today that the historic Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, Alta. will host the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open.

The 2026 CPKC Women’s Open in Edmonton will be held on August 17-23, 2026, the 52^nd playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

The 2026 tournament marks the return of the National Women’s Open to Royal Mayfair for the third time and first since LPGA Tour star and three-time CPKC Women’s Open champion Lydia Ko won the 2013 event at Royal Mayfair as a 15-year-old amateur. Ko won back-to-back events as an amateur in 2012 and 2013 and would go on to win her third Canadian title in 2015. Royal Mayfair also hosted the championship in 2007, an event won by LPGA Tour legend Lorena Ochoa.

The 2026 CPKC Women’s Open will mark the eighth time that Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has been contested in the province of Alberta.

“In partnership with CPKC, we are very pleased to confirm that the CPKC Women’s Open will return to the Royal Mayfair Golf Club in 2026,” said Golf Canada Chief Operating Officer Garrett Ball. “Edmonton is a passionate golf community and Royal Mayfair is an outstanding venue to challenge the world’s best players. We extend our thanks to the membership and staff at Royal Mayfair as well as the City of Edmonton who will once again prove to be fabulous hosts for our National Women’s Open Championship.”

The CPKC Women’s Open through the CPKC Has Heart program will once again leave a meaningful legacy in the host community of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. Since 2014, CPKC has raised more than C$23 million for pediatric heart health in the communities that have hosted the CPKC Women’s Open through the company’s tournament sponsorship and the CPKC Has Heart program. 

“We are very excited to bring the CPKC Women’s Open back to Edmonton and once again back to our home province of Alberta,” said CPKC President and CEO Keith Creel. “For more than a decade, this tournament, through our CPKC has Heart community investment program, has helped build stronger communities across Canada by investing in the heart health of our young people. We look forward to continuing that legacy next summer in Edmonton.”

The CPKC Has Heart community partner will be announced in early 2026.

For more than a century, Royal Mayfair has been recognized as one of Western Canada’s premier golf facilities. Shaped by legends such as Stanley Thompson and Les Furber as well as a Doug Carrick renovation in recent years, the club is consistently ranked within the ScoreGolf Top 100. The club celebrated its centennial in 2022 and is one of 17 clubs to have hosted both the Women’s and Men’s National Open Championship. In 2023, Royal Mayfair completed an extensive clubhouse renovation with modern amenities for a premier member and championship experience.

“On behalf of the Board of Governors along with our membership, management and staff, we are thrilled to be named host of the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open,” said Royal Mayfair Golf Club President Daniel Kickham. “We look forward to once again welcoming the many golf enthusiasts from within our city, surrounding communities and across the province to one of Canada’s premier sporting events. We are equally excited about partnering with CPKC and Golf Canada in raising critical funds for local children’s charities.”

The Board of Royal Mayfair has also appointed longtime Edmontonians and Royal Mayfair members, Marilyn Cox and Don McGarvey as Host Club Tournament Co-Chairs.

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events and a signature stop on the LPGA Tour, the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open was named Sport Tourism Canada’s International Sport Event of the Year at the 2025 Sport Tourism Canada PRESTIGE Awards. The CPKC Women’s Open also earned the LPGA Tour’s Tournament of the Year award in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023.

“Edmonton boasts a rich legacy of exceptional women’s sporting events, teams, and heroes across various sports, and we are thrilled to welcome the world’s finest women’s golfers back to Alberta’s capital city,” says Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “This event not only highlights our passion for sports but also inspires the next generation of athletes in our city while bringing our community together.”

“Explore Edmonton is thrilled to welcome the world’s top golfers to our city to compete in the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open,” said Traci Bednard, President and CEO of Explore Edmonton. “This event further showcases our commitment to supporting women’s sport in our city. We are excited to host thousands of visitors from around the globe to experience the best of Edmonton next August and work with our valued partners to help maximize the impact of this incredible event.”

The 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will take place August 20-24, 2025, at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. MacKids, the arm of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation dedicated to fundraising for MacMaster Children’s Hospital, has been selected as host charity for this year’s event with Trillium Health Partners serving as a community beneficiary.

For information about tickets, volunteer opportunities or corporate hospitality, please visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com.

The 2025 Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship is up for grabs and this season Sundre Golf Club will play host July 15-17 to one of the most popular events in the Alberta Golf Calendar.

This event has one championship up for grabs, the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, which is for players aged 25+ as of the Canadian Men’s MId-Amateur Championship. The event began in 1986 with Hall of Fame Player, Ken Tamke, winning the first event. Since it’s beginning it has become a popular event for the males in the province. The list of winners includes Men’s Amateur winners, Men’s Senior winners, and even Alberta Open winners. There is also an interprovincial team that players are trying to play their way onto, and national quota spots up for grabs.

This year there are plenty of players to watch like past winners Jesse Galvon and Brandon Markiw. There are also past Mid-Master and Men’s Senior winners like Shiro Mani, Grant Oh, and David Schultz. Senan Foley shot a 66 in qualifying and will surely be in the hunt as well. Mike Valk is in great form coming into the event after securing a top finish at the Men’s Amateur Championship and will likely be in the mix again this year.

Click below to hear from the defending champion, Neil Thomas, who will try to defend his title this year and learn more about Sundre Golf Club and the challenges it will present players.

2025 Yearbook Article – Men’s Mid-Amateur

Click the button below to see the pairings for Rounds 1 & 2 and star your players to watch!

Men’s Mid-Amateur Pairings

Alberta Golf (Water Valley) – 2 weather delays, a course record and a playoff that wrapped up with the sun setting defined a memorable day at Water Valley Golf Club at the 2025 Alberta U19 Championships. Saylar May from Pine Hills Golf Club added to her previous U15 & U17 victories with a fantastic course record of 6-under 66 to add the U19 title to her trophy case. The Pine Hills golfer from Rocky Mountain House blistered the course with 7 birdies and a bogey for the course record and an 8-shot victory.

Saylar May – 2025 U19 Girls Champion – Course Record 66

On the boys side Jalen Apedoe made a great up and down on 18 to force a playoff with Tobias Buffam. In the playoff Buffam was blocked out on his second shot and could only get it to 88 yards with Apedoe was on the green in 2 25 feet away. Buffam, with staff from his Valley Ridge Golf Club cheering him on, made the up and down of his life while Apedoe was not able to 2-putt and Buffam claimed the title after a 3-under 69 and a par on the first playoff hole.

Tobias Buffam – 2025 U19 Boys Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH SAYLAR MAY AND TOBIAS BUFFAM

The Alberta Interprovincial Boys Team consists of Jalen Apedoe, Russell Quinn and Owen Bruins while the Alberta Interprovincial Girls Team consists of Saylar May, Sela Ogada and Alessandra Sundquist.

Saylar May & Sela Ogada (Alessandra Sundquist not in photo)

Jalen Apedoe, Russell Quinn and Owen Bruins

Water Valley Golf Club was a great host for the Alberta U19 Championship. Owner Jeremy Dueck spoke at the prize presentation and the first person he thanked was Superintendent Ross Parsons who had the course in sublime shape. Thanks to Office Manager Shannon Sherriff, Head Professional Wes McLeod, Co-Owner Pat Thomas and all the Volunteers who made this week a great success.

READ HERE PAGE 22 OF OUR YEARBOOK FOR A FULL STORY ON WATER VALLEY GOLF CLUB

Water Valley Golf Club Owner Jeremy Dueck with Saylar May

Water Valley Golf Club Owner Jeremy Dueck with Tobais Buffam