PREVIEW: The 2022 Alberta Mens Mid Amateur Championship from Highwood Golf
Alberta Golf (High River)
Highwood Golf in High River is set to host 120 of the best male amateurs in Alberta over the age of 25 to crown the 2022 Alberta Mens Mid Amateur champion.
KEY INFO
Dates: July 19-21
Course: Highwood Golf
Yards/Par: 6,500 yards.
Field: 120
2021 champion: Brandon Markiw
Format: 54 holes of stroke play with a 36-hole cut to the low 60 and ties
Social: #abmidam
LOOKING BACK
In 2021, Brandon Markiw shot a final round 73 to beat Neil Thomas by 1 stroke at The Edmonton Country Club for his 2nd Alberta Mens Mid Amateur title.
FULL STORY OF THE 2021 ALBERTA MENS MID AM HERE
Brandon Markiw won his 2nd Alberta Mid Amateur title in 2021 at The Edmonton Country Club
Watch the FULL VIDEO RECAP BELOW.
HISTORY
The Alberta Mid Amateur Championship was first contested in 1986. Originally designed for the best players aged 40 and over the championship transitioned in 2015 to include those aged 25 and over to align with other provincial, national and international Mid Amateur competitions. There is a Mid Master contest for those aged 40 and over.
2013 – Alan Stewart
2014 – Frank Van Dornick
2015 – Kevin Temple
2016 – Jordan Irwin
2017 – Neil Thomas
2018 – Brandon Markiw
2019 – Jesse Galvon
2020 – Alex Large
2021 – Brandon Markiw
NOTABLES
- Brandon Markiw – Champion (2018, 2021)
- Alex Large – Champion (2020)
- Jesse Galvon – Champion (2019)
- Kevin Temple – Champion (2007, 2010, 2015)
- Brian Laubman – Champion (2005)
- Senan Foley – Champion (2008) Alberta Senior Mens Champion (2021)
- Ken Griffith – Alberta Senior Mens Champion (2019)
- Shiro Mani – Alberta Mid Master Champion (2021)
- Barrett Jarosch – Former Korn Ferry Tour Member
ABOUT THE COURSE
MEDIA
Big day for Red Deer golfers as Park and Graf win U19 Championship
Alberta Golf (Carvel) – In 2021 both Logan Graf and Eileen Park lost playoffs at the U19 Championship, and both got their redemption today at Cougar Creek Golf Resort at the 2022 U19 Championship. Eileen Park and Logan Graf both play out of the Red Deer Golf and Country Club and both won a provincial title today but if much different ways. For Eileen Park, it was domination as the 13-Year-Old won by 12 strokes over Brynne Davies from Earl Grey Golf Club.
On the boys side there was much more drama. To start the day Logan Graf, Sebastian Berube and Ethan Wilson were tied for the lead at 2-Under par. 6 holes into the final round that’s still where things stood until Graf made birdies on 8 and 9 to pull ahead by 3 strokes on Ethan Wilson. A Double Bogey on 10 by Graf tightened things up again and it stayed that way until Graf had a putt to win on the 18th hole that just slid past, that putt Graf in a playoff with Josiah Tong from Heritage Pointe who had posted 2-Under 70 a few groups ahead for Even par for the Championship. On the first playoff hole Tong and Graf both reached the green but Tong had a 30-Foot putt that just missed while Graf nailed his 10 footer to claim the title. Graf’s brother Carter won this event in 2019 and was there to congratulate him.
WATCH FINAL ROUND VIDEO WRAP WITH CHAMPION INTERVIEWS
Team Alberta on the girls side consists of Eileen Park, Georgia Barr and Tessa Ion.
Team Alberta on the boys side consists of Logan Graf, Josiah Tong and Ethan Wilson.
The low round of the championship was 69, shot today by Seth Mottershead-Yee from The Glendale Golf and Country Club. The amazing thing about that round was the finish where Seth eagled 16, had an ACE!!! on the par 3 17th and a birdie at the last for 5-Under in the last 3 holes.
Berube, Graf, Wilson and Park lead at U19 Championship heading to final round
Alberta Golf (Carvel) – During the morning wave of the 2nd round of the 2022 Alberta U19 Championship the push for the girls championship title became much clearer. 13-Year-Old Eileen Park from Red Deer shot even par 72 on the tree lined Cougar Creek Golf Resort to extend her lead to 6 strokes over Brynne Davies with 1 round to go.
Last year in Carstairs, Park lost a dramatic playoff to champion Grace Bell but says her game has improved a lot since then and she’s ready to win this year.
WATCH 1 ON 1 WITH LEADER EILEEN PARK
In the boys division the battle for the title is much more up for grabs with 12 golfers within 5 shots of the lead, a lead that is shared between Sebastian Berube from Priddis Greens Golf & CC, Logan Graf from Red Deer Golf & CC and Ethan Wilson from Glendale Golf & CC who shot 70, the low round of the day.
