James Varnam captures Alberta Men’s Senior Championship at Glendale G&CC
Alberta Golf (Edmonton) – The final round of the Alberta Men’s Senior Championship started with a tight battle within the final group with 2019 Champion Ken Griffith holding a 1 stroke lead on James Varnam and a 3 stroke lead on Frank MacKenzie. Griffith and Varnam distanced themselves from the field by the turn with Varnam shooting 35 on the front nine with 3 birdies and Griffith shooting 1 over 37 with 1 bogey to trail Varnam by 1 stroke. Varnam’s steady play on the back nine paid off and after hitting it to 4 feet on the 15th hole and making the birdie putt Varnam held a 3 shot lead. That lead grew to 4 strokes by the 18th tee and despite making his first double bogey of the week on 18 his round of even par 72 was good enough for a 3 stroke victory and at 1 under the par the only player in the field under par for the event.
James Varnam, 2023 Alberta Men’s Senior Champion
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION JAMES VARNAM
Varnam who grew up in New Zealand just became an official Alberta resident and will be on Team Alberta at nationals with Ken Griffith and Brian Laubman who bounced back nicely today with a 1-under 71, the low round of the day.
Team Alberta: Brian Laubman, James Varnam, Ken Griffith.
A big thank you to Greg McGarry, Jeff MacGregor and the entire Glendale Golf and Country Club staff for a memorable week.
Jeff MacGregor (Head Professional), Greg McGarry (General Manager) Glendale Golf and Country Club.
Ken Griffith leads Alberta Men’s Senior Championship heading to final round
Alberta Golf (Edmonton) – 2019 Alberta Men’s Senior Champion Ken Griffith is back in great position to take the title once again. The Red Deer Golf and Country Club product posted another round of 1-under 71 that included 4 birdies and 3 bogeys for a 1 shot lead heading to tomorrow’s final round at the Glendale Golf and Country Club in Edmonton. James Varnam from Edmonton is also playing very steady golf, posting a 1-over round of 73 with 3 birdies and 4 bogeys and will be in the final group alongside Frank Mackenzie from Victoria Golf Club. 11 golfers are within 8 shots of the lead.
James Varnam and Paul Briske share lead at Alberta Men’s Senior Championship at Glendale G&CC
Alberta Golf (Edmonton) – Perfect weather on a perfectly conditioned golf course for the first round of the 2023 Alberta Men’s Senior Championship at Glendale Golf and Country Club in Edmonton. James Varnam, an Edmonton resident, and Calgary’s Paul Briske out of Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club are co-leaders after rounds of 2-under 70. Varnam had 6 birdies offset by 4 bogeys while Briske only had 1 bogey and 3 birdies to arrive at 70.
8 golfers are within 3 shots of the lead including 2019 champion Ken Griffith who sits 1 shot back and Terry Filewich who’s representing Glendale Golf and Country Club and is only 3 shots back after an opening round of 1-over 73.
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH GREG MCGARRY, GLENDALE G&CC GENERAL MANAGER
Celina Lam wins Alberta Women’s Senior Championship in exciting finish over Kuehn and Little
Alberta Golf (Sundre) – The final round of the 2023 Alberta Women’s Senior Championship at Coyote Creek in Sundre started as a 2 horse race with Celina Lam and Lynn Kuehn 7 shots clear of Jackie Little, but a very strong front nine of 34 for Little vaulted her into the mix with one shot separating all 3 golfers heading to the back nine. Things stayed close until Lam, from the Canal at Delacour, made a fantastic approach on 17 and drained the birdie for a 2 shot lead with one hole to play. Finishing of a championship is never easy, Lam had some bunker issues at the green and made a great 2 putt to save double bogey, and then waiting to see what Kuehn and Little did with their putts to force a playoff. Kuehn had a 30 footer that just missed low while Little put a perfect stroke on her 20 footer that looked to be falling at the end but missed but less than an inch and Celina Lam took the title by one stroke over Kuehn and Little.
Celina Lam, Alberta Women’s Senior Champion
WATCH VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH CELINA LAM
Jackie Little went to a playoff with Lynn Kuehn to decide the Super Senior category and Lynn Kuehn made a 40-footer to claim the Super Senior title 60+.
Lynn Kuehn, Alberta Women’s Super Senior Champion
Ena Spalding from Maple Ridge Ladies Golf Club won the diamond category for age 70+.
