Eileen Park and Jaiden Koonar crowned Alberta U19 Champions
Alberta Golf (Diamond Valley) – Heavy rains in the morning, hot and sunny early afternoon, half hour lightning delay late afternoon but in the end we crowned our U19 Champions for 2023. In the girls championship defending champion Eileen Park from The Red Deer Golf and Country Club shot a Turner Valley Golf Club course record for ladies with a 4-under 68 to defend her title with a 6 stroke victory over Sarah Armstrong from Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat. 14-year-old Eileen Park, the 2023 Alberta Women’s Amateur Runner-Up, birdied 4 of her last 5 holes to shoot 68 and run away with the title.
2023 Alberta U19 Champion Eileen Park
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH EILEEN PARK
The Alberta U19 Girls Inter-Provincial Team consists of Eileen Park, Sarah Armstrong and Carys Code.
Carys Code, Eileen Park and Sarah Armstrong
Onto the U19 Boys division where Jaiden Koonar from The Glencoe Golf and Country Club shot a 4-under par 68 to edge Zach Haydamack and Tobias Buffam by 1 stroke to earn the title. Koonar eagled the 11th hole and followed it up with a birdie on 12 and played steady par golf coming in and despite a bogey on the 18th hole after a 30 minute lightning delay his stellar round of 68 earned him the trophy.
2023 U19 Boys Champion Jaiden Koonar
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH JAIDEN KOONAR
The Alberta U19 Boys Inter-Provincial Team consists of Jaiden Koonar, Zach Haydamack and Tobias Buffam.
Zach Haydamack, Jaiden Koonar and Tobias Buffam
A big thanks to Turner Valley Golf Club and General Manager J.D. Scheller for hosting the Alberta U19 Championship.
J.D. Scheller, Turner Valley Golf Club General Manager
Brett Jones and Sarah Armstrong lead Alberta U19 Championship at Turner Valley Golf Club
Alberta Golf (Diamond Valley) – Brett Jones from the Glencoe Golf and Country Club chipped in on his 18th hole of the day (9th hole) to cap off a 4-under par back nine and round of 68 to lead the Alberta U19 Boys Championship with 1 round to go at Turner Valley Golf Club.
WATCH 1 ON 1 INTERVIEW WITH BRETT JONES
The low round of the day was recorded by Tobias Buffam from Valley Ridge Golf Club carding a 5-under par 67 to sit one shot back alongside Zach Haydamack from The Glencoe Golf and Country Club who shot 4-under par 68.
FULL U19 BOYS LEADERBOARD HERE
In the Alberta U19 Girls Championship Sarah Armstrong from Desert Blume Golf Club shot a 2-over par 74 for a one shot lead on Carys Code and Carla Van Remmen with 2022 U19 Girls Champion Eileen Park only 2 shots off the pace.
1 on 1 with Turner Valley Golf Club General Manager J.D. Scheller
Turner Valley Golf Club is hosting the 2023 Alberta U19 Championship July 11-13.
WATCH: 1 on 1 with Turner Valley Golf Club General Manager J.D. Scheller
Ethan Wilson wins 2023 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship
Alberta Golf (Innisfail) – No lead is safe on the tough layout at Innisfail Golf Course but in the final 2 rounds of the 2023 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship Edmonton’s Ethan Wilson never opened the door as the Glendale Golf and Country Club member was crowned champion. Wilson, who will be attending The University of Illinois this fall followed up a 2nd round 66 with a final round, bogey free 67 to win the championship by 8 strokes.
WATCH VIDEO: 1 ON 1 WITH CHAMPION ETHAN WILSON
Neil Thomas from The Edmonton Country Club was paired with Wilson in the final round, shot even par 72 but couldn’t close the gap on Wilson’s stellar play. Defending Champion Brady McKinlay drained an eagle putt on 18 to finish 3rd.
Ethan Wilson, Neil Thomas and Brady McKinlay will represent Alberta at The Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Pulpit Club in Caledon Ontario in August.
Brady McKinlay, Ethan Wilson and Neil Thomas
Thanks to Innisfail Golf Club Head Professional Mat MacDonald and his staff for a great week of hosting the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship.