WATCH BERUBE, GRAF AND WILSON IN ACTION DURING THE 2ND ROUND
Graf, Fisher and Park lead after first round of Alberta U19 Championship
Alberta Golf (Carvel) – Hot gorgeous day just west of Edmonton at Cougar Creek Golf Resort for the first round of the 2022 Alberta U19 Championship. The first round on the boys side saw a tightly packed leaderboard with 20 players within 3 shots of the lead held by Logan Graf and Kye Fisher at 2-Under par 70.
In the girls division, 13-Year-Old Eileen Park from Red Deer shot a 4-Under round of 68 to lead Brynne Davies from Earl Grey Golf Club by 2 strokes.
WATCH 1 ON 1 WITH COUGAR CREEK GM/HEAD PROFESSIONAL JAKE BEHIELS
Katherine Hao wins Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship on her 15th Birthday
Alberta Golf (Canmore): It was a dream day for BC’s Ling Yu (Katherine) Hao at the Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship at The Canmore Golf and Curling Club. She started the tournament 14-Years-Old and was crowned champion on her 15th birthday after shooting 3-Under 69 to win by 7 strokes over the all-ages field. Katherine Moved to Vancouver when she was 3-Years-Old from Taiwan. To make it even more special she didn’t see her dad for 2 years during Covid, and he’s heading back to Taiwan soon for work but she had her dad caddying for what turned out to be the biggest win of her young career.
WATCH: 1 ON 1 WITH CHAMPION LING YU (KATHERINE) HAO
Alberta’s Interprovincial team consists of runner-up Jenna Bruggeman, Meaghan Leblanc and Eileen Park.
The Alberta Mid Amateur Champion is Meaghan Leblanc from Country Hills Golf Club.
The Mid Master Champion is Andrea Kosa from The Glencoe Golf and Country Club.
Kelly Smith from The Canmore Golf and Curling Club wins the Net Stableford Championship on her home course.
FULL RESULTS IN ALL DIVISIONS HERE
14-Year-Old Ling Yu (Katherine) Hao leads Alberta Ladies Amateur heading to final round in Canmore
Alberta Golf (Canmore) – Ling Yu (Katherine) Hao grew up Taiwan and came to Canada when she was 3, picked up golf at the age of 7 and could be crowned Alberta Ladies Amateur Champion on her 15th birthday. A win on Thursday would be extra special considering her dad is caddying for her, she hadn’t seen her dad for 2 years due to Covid and he’s heading back to Taiwan very soon to work. Sharing her 15th birthday with her dad caddying for the biggest win she’s ever had in golf against an all-ages field of the best amateurs in Alberta would be an amazing moment for the Point Grey Golf Club member in Vancouver. After 2 rounds at the gorgeous Canmore Golf and Curling Club Hao has a 5 stroke lead on Eileen Park and Shirin Anjarwalla.
WATCH: 1 ON 1 WITH LEADER LING YU (KATHERINE) HAO
The low round of the day goes to Meaghan LeBlanc from Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary after posting 3-Under 69 which also gives her a 2 stroke lead on Andrea Kosa for the Alberta Ladies Mid Amateur title.
FULL LEADERBOARD HERE IN ALL DIVISIONS
Ling Yu (Katherine) Hao leads Alberta Ladies Amateur after first round
Alberta Golf (Canmore): Gorgeous day in Canmore for the first round of the 2022 Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club. Ling Yu (Katherine) Hao from Point Grey Golf and Country Club in BC leads after the first round firing 6 birdies, 2 bogeys and 1 double bogey on the parkland style layout nestled in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta.
Former Alberta U19 Champion Annabelle Ackroyd sits one shot back after carding a 1-under 71 that included 4 birdies and 3 bogeys.
Andrea Kosa from The Glencoe Golf and Country Club leads the Alberta Ladies Mid Amateur Championship.
FULL LEADERBOARD IN ALL DIVISIONS HERE
WATCH: 1 ON 1 WITH CANMORE GOLF AND CURLING CLUB GM DARREN COOKE
Alberta Golfer Magazine Article: Canmore Golf and Curling Club Hosts the 2022 Alberta Ladies Amateur
Canmore Golf and Curling Club Hosts the 2022 Alberta Ladies Amateur
By Kevin Smith
The Town of Canmore, nestled in the mountains 45 minutes west of Calgary, is used to hosting elite athletes for competition, whether it’s the Winter Olympics, the Alberta Winter Games or in this case, a provincial golf championship. In early July, the Canmore Golf and Curling Club will be the host of the 2022 Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship and the golf club’s general manager Darren Cooke says everyone involved is eagerly looking forward to hosting the tournament.
“We are very excited to participate in an event of this calibre,” Cooke explained. “We’re always proud to bring events like this not only to the Canmore Golf and Curling Club but to the entire community. Canmore has always been a community ready to welcome the world really, going back to the Olympics in 1988. Up to that time, there were two separate entities: Canmore Golf and Canmore Curling. For the Olympics in 1988, we became known as the Canmore Golf and Curling Club.”