Ena Spalding, Alberta Women’s Diamond Champion
Luisa Pardo won the Marg Ward Trophy for the best Net Stableford score of 102 points.
Luisa Pardo, Alberta Women’s Senior Net Stableford Champion
The Alberta Women’s Senior Inter-Provincial Team consists of Celina Lam, Lynn Kuehn and Jean Nitchke.
Jean Nitchke, Celina Lam and Lynn Kuehn
14-Year-Old Eileen Park of Red Deer wins Canadian Junior Girls Championship
Hampton, N.B. – Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta., played an amazing and dominant final round to win the 68th playing of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship presented by BDO at Hampton Golf and Country Club in Hampton, N.B.
After heading into the second round tied for first with Luna Lu of Burnaby, B.C., Park carded a final round of 4-under 67 on Thursday, to finish ahead of Team Canada member and Lu who finished second with a 4-over 288 overall for the tournament.
After an opening round 74, the 14-year-old, carded rounds of 74, 71, 69 and 67 for a total score of 3-under 281, en route to the national title.
Coming into the final round Park carded three birdies overall during round three, two birdies back-to-back on the front, one on the par-5 first hole and the other on the par-4 second hole. Park also birdied the par-4 14th hole, for a total score of 2-under 69.
During the final round, Park carded five birdies with three on the front nine, one on the par-5 first hole, on the par-5 sixth hole and the other on the par-4 eighth hole. Park also recorded two birdies on the back nine, the par-4 eleventh hole, par-4 fourteenth hole, for a total score of 4-under, 67.
“This win means a lot to me,” Park said with tears. “This tournament has showed me how much hard work I’ve put in and the results are very nice. I was very nervous on the first tee shot but after my birdie on number one I was able to keep my round going pretty well and kept it simple.”
Eileen Park, 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Champion
Park also won the Juvenile division, which ran concurrently for girls aged 16 and under, ahead of Lu at two-over who placed second. The bronze medal was shared by three participants, Lindsay McGrath of Oakville Ont., and Swetha Sathish of Oakville, Ont. who both finished at seven-over.
In the Junior division the bronze medal was shared by three participants, Michelle P. Ding, McGrath and Sathish at seven-over.
Along with the hardware, for Park’s win comes with an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax, as well as an entry into the 2024 U.S. Junior Girls Championship.
“This win is definitely going to motivate me for the future because its my biggest win so far,” Park added. “Going forward I will have more confidence for bigger tournaments.”
Park will also be awarded a cheque of $1,200. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, competed for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Along with Park, top-10 finishers and ties earned prize money.
Park joins a list of notable Canadian golfers to have won the Canadian Junior Girls Championship including LPGA Tour players and Olympians Brooke Henderson (2012) and Alena Sharp (1999), as well as Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Sandra Post (1964-66).
Team Ontario – made up of Shauna Liu, Joline Truong and Aryn Matthews – took home the Interprovincial Team Trophy. The Ontarians edged the British Columbians by four strokes in the team event, which concluded earlier in the week.
Full results can be found here.
For more information on the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.
Celina Lam and Lynn Kuehn going toe to toe at Women’s Senior Championship heading to final round
Alberta Golf (Sundre) – Round 1 co-leaders Celina Lam and Lynn Kuehn once again matched each other to remain co-leaders heading to the final round of 2023 Women’s Senior Championship at Coyote Creek Golf and RV Resort in Sundre. Lam, Kuehn and Jackie Little were first out Wednesday morning and whipped around the course in just over 4 hours, Lam and Kuehn matching rounds of 3-over 74 while Little was 5-over 76. Both Lam and Kuehn have been in the hunt in recent years at this championship and this year it looks like a Thursday duel between the 2 of them for the title. Celina Lam plays out of The Canal at Delacour while Kuehn represents Lacombe Golf and Country Club.
Celina Lam and Lynn Kuehn co-leaders after round one of the Alberta Women’s Senior Championship
Alberta Golf (Sundre) – Perfect sunny weather for the first round of the 2023 Alberta Women’s Senior Championship from Coyote Creek Golf and RV Resort in Sundre, an hour north west of Calgary. Lynn Kuehn from Lacombe Golf and Country Club shot 1 over par with 2 birdies and 3 bogeys and is co-leader with Celina Lam from The Canal at Delacour who also had 2 birdies and 3 bogeys for a matching 1 over round of 72. Kuehn and Lam are both 5 shots clear of Jackie Little from Balfour Golf Course who sits in 3rd place with 2 rounds to go.
