Kelly Risling wins Alberta Senior Mens Title in thrilling finish in his home city
Alberta Golf (Medicine Hat) – Kelly Risling grew up in Medicine Hat and just won a provincial title in his home city but he sure had to dig deep to get the job done. After double bogeys on both the 8th and 10th holes Risling found himself chasing playing partners James Varnam and Ken Griffith. Defending Champion Senan Foley posted a 73 a few groups ahead on a windy day at Desert Blume Golf Club, 4 over for the championship and with 4 holes to go there was a 4-way tie for the lead! Varnam, the 2020 runner-up made a great birdie on the long par 3 17th hole to take a one shot lead to the par 5 18th. On 18 Risling drove the green in 2 shots and made a great lag putt to secure birdie. Varnam had a tricky 6 foot putt for the victory but it missed on the low side. Risling and Varnam headed back to the 18th tee for a playoff, once again Risling piped driver to the middle of the fairway while Varnam found the fairway bunker, hit out, was just left of the green in 3 shots and made a great chip to 2 feet, a par looked a certainty but par wasn’t going to be enough. Risling’s second shot was pin high in the green side bunker, his sand shot went 25 feet past the hole but Risling settled in and drained the 25-foot putt for the victory and huge fist pump. Kelly Risling is the 2022 Alberta Senior Mens Champion.
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION KELLY RISLING
Kelly Risling – Alberta Senior Mens Champion
Risling also took down the Super Senior title as well.
The interprovincial team consists of Senan Foley, Kelly Risling and Ken Griffith.
Senan Foley, Kelly Risling and Ken Griffith
FULL SCORES IN ALL CATEGORIES HERE
Bunched up leaderboard at Senior Mens Championship on very windy day at Desert Blume
Alberta Golf (Medicine Hat) – Constant winds all day and gusts of up to 60kmh made Desert Blume Golf Club a great challenge during round 2 of the Alberta Senior Mens Championship in Medicine Hat. Heading to the final round there’s a 3-way tie between 2019 Champion Ken Griffith, 2020 runner-up James Varnam and Kelly Risling from Medicine Hat who shot 2-under 70, the low round of the day. Brian Coston from Bearspaw Golf Club is one shot back while defending champion Senan Foley is withing striking distance only 3 shots back.
FULL LEADERBOARD IN ALL CATEGORIES HERE
WATCH ON COURSE ACTION FROM ROSS, LAUBMAN, TEMPLE, VARNAM, FOLEY, GRIFFITH, COSTON AND RISLING
Hot play on hot day for Allan Ross as he leads Alberta Senior Mens Championship at Desert Blume
Alberta Golf (Medicine Hat) – The first round of the Alberta Senior Mens Championship saw temperatures as high as 33 and some hot play atop the leaderboard as well. Allan Ross from The Calgary Golf and Country Club fired nine’s the same as the temperature, 33 and 34 with 6 birdies and only one bogey for an opening round of 67 and a 2 shot lead at Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat.
Brian Coston from Bearspaw Golf Club sits 2 shots back after 4 birdies and a bogey adding up to 69 on the links layout with few trees, lots of wind and gorgeous greens.
2019 Champion Ken Griffith from The Red Deer Golf and Country Club had a nice start as well with 3 birdies and only one bogey to post an opening round of 70 and is only 3 shots off the pace.
FULL SCORING IN ALL DIVISIONS HERE
1 ON 1 WITH DESERT BLUME GC GENERAL MANAGER TREVOR ELLERMAN ON HOSTING THE ALBERTA SENIOR MENS CHAMPIONSHIP
WATCH VIDEO: Golf legend Michelle Wie West does clinic with Alberta Golf High Performance Athletes
Alberta Golf (Calgary): Golfing legend Michelle Wie West was at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club Monday morning as part of Women’s Day at the Shaw Charity Classic. Wie West spent an hour with Alberta’s top junior girls to pass on her wisdom from her 20-year career competing that included The PGA and LPGA Tour.
WATCH: Michele Wie West with Alberta Golf High Performance Athletes
Brenda Heyink wins Alberta Senior Ladies Championship at Priddis Greens
Alberta Golf (Priddis) – 1992 Olympic Downhill Gold Medalist Kerrin-Lee Gartner started the final round of the Alberta Senior Ladies Championship from Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club with a 4-Stroke lead over 2018 Champion Barb Flaman but it was the steady play of surprise winner Brenda Heyink playing a group ahead that took down the title. Heyink had a round with 4 bogeys, 2 birdies and an incredible 2-putt par on 18 for a 2 stroke victory.