The golf club itself dates back to 1926, has 630 adult members, over 100 juniors, 88 life members and
is a very busy semi-private facility. The members are so involved that the volunteers for the Ladies Amateur championship may actually outnumber the competitors. As for the golf course itself, the competitors will have to plot their way around the tree lined layout and try not to get distracted by the jaw dropping mountain scenery.
“The competitors this year are going to find it a nice challenge. Our superintendent Reid Solodan has been with us over 18 years and has done a great job and the club supports him to produce the best product that he can,” Cooke said. “Looking at the scorecard, you wouldn’t consider it a long golf course, but you have to keep awake and pay attention. Course management is key. The fairways are narrow and tree lined; it’ll be a really good test for them.”
After the round, where better to reflect on the great shots and the ones that got away than bonding with fellow competitors on one of the most beautiful golf course patios anywhere in Canada.
“The deck is beautiful and we’ve expanded it over the years,” Cooke beamed. “The patio overlooks a nice body of water and when you look up at the mountains, it’s always beautiful.
This is a pretty special place and we hope the ladies enjoy it and will be happy.”
The calibre of female golf in our country is at an elite level. Brooke Henderson is a global superstar on the LPGA Tour, Ontario’s Hailey Katona shot 29 on the back nine to win the 2021 Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship at Broadmoor in Sherwood Park and Alberta’s Kim Carrington has competed internationally for decades.
“All the ladies deserve our support and we’re 100% behind them,” Cooke stated. “Our facility will open it’s arms to all the competitors.”
The field will be a mix of established amateurs in our province as well as the best juniors testing their games against more seasoned competitors. From July 5-7 at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club, it will be time to clear the air and compete for a provincial title in the mountains.
Brady McKinlay dominates to win 2022 Alberta Mens Amateur
Alberta Golf (Acheson) – Brady McKinlay had been building towards a big victory for the past month. The Lacombe product who plays at Utah Valley University got to final stage of qualifying for the RBC Canadian Open, was only 4 shots back when the final round of the Alberta Open was washed out by rain last week, so this week’s wire to wire victory at the Alberta Mens Amateur Championship comes as no surprise. McKinlay shot 66-66 the first two rounds and came into the final round at The Ranch Golf and Country Club with a 6-shot lead on Neil Thomas and 7 strokes clear of Alberta Open Champion Ethan Choi. After stuffing an approach shot on 15 and tapping in for birdie the lead was 9 on the entire field. Despite going 3-over the final 3 holes McKinlay shot 70 to win the 2022 Alberta Mens Amateur Championship by 5 strokes.
“This win is number one ever,” McKinlay explained. “Even this summer the finishes I’ve had have been great and to cap it off this 3 week stretch win a win is more than I can ask for and hopefully there’s more of these.”
WATCH: FINAL ROUND VIDEO WRAP
Neil Thomas from the Edmonton Country Club had a birdie-birdie finish on the tough final holes to earn runner-up at 6-under par 5 shots back.
Dustin Yeager from the Mickelson National Golf Club had 3 birdies and only 1 bogey to post a 69, 4-under par for the championship and finish 3rd.
Neil Thomas, Brady McKinlay and Dustin Yeager (From L to R) will make up the interprovincial team at the Canadian Mens Amateur Championship in August at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver.
Hunter Thomson from The Calgary Golf and Country Club who plays at Michigan University tied the course record in the final round joining Ray Freeman, Ian Doig and Ian Leggatt as the only players to ever shoot 63 in competition at The Ranch Golf and Country Club. Thomson ended up tied for 6th.
Brady McKinlay looking to go wire to wire at Alberta Mens Amateur
Alberta Golf (Acheson) – Lacombe’s Brady McKinlay stood on the 10th tee today after shooting 31 on a back nine start with the course record at The Ranch Golf and Country Club in his sights. Considering the Utah Valley University player shot 30 on the front nine in round one, beating the course record of 63 held by Ian Leggatt and Ray Freeman seemed totally within reach, but McKinlay had one birdie and one bogey for a final 9 even par 35 and a round of 66. The back to back rounds of 66 still incredibly impressive and good for a 6-shot lead heading to the final round.
Neil Thomas from The Edmonton Golf and Country Club also shot 66 and will be in the final group with Mckinlay 6-shots back of the lead.
The 2022 Alberta Open Champion Ethan Choi shot a round of 68 and will join Thomas and McKinlay in the final group. Choi and McKinlay were poised for a final round shootout in Sundre last week but the final round of the Alberta Open was washed out which gave Choi the victory, now they get to go toe to toe in the final round of the Alberta Mens Amateur Championship. Last week Choi held a 4 stroke lead on McKinlay, this week McKinlay is 7 strokes clear of Choi.
The low round of the day goes to Kai Iguchi with a sparking 65 and he just happens to be Brady McKinlay’s roommate at Utah Valley University. Iguchi sits in 7th place 10 shots back of his teammate.
Brady McKinlay’s uncle Tom McKinlay Jr. shot a great round of 69 and sits in 12th position.