Innisfail Golf Club Head Professional Mat MacDonald
Ethan Wilson shoots 66 to lead heading to final round at Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship
Alberta Golf (Innisfail) – Hot sunny day at Innisfail Golf Club for the 2nd round of the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship. Ethan Wilson from The Glendale Golf & Country Club shot a blistering 6-under 66 to take the lead by 3 strokes heading to Thursday’s final round.
Guillermo Salazar Jr. and Neil Thomas both shot 71 and sit 3 back of the lead. Ethan Choi from The Lethbridge Country Club had the only other round in the 60s posting a 4-under 68 to sit 4 shots back. Defending champion Brady McKinlay survived a double bogey on the 8th hole to post 1-under 71 and sits with Hunter Thomson within striking distance.
WATCH 1 ON 1 WITH LEADER ETHAN WILSON
Connor Kurysh leads Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship at Innisfail Golf Club
Alberta Golf (Innisfail) – Edmonton’s Connor Kurysh posted a 3-Under 69 on a gorgeous sunny day at Innisfail Golf Club for round one of the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship. Shooting in the 60’s on the famed Central Alberta treelined course was a great start for the 21-year-old who plays out of West Texas A&M University.
13 golfers are within 4 strokes of the lead including Neil Thomas and Guillermo Salazar Jr. only 1 shot off the pace followed by brothers Aneesh Kaura and Saahil Kaura at 1-Under 71. Defending champion Brady McKinlay is in a group with Ethan Wilson, 2020 Champion Michael Valk and Joe Kelly from Innisfail Golf Club at even par.
WATCH 1 ON 1 INNISFAIL GOLF CLUB HEAD PROFESSIONAL MAT MACDONALD
Innisfail hosts the 2023 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship
Alberta Golfer Magazine article:
Innisfail Hosts the 2023 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship
The Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship returns to central Alberta in 2023 after being held the past two years at the Calgary Golf and Country Club in 2021 and The Ranch Golf and Country Club in Edmonton last summer. In early July, the Innisfail Golf Club will host the top male amateurs in Alberta for the Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship. Head Professional Mat MacDonald says the entire community is excited to be hosting such an elite golf tournament on their course.
“Everybody is excited about it,” MacDonald beamed. “From the moment it was announced that we were hosting this year, I received an astronomical amount of text messages from members saying they wanted to volunteer at the tournament. Over 40 volunteers responded right away and wanted to be part of this great event in any way they could.”
MacDonald is starting his third year as the head professional at Innisfail Golf Club. It was a home-coming of sorts for him, as he started in the golf industry at the age of 14, working in the back shop at the nearby Olds Central Highlands Golf Club, before moving up to work in the pro shop at Innisfail in 2009. MacDonald worked at several other courses in central Alberta, then spent five years at Henderson Lake Golf Club in Lethbridge before completing the circle back to Innisfail.
“To be honest it really felt like home for me, coming back to my start,” MacDonald admitted. “I’ve always felt this property and this golf course is a very special place, mostly because of the people that are here, but the golf course as we know is also fantastic.”
Innisfail is the home for the yearly Parent/Junior event on the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour as well as having recently hosted the 2016 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship, won by Evan Holmes. MacDonald says the course really hasn’t changed much in the past seven years.
“A lot of people say the course is difficult because of our tree-lined fairways; you just don’t have a ton of room to miss the golf ball,” MacDonald said. “If you hit it too far left or right you can find yourself in a great deal of trouble in a hurry so the players are going to be forced to make smart decisions and hit accurate tee shots. On top of that, the greens are very undulating and have subtle slopes, so the player who wins this event is going to have to have his short game dialed in.”
Brady McKinlay’s game was indeed dialed in last year at The Ranch Golf and Country Club in Edmonton
where he won the 2022 Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship by five strokes. McKinlay was also in contention at the Sundre Golf Club before the final round of the Alberta Open was cancelled due to bad weather. McKinlay grew up in Lacombe, about forty-five minutes north of Innisfail, and is looking forward to defending his title close to home.