Heyink who plays out of the City of Camrose Golf Course also won the Super Senior title as well.
Brenda Heyink, 2022 Alberta Senior Ladies Champion
Brenda Heyink, 2022 Alberta Super Senior Ladies Champion
WATCH: 1 ON 1 INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION BRENDA HEYINK
FULL LIST OF WINNERS IN ALL FLIGHTS HERE
FULL PHOTO ALBUM FROM THE WEEK HERE
The Interprovincial Team that will compete at the National Championship in Manitoba in late August consists of Brenda Heyink, Barb Flaman and Celina Lam.
Barb Flaman, Brenda Heyink and Celina Lam
The Champion in the Net Stableford Division is Mona Knudslien.
Mona Knudslien
The flight winners are as follows:
Flight 1 Barb Flaman
Flight 2 Chris Ng
Flight 3 Jean Nitchke
Flight 4 Trix Baker
Flight 5 Lil Zasada
Flight 6 Erna Ference
Flight 7 Debra Vincent
Flight 8 Margaret Walls – Goods McFarlane
Kerrin Lee-Gartner, Olympic Downhill Gold Medalist leads Alberta Senior Ladies at Priddis
Alberta Golf (Priddis) – Recently Kerrin Lee-Gartner’s 1992 Olympic Downhill Gold Medal was rated the top alpine moment in Canadian history. 6 years ago the Pinebrook golfer was in a car crash and still has a hard time at social events and dealing with anything that has loud noises or bright lights, so the golf course is her sanctuary. She enjoys the time on the course in a social setting outdoors. While skiing, she says everything is reaction but golfing there’s a lot of time to think over every shot, and while she’s not trying to win a golf tournament or set a course record the reality is she has a 4-shot lead heading to the final round of the 2022 Alberta Senior Ladies Championship at Priddis Greens. Lee-Gartner has posted rounds of 73-75 to sit 4-over par heading to the final round and a 4-shot lead over 2018 champion Barb Flaman of Edmonton.
Pacheco and Lam lead Alberta Senior Ladies Championship at Priddis Greens
Alberta Golf (Priddis): 102 competitors testing their skills on The Raven course at Priddis Greens near Calgary this week in the 2022 Alberta Senior Ladies Amateur Championship. The event is for ladies over the age of 50, there are a number of flights and divisions, even 87-Year-Old Leslie Maureen O’Shea is in the field. Four ladies are within one stroke of the lead after round one including co-leaders Daniela Pacheco from Redwood Meadows Golf and Country Club and last year’s runner-up Celina Lam from Woodside Golf Course. Pacheco shot an ever par round of 72 with 4 birdies and 4 bogeys.
Celina Lam was just as solid carding 3 birdies and 3 bogeys for an even par 72 as well.
2018 Champion Barb Flaman from Windermere Golf and Country Club in Edmonton sits one shot back at 1 over par after carding 3 birdies and 4 bogeys.
1992 Olympic Downhill Skiing Gold Medalist Kerrin Lee-Gartner’s round, just like skiing, a bit more a thrill ride. After 1 bogey and 1 birdie on the front nine, the Pinebrook Golf and Country Club member went 4-over on her first three holes to start the back before throwing in 2 birdies and an eagle on the final 5 holes to bring it back to 1-over 73 for the round, tied with Flaman and only 1 shot off the lead heading to the 2nd round.
FOLLOW THE LEADERS IN ALL CATEGORIES HERE
5-Time and defending champion Kim Carrington is injured and taking the summer off of golf but wishes everyone competing this week at Priddis Greens nothing but the best and plans to be on hand for the final round to cheer everyone on.