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH COYOTE CREEK GENERAL MANAGER BRUCE JOHNSON
Barrett Jarosch wins Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship in dramatic playoff over Ryan Werre
Alberta Golf (Windermere) – Glorious sunny day for the final round of the 2023 Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, and the golf and drama lived up to the final round hype. Starting the final round, the leader was Barrett Jarosch, competing on his home course at Windermere Golf and Country Club. Sitting one shot back was Ryan Werre from Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat, after his sparkling 7-under par 64 in the 2nd round.
The front nine belonged to Werre, with birdies on 2, 4 and 6 and an amazing up and down from the back bunker on 8 to turn in 33, while Jarosch had bogeys on 7 and 8 to turn in 36. Ryan Werre started the back nine with a 2 shot lead. That lead was extended to 3 shots after a bogey by Jarosch on the par 3 15th hole after his tee shot went long and under a tree. Ryan Werre opened the door with a short approach on 16 and a pushed tee shot on 17, both leading to bogeys while Jarosch stepped up hitting to 3 feet on the 17th green and tapping in for birdie and we had co-leaders at 5-under par with one hole to play.
On the 18th hole both Jarosch and Werre had long putts for birdie and both secured par, a hug by the flag after a great battle and they headed back to the 18th hole for a playoff. Werre’s tee shot was on the right side of the tough 18th hole fairway and hit a very solid approach inside 30 feet but Jarosch had piped a drive giving him a shorter iron in and knocked it inside 15 feet for a closer birdie attempt. After Werre’s birdie putt was just short Jarosch stepped up, navigated the break perfectly and drained the winning putt with friends and family cheering on around the green and on the clubhouse deck. It was a memorable duel and both would have been worthy champions but on this day the home course competitor, Barrett Jarosch, got the job done and claimed the trophy.
Barrett Jarosch. 2023 Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION BARRETT JAROSCH
Neil Thomas from the Edmonton Country Club, the 2023 Alberta Men’s Amateur runner-up 2 weeks ago in Innisfail, shot a final round 2-under 69 to finish 3rd and make the Alberta Inter-Provincial Team. Ryan Denbraber from the Glendale Golf and Country Club shot a 3-under 68, the low round of the final day and will be an alternate for the Inter-Provincial team.
Neil Thomas, Barrett Jarosch and Ryan Werre
A big thank you to Brice MacDermott, Michael Thompson, all the staff, members and volunteers at Windermere Golf and Country Club for a memorable week.
Barrett Jarosch leads Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship by 1 stroke over hard charging Ryan Werre
Alberta Golf (Windermere) – On a mostly windless hot day at Windermere Golf and Country Club, Barrett Jarosch shot a matching 2-under par 69 to his first round score and leads the 2023 Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship with 1 round to go. The Windermere member started on the back nine a turned in 1-over par 37 but went on a heater to start his back nine with birdies on 1, 3 and 4 on his way to back nine 32 and 4-under par total to lead the championship by 1 stroke.
The round of the day was fired by Ryan Werre who shot 7-under par 64 that included going 4-under on the par 3’s alone and an eagle on the opening hole.
2021 Alberta Mid-Amateur Champion Brandon Markiw started on the back nine and turned in 1-under 35. After knocking it to a few inches for a tap in birdie on the 2nd hole, Markiw played even par the rest of the back nine and will be in the final group with Jarosch and Werre only 3 shots off the lead.
Barrett Jarosch leads Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Windermere G&CC
Alberta Golf (Windermere) – Day one of the Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship started with a rough forecast but the day settled in and ended in sunshine. Barrett Jarosch is one of 4 members of the Windermere Golf and Country Club competing on his home track this week in South West Edmonton and his experience showed. Jarosch posted 34 on the front nine with 2 birdies and only 1 bogey and birdied 3 holes on the back nine, hitting his approach long on 18 led to a 3-putt bogey but the 2-under 69 has him in the lead with 2 rounds to play.
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH BARRETT JAROSCH AND WINDERMERE GENERAL MANGER BRICE MACDERMOTT