The top juniors in the province have their eyes on the prize this week, as we close in on the Alberta U19 Championship set at Water Valley Golf Club from July 8-10.

The U19 Championship is a full 140 players all competing for either the U19 Boys’ or U19 Girls’ Championship. The list of winners is long with plenty of names going on to win either the Men’s Amateur or Women’s Amateur, and even turning pro. This year with neither of the defending champions returning, two new juniors will be crowned as champions. In addition, there are national championship implications with quota spots available on both the Boys’ and Girls’ sides. There are also two interprovincial teams up for grabs, either for the Canadian Junior Boys or Canadian Junior Girls.

Some top players to watch are the champions from the 2024 U17, U15, & U13 Championship. On the girls side, Saylar May looks to continue her winning ways already claiming the 2023 U15 and 2025 U17 Championships. Sela Ogada looks to make a big step after winning the 2024 U15 Championship. On the Boys’ side, Patrick McLarty hopes to win this event after claiming the 2024 U17 Championship and Bennett Love is eyeing down his next junior prize after winning the 2024 U15 Championship.

Click below to hear from last year’s champions and read more about our 2025 host club, Water Valley Golf Club. Additionally, follow the bottom button to see the tee times for Rounds 1 & 2.

U19 Yearbook Preview

ROUNDS 1 & 2 Pairings

Alberta Golf (Leduc) – The 112th Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship was proudly hosted by the Leduc Golf and Country Club. Final round action on Friday saw Carys Code from The Glencoe Golf and Country Club post a 3-over par round of 74 with 4 bogeys and a birdie on a breezy day to fend off Sydney Bisgrove by a single stroke to claim the title.

Carys Code – 2025 Alberta Women’s Amateur Champion

WATCH INTERVIEW WITH CARYS CODE

Kassie Bourassa won both the Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the Alberta Women’s Mid-Master Championship.

Kassie Bourassa – 2025 Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur & Mid-Master Champion

2 Alberta teams were named after the championship. The Women’s Amateur Interprovincial Team consists of Sydney Bisgrove, Jayla Kucy & Sarah Armstrong while the Women’s Mid-Amateur Interprovincial Team consists of Kassie Bourassa, Heather Lee and Jenn Orcheski.

Jayla Kucy, Sydney Bisgrove & Sarah Armstrong (Not in photo)

Jenn Orcheski, Kassie Bourassa and Heather Lee

A big thank you to the Leduc Golf and Country Club General Manager Rick Brown and Head Professional Jeremy Beirnes for being amazing hosts this week. The volunteers, food and beverage, and course conditions were all outstanding.

Jeremy Beirnes – Leduc Golf and Country Club Head Professional

WATCH INTERVIEW WITH JEREMY BEIRNES

The Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship starts tomorrow at Leduc Golf Club and the 112th playing of this event promises to be a treat!

At the Alberta Women’s Amateur there’s more than just one trophy up for grabs, there’s three! The Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur and Women’s Mid-Master are also up for grabs, with competitors of the right age having a chance of walking away with multiple pieces of hardware. Also up for grabs this week are quota and interprovincial team spots for the Canadian Women’s Amateur and Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships. New in 2025, the winner of the Alberta Women’s Amateur will get an invite to compete in the 2026 PNGA Women’s Amateur, along with the Low Albertan at Nationals and the Low Amateur at the new Alberta Open Women’s Division.

This year a new champion will be crowned and the list of potential winners is lengthy. With young juniors climbing the ranks like Saylar May, the university players back from their years at school like Sydney Bisgrove and Jenna Bruggeman, and the veteran champions like Celina Lam.

Click the link below to read more about what Leduc has to offer the competitors this year and hear from the 2024 Champions.

Women’s Amateur Yearbook Preview

Alberta Golf (Lethbridge) – The final round of the 113th Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship was held Friday at the Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge. Defending champion Brett Jones from Calgary started the day with a 4-shot lead over Paxton Maxwell, Ryan Gillis and 2020 champion Michael Valk. On a windy day at Paradise Canyon, Jones turned in 3-under 33 with 4 birdies and a lone bogey to extend his lead to 5 strokes. On the par 3 12th hole the golfers only had 117 yards but faced 70 kmh gusts of wind and 1 in 3 competitors were even hitting the green. Jones pured one to 8 feet and even though he missed his birdie putt he went eagle-birdie-birdie over the next 3 holes and the tournament was over. In the end 18-year-old Brett Jones fired 8 birdies and an eagle with only 2 bogeys for a final round 63 and a 12 stroke victory finishing the tournament at 17 under par to defend his title. Jones is the first player since Riley Fleming in 2012 and 2013 to defend the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship.

“Sometimes everything gets clicking, putts go in, you’re in the fairway and you hit it close, and today was one of those days,” Jones admitted. “Ever since I won last year I wanted to defend well and to have my name beside a player like Riley Fleming, that’s a great accomplishment and I’m very happy to do that.”