Kim Carrington 2021 Alberta Senior Ladies Champion
1 ON 1 WITH PRIDDIS GREENS GENERAL MANAGER CHAD TOMLINSON
Jesse Galvon wins Alberta Mid Amateur Championship after crazy situation on 18th hole
Alberta Golf (High River) – Highwood Golf Head Professional Dan Warwaruk assured us the final 3 holes would give us high drama in this year’s Alberta Mens Mid Amateur Championship, but I don’t think he knew the drama would be 40-feet high! Before we get to the crazy finish on the 18th hole let’s start at 16 with three golfers, Ryan Werre, Jesse Galvon and Barrett Jarosch separated by 2 strokes with the trophy up for grabs. Galvon the 2019 Champion tugged his tee shot left on 16 and found himself up against the lip of a fairway bunker, he had to chip out sideways and left it in the bunker. His third shot fell way short of the green and Galvon knew a chance at the title could be slipping away, but the Heritage Pointe player made a great up and down for bogey. Meanwhile Werre, the Desert Blume golfer from Medicine Hat made a great birdie and headed to the 17th tee with a 3 stroke lead on the field. Werre played safe in the fairway on the driveable par 4, but Galvon needed to press and drove the green and just missed his eagle chip, they headed to 18, Werre with a 2 stroke lead with one hole to go. On 18 Galvon drove first and piped one in the middle of the fairway on the par 4, Werre pushed his tee shot right of the fairway bunker in a sandy area about 200 yards from the green. With a 2-Shot lead even a bogey most likely gets the win for Werre. The two options for Werre were to lay up get on the green in 3 and try and 2 putt for bogey and most likely the win and at worst a playoff, instead he took on the tougher 200 yard shot for the green. This is where things took a crazy turn which led to one of the wildest finishes to a golf event anywhere, ever!! Werre’s 2nd shot clipped a tree hopped forward and stayed 40-Feet up in another tree, he had 3 minutes to find it so he jumped into the tree, climbed to very top and shook the tree with all the force he could. About 50 pine cones came falling out, the referees and players thought each one was his ball but in the end he never found it. After the ball was declared lost Werre climbed back down exhausted and went back to play his 4th shot which he hit into the penalty area. The entire episode led to Werre shooting 9 on the final hole and finishing in a tie for 4th with defending champion Brandon Markiw who had 5 bogeys on the front nine but 5 birdies for a 30 on the back nine.
Barrett Jarosch played in the final group and watched all the drama unfold on the 18th hole, he made a solid par on 18 and finished tied for 2nd with Dustin Yeager who shot the low round of the day with a 68 including a chip in on the 11th hole for eagle.
Jesse Galvon, who thought his chances to win were slim standing in the 16th fairway staring a double bogey, looks back on that great up and down for bogey and great birdie on 17 as the key to giving him a chance and once Werre hit disaster on the final hole a steady par gave him the championship trophy after a final round 70.
Jesse Galvon, 2022 Alberta Mens Mid Amateur Champion
WATCH: VIDEO WRAP OF A CRAZY FINISH TO THE ALBERTA MENS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The Interprovincial team consists of Jesse Galvon, Dustin Yeager and Barrett Jarosch.
Barrett Jarosch, Jesse Galvon and Dustin Yeager
Competitors sign flag to thank Highwood Golf Head Professional Dan Warwaruk
Jarosch and Galvon Co-Lead at Alberta Mens Mid Amateur at Highwood Golf
Alberta Golf (High River) – 2019 Alberta Mid Amateur Champion Jesse Galvon from Heritage Pointe Golf Club shot the low round of the tournament in round 2 at Highwood Golf in High River, a 2nd round 66 that included 6 birdies.
Galvon is the Co-Leader heading to the final round with Barrett Jarosch from Windermere Golf and Country Club, Jarosch had a clean card with no bogeys and 5 birdies for a 67 and -6 total for the tournament with one round to go.
The chasers in the final round include Ryan Werre from Desert Blume Golf Club, who equalled Galvon’s 66 on the day and sits one shot back.
WATCH DAY 2 ACTION WITH JAROSCH, WERRE, MARKIW, KLASSEN, GALVON AND A 1 ON 1 INTERVIEW WITH CO-LEADER JESSE GALVON.
Zander Ritson leads Alberta Mens Mid Amateur at Highwood Golf
Alberta Golf (High River) – 120 of the top male amateurs over the age of 25 teed it up at Highwood Golf in High River on a gorgeous Tuesday to kick off the 2022 Alberta Mens Mid Amateur Championship.
Zander Ritson from The Inglewood Golf and Curling Club in Calgary leads after firing a 4-under round of 67. After a bogey on the opening hole, Ritson had 5 birdies the rest of the way for a one shot lead on Chad Caron from the Gilwood Golf and Country Club in Slave Lake.
2021 Alberta Senior Mens Champion Senan Foley is in a group at 2-under par, 2 shots back. 2019 Alberta Mid Amateur Champion Jesse Galvon sits in a group 3 shots back while defending champion Brandon Markiw shot even par 71 and is 4 shots back as he defends his title after round 1.
WATCH 1 0N 1 WITH DAN WARWARUK – GOLF PROFESSIONAL AT HIGHWOOD GOLF