“I’m super excited for the Men’s Amateur being held at Innisfail,” McKinlay admitted. “It’s not exactly
a home game for me, but playing in central Alberta is always great because those are the courses where I grew up playing junior events. Innisfail is always in great shape and will be a tough test. I think there are some similarities to The Ranch, some demanding tee shots, but also some very scorable par-5s. I can’t wait to defend there this summer.”
McKinlay may have played the course a lot growing up, but MacDonald is also excited to welcome those in the province who might be seeing the course for the very first time.
“It’s a huge point of pride to host this Championship,” MacDonald boasted. “It is a hidden gem out here and just the fact that so many people are going to be exposed to the golf course that may have never seen it before. I believe it’s a true test of golf. We’re not overly long from the tips, so it will allow players of all ages and styles, not just the bombers, to compete and be in contention for a provincial title.”
Jieming Yang wins Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship
Alberta Golf (Water Valley) – 20-year-old Jieming Yang started the final round of the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship at Water Valley Golf Club with a 6 stroke lead but taking the title wasn’t a simple task. 2022 u-19 champion Eileen Park posted 33 on the front 9 to close the gap to 3 strokes but wasn’t able to keep up the pressure on the back nine as Jieming Yang took the title shooting 75 for a 4 stroke victory. Yang, originally from Shandong Province in China, went to high school in Orlando Florida before playing for the California Golden Bears and said this was a special win, her first in 2 years.
WATCH VIDEO: 1 ON 1 with Alberta Women’s Amateur Champion Jieming Yang
Meaghan LeBlanc shot 72-77-77 to take the Alberta Women’s Mid-Amateur Title.
Andrea Kosa shot rounds of 76-79-80 to win the Alberta Women’s Mid-Master Title.
Team Alberta that will represent our province at nationals consists of Eileen Park, Aastha Savadatti and Sarah Armstrong.
The Women’s Mid-Amateur team that will represent our province at nationals consists of Andrea Kosa, Kassie Bourassa and Dianne Fisher.
Sarah Armstrong, Eileen Park and Aastha Savadatti
Jieming Yang leads Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship by 6 strokes heading to final round
Alberta Golf (Water Valley) – Hot conditions for the 2nd round of the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship from Water Valley Golf Club. First round leader Jieming Yang added to her lead shooting 1-Over 73 with 5 birdies and an eagle offset by 6 bogeys and a double bogey on the 10th hole. Yang, originally from Shandong Province in China, went to high school in Orlando Florida before playing for the California Golden Bears.
Yang leads Meaghan LeBlanc and Eileen Park by 6 strokes heading into Thursday’s final round.
WATCH VIDEO ACTION FROM TODAY’S CONTENDERS
Meaghan LeBlanc leads the Mid Amateur Championship by 6 strokes while Andrea Kosa leads the Mid Master competition by 5 strokes.
Jieming Yang leads Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship at Water Valley
Alberta Golf (Water Valley) – The first round is in the books after a gorgeous day at Water Valley Golf Club northwest of Calgary. Jieming Yang, a sophmore from The University of California at Berkeley, has a 2 shot lead after round 1 with 2 rounds to go. After a slow start with bogeys on the 2nd and 3rd hole, Yang finished strong with 3 birdies in the final 5 holes to post 2-Under 70. Yang, originally from Shandong Province in China, went to high school in Orlando Florida before playing for the California Golden Bears.
Meaghan LeBlanc and Emily Cornwall sit 2 shots back after posting even par 70, with BC’s Kasira Muanyam 3 shots back and 2022 U19 Champion Eileen Park 4 shots off the pace.
Meaghan LeBlanc leads the Women’s Mid Amateur Championship by 4 strokes while Andrea Kosa leads the Women’s Mid Master Championship by 2 strokes.
Water Valley Golf Club was recently purchased by Jeremy Dueck and Pat Thomas, they hope word gets out about what they call the “Jewel of the West” only 45 minutes northwest of Calgary.
WATCH 1 ON 1 INTERVIEW WITH CO-OWNER PAT THOMAS