Brett Jones – 2025 Alberta Men’s Amateur Champion

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION BRETT JONES

Ryan Gillis posted an even par round of 71 to finish runner up, while 2020 champion Michael Valk posted a 1-over par 72. Gillis, Valk and Jones make up the 2025 Alberta Willingdon Cup team and will represent Alberta at the 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in late July at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

Ryan Gillis, Brett Jones and Michael Valk

A thank you to the staff at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort for being such great hosts this week, the volunteer spirit from the membership was amazing and the course was in incredible shape. Head Professional Jae Maegaard, General Manager Matt Barkway, Owner Ron Sakamoto and Superintendant Kelly Thorson along with the food and beverage staff were amazing hosts.

Matt Barkway and Jae Maegaard

WATCH DRONE FOOTAGE OF PARADISE CANYON GOLF RESORT

The 114th Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship will be held in 2026 at the Fort McMurray Golf Club.

Alberta Golf (Lethbridge) – The 113^th Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship is being held this week at Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge. It’s the first time since 1993 that Paradise Canyon has been the host and the only player in the field to play in both events is 67-year-old David Schultz of Calgary. Schultz is the recent winner of the 2023 and 2024 Alberta Men’s Super Senior Championship and he also won the 2024 Alberta Men’s Senior Championship to qualify for this event. What did Schultz think when Paradise Canyon was announced as the host for this event in 2025?

“I wasn’t thinking too much until I won the Alberta Men’s Senior Championship and I got an exemption,” Schultz explained. “I thought why not, I’ll give it one last farewell tour and play with the kids and see what happens.”

Stepping on the property this week, and shooting a tidy 3-under par 68 in a practice round, Schultz didn’t think much had changed with the dramatic layout in the canyons.

“It was a beautiful place, we came down here in 1993 knowing it was a couple years old and it was great, a beautiful golf course. We had a lot of fun, a lot of good play that week,” Schultz explained. “I shot 70 on the final day to sneak into 2^nd place but no one was catching Darryl James who blew the field away that week and won by 7 strokes. To be the only player in the field coming back here after 32 years, I’m really enjoying it.”

In 1993 no one was catching Darryl James for the title, but there were 3 more spots on the Willingdon Cup for Team Alberta up for grabs. Schultz came 2^nd and made the team along with Keith Whitecotton. Home course player Jamie Freel outdueled the likes of Harold Pasechnik and 64-year-old legend Bob Wylie to make the team.

“Coming in 2^nd to make the Willingdon Cup team was a thrill,” Schultz said. “Myself, Darryl James, Keith Whitecotton and Jamie Freel went to Victoria and won the Willingdon Cup so it was a great year.”

David and his wife Karen will be celebrating their 40^th wedding anniversary this November. Karen is David’s caddie this week and almost every week the past 40 years except at Paradise Canyon in 1993 when their kids were very young.

“Oh it’s great to have that support, it’s good she still puts up with me, I’m not always the best on a golf course like any golfer,” Schultz admitted. “We’ve had a lot of good trips together, we’ve travelled the world, I’ve played so many tournaments and she’s always caddied so it’s been a lot of fun.”

Karen had a front row seat to David shooting an even par 71 in round 1 and says she always loves being the caddie and watching great golf.

“David’s 71 today was solid and outplaying some of the young kids? I think that’s fun and to be honest fairly normal,” Karen chuckled. “I like the ups and downs of it all, I think it’s just fun to watch, it’s exciting, I like watching all the good players play,”

 Jesse Galvon, Ryan Werre and David Schultz

Turns out Schultz is indeed hanging in with the kids just fine, shooting an opening round even par 71. An amazing story that can only be topped if he somehow shoots his age of 67 in round 2.

“It was solid, I made a couple good up and downs, had one lucky break on 18,” Schultz said. “Could have made a couple more putts, but overall pretty solid. The ball and the course don’t know how old I am.”

As for how Schultz’s game has changed over the past 32 years?

“I don’t hit it like the kids but I know where it’s going,” Schultz said. “I’m probably straighter now than I’ve ever been in my career which certainly helps, and I still have the competitive urge, it’s a lot of fun.”

WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH DAVID AND KAREN SCHULTZ

The 113th Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship gets underway tomorrow at Paradise Canyon Country Club. This is the first time Paradise Canyon has hosted the Men’s Amateur since 1993, a year after they opened.

This week there’s a lot at stake. The Men’s Amateur not only names the best male amateur golfer in the province, but has been used as a spring board for many players careers. The winner is named to the Morse Cup Interprovincial team for 2026 and competes at the Pacific Coast Amateur championship. There are also 18 quota spots available for the top finishers with Alberta residence. This will also be the first event with an interprovincial team being named, with the top three finishers with Alberta residence making up the 2025 Willingdon Cup Team to compete at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The list of high-profile players is long including past champions like Brett Jones, Mike Valk, and Braden O’Grady. Also a part of the list are Mid-Amateur Champions like Jesse Galvon, the defending Senior Champion David Schultz, 2025 Glencoe Invitational Champion Brandon Markiw, Alberta’s U19 and U17 Champions Ryan Gillis and Patrick McLarty.

Click the link below to read more about the course and hear from our defending champion, Brett Jones, in the 2025 Alberta Golf Yearbook.

Men’s Amateur Preview Article

Alberta Golf (Lacombe) – The first full championship for Alberta Golf in 2025 was held this week at Lacombe Golf and Country Club. The Alberta Men’s Mid-Master Championship for competitors aged 40 and over was held Monday through Wednesday at the historical course celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this year. There’s no bigger golfing family in the Lacombe area than the McKinlays, with three generations of golfers coming out of the club. Brady McKinlay is a 24-year-old professional, he and his wife Caylyn were on hand with the entire McKinlay family to cheer on Brady’s uncles Tom McKinlay Jr. and Bobby McKinlay. Tom started the day with a one shot lead on defending champion Christopher Thayer. After a front 9 3-under 33 with three birdies and no bogeys, the lead grew to 3 shots. After birdies on 11 and 12 McKinlay Jr built and 6 stroke advantage on Ryan Vallely. Despite a double bogey on the par 3 15th hole, McKinlay Jr shot a final round 3-under par 68 for a 4 stroke victory over Christopher Thayer and earned an emotional home course win in front of friends and family.

WATCH INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION TOM MCKINLAY JR

The Lacombe Golf and Country Club were outstanding hosts and congratulations on your 100 years as a club in Alberta.

Weston Gillett – Head Professional Lacombe Golf & Country Club

FULL SCORING IN ALL DIVISIONS HERE

The Alberta Golf competition season officially started with the Best Ball Championship, but the 2025 Men’s Mid-Master kicks off our summer of individual competitions.

Up for grabs this week is not just the title, but a national quota spot into the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur. The Men’s Mid-Master is opened for male players aged 40 and above as of the first day of the Canadian Mid-Amateur, with a Handicap Index of 15.0 or lower. The event is easily one of Alberta’s most popular championships.

The list of players this year includes past champions of the event including Shiro Mani, past Men’s Senior Champions like Ken Griffith and David Schultz, long time competitors such as Howard Broun, and hometown favourites like Tom Jr McKinlay and Chad Cargill.

Click the link below to read about the course and hear from the defending champion, Christopher Thayer, straight from the 2025 Alberta Golf Yearbook.

2025 Men’s Mid-Master Preview

Alberta Golf (Sundre) The 2025 Alberta Golf Championship season is off to an exciting start with Ryan DenBraber and Mickey Spencer from the Glendale Golf & Country Club beating Logan Graf and Cole Bergheim from the Red Deer Golf & Country Club on the first playoff hole to win the 2025 Alberta Best Ball Championship on a sunny day at Sundre Golf Club. Both pairings shot 9 under 63 in regulation to end up in a playoff. On the first playoff hole with Bergheim and Graf in trouble, DenBraber knocked his approach shot to the fringe at the back of the green and made the 2 putt for the victory.

FULL SCORING HERE

Ryan DenBraber & Mickey Spencer. 2025 Alberta Best Ball Champions

WATCH VIDEO: CHAMPIONS INTERVIEW

The Alberta Men’s Amateur is one of the most prestigious events in the golfing landscape, tracing its origins back to 1907. The event has been played at a plethora of different golf courses over the years, and in 2025 the event will return to a course that it hasn’t visited since 1993. Paradise Canyon Country Club will play host to the top 120 male amateur golfers in the province for the 113^th Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship on June 25-27. 

The Men’s Amateur Championship is wrapped in history with a wide variety of champions throughout its playing. The event has been used as a springboard into professional careers for players like Henry Martell, Darryl James, Wes Heffernan, Scott Stiles, and plenty more. The event has also seen many of the great amateurs in our province compete with Doug Silverberg, Keith Alexander, Bob Wylie, and Ken Wasslen all being crowned champions. With three qualifiers and over 250 players trying to qualify each year, getting into the championship field is a major accomplishment. Registration for qualifiers opens in early April each season and players hoping to qualify need to have a Handicap Index of 8.0 or lower to register. 

Paradise Canyon Country Club promises to be an amazing host for the 113^th Men’s Amateur. Having hosted its own professional event in 2018 and 2019, and hosting the Canadian Men’s Amateur in 2008, the course is no stranger to the best of the best competing on its fairways. With an unpredictable Lethbridge wind, the course is sure to offer challenges from the first tee shot to the final putt. A key stretch on the course starts on the back 9 with holes 10, 11, and 12 often causing movement on the leaderboard. Hole 12 is the course’s signature hole, a beautiful elevated par 3 where players can see the Old Man River and the coulees surrounding it. With deep bunkers protecting the front of the green, fescue and badlands on either side, and the river right behind, club selection here can easily decide the winner of the event. 

In 1993, the Alberta Men’s Amateur at Paradise Canyon Country Club was won by Darryl James, who would go on to become a top PGA of Alberta Professional. Since then, plenty of players have gone on to win the event including names like Mike Mezei, Ryan Yip, and Riley Fleming. Many things have changed since James’ win, but in Lethbridge the wind remains constant and players in the 113^th Men’s Amateur will have to find a way to navigate this challenge, just as James did, to be crowned the best in Alberta.