Alberta Golf (Calgary) – 2-time defending Alberta Match Play champion Brendan MacDougall pulled out some heroics in his semi-final match winning on the second playoff hole over Chandler McDowell after being 3 down with 3 holes to play while Max Sekulic had an easier go of it, defeating Jace Oullette 5 & 4.

The Thursday morning semi-final victories by MacDougall and Sekulic pitted the two Glencoe Golf and Country Club standouts together in the Thursday afternoon final at River Spirit Golf Club.

MacDougall birdied the 2nd and 5th holes to go 2up, but Sekulic went on a run taking 5 of the next 7 holes to go 3up through 12 holes.

MacDougall hit the par 4 15th hole on his tee shot and drained the eagle putt to be only 2 down with three to play, but Sekulic hit his tee shot on the par 3 17th hole to 4 feet and the match ended there with a 2 and 1 victory for Max Sekulic.

The victory gives Sekulic a spot in the 2020 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship.

Alberta Golf’s Kevin Smith has a full video wrap on the Match Play finals.

Photos of the 3-day event here MATCH PLAY FLIKR PHOTOS

Alberta Golf (Calgary) –

2-time defending Alberta Match Play champion Brendan MacDougall pulled off serious magic on the first playoff hole in his round of 16 match against Michael Valk, jugging a flop shot to snatch victory from a match that could have gone the other away.

WATCH:

MacDougall will face Chandler McDowell in one semi final while upstart Jace Oullette, who beat big lefty Tyler Saunders 2 &1, will square up with Max Sekulic in the other semi final.

Check out the semi-final match play bracket here:

Kevin Smith has a full video recap of Wednesday’s action

Semi-final action starts Thursday at 7am at River Spirit Golf Club with a champion crowned after the finals match Thursday afternoon.

CALGARY – The 2019 Alberta Match Play Championship is set to begin on Tuesday at River Spirit Golf Club just west of Calgary. A field of 50 competitors will battle it out over an 18-hole stroke-play round on Tuesday morning for a lucrative spot in the 16 player match play bracket Wednesday morning.

2019 sees defending champion Brendan MacDougall look for his third straight title after back to back wins in 2017 at the Sundre Golf Club and 2018 at Silver Springs Golf and Country Club.

KEY INFO

Dates: June 4-6^th

Course: River Spirit Golf Club (Millburn/Cattails)

Yards/Par: Up to 7,200 / 72

Field: 50

2018 champion: Brendan MacDougall (@thedooogs), 1up over Brady McKinlay

Format: 18 hole stroke play qualifying round for 16-player match play bracket

Tuesday Tee Times: Stroke play pairings

Social: #abmatchplay

LOOKING BACK

The 2018 Alberta Match Play Championship saw Brendan MacDougall of the Glencoe Golf & Country Club successfully defend his title after defeating Brady McKinlay of Lacombe Golf & Country Club 1 UP in the final match. McKinlay brought the match back to all square heading to the eighteenth tee. But after an errant fairway bunker shot left him in a tough green side position MacDougall was able to close out the match with a solid bunker shot and a conceded putt for victory.

MacDougall beat opponents Andrew Harvie, Matt Bean, Tyler Saunders and the young gun Brady McKinlay en route to the title. He was down early in three of the four matches but clawed his way back with consistently strong play throughout the closing holes.

Back to Back as rising junior @thedooogs completes his title defense at the @Alberta_Golf Match Play Championship and is exempt into the 2018 & 2019 @PacificCoastAm!!! #HPUGolf #RollPoint #GetTheHardware ???

Photo Credit: @Alberta_Golf pic.twitter.com/IX1c2Sz0WL

— High Point Golf (@HPUmensgolf) June 9, 2018

HISTORY

First contested in 2004, the Alberta Match Play Championship took a six year hiatus beginning in 2009. It was re-launched in 2015 and has a history of crowning worthy champions:

2004 – Ryan Swelin
2005 – Barrett Jarosch
2006 – Kris Wasylowich
2007 – Michael Knight
2008 – Darren Hupfer
2015 – Patrick Murphy
2016 – Jack Wood
2017/2018 – Brendan MacDougall

NOTABLES

• Brendan MacDougall – 2017 and 2018 Alberta Match Play champion
• Max Sekulic – 2017 Alberta Junior champion
• Carter Graf – 2017 Alberta Willingdon Cup team member, 2018 MJT national champion
• Kai Iguchi – 2018 Future Links Western champion
• Chandler McDowell – 2018 Alberta Junior & Juvenile Boys champion
• Brandon Markiw – 2018 Alberta Mid Amateur champion
• Tyler Saunders – 2014 Alberta Amateur champion, 2018 Edmonton Amateur champion

ABOUT THE COURSE

Located 15 minutes west of Calgary, the layout at River Spirit Golf Club is a true gem. The Elbow River and Millburn Creek provide a breathtaking backdrop to many of River Spirit’s signature holes. River Spirit Golf Club boasts three different 9-hole layouts for a total of 27 holes that can be combined into many interesting outings. All courses at River Spirit feature four different sets of tees to ensure an enjoyable round for every caliber of golfer. No matter how you choose to play River Spirit, you will find yourself among some of the most picturesque scenery in all of golf. River Spirit website here.

MEDIA

• Qualifying round pairings and times

• Flickr albums

Alberta Golf (Calgary) – Alberta Golf’s focus on youth golf in 2019 is now accompanied by a dedicated junior website “Alberta Golf Juniors”.

The new albertagolfjuniors.org  website is a one stop shop for all of our youth programs.

The website outlines the junior pathway, our new Future Links “Youth on Course” pilot program to give youth access to golf rounds for $5 or less, information on junior achievement camps, how to get sponsored by private clubs and much more.

The website will also be the home to all information on the 25-event McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour that has been a successful launching pad for juniors to experience golf in a competitive environment.

If you want to explore all the great fun the game of golf has to offer, “Alberta Golf Juniors” is the place to be, and we’ll see you on the tee !

Alberta Golf (Edmonton) – The third qualifier for this summer’s Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship was held Wednesday at the Sturgeon Valley Golf and Country Club.

Dale Watamaniuk from the Glendale Golf and Country Club fired a sparkling 6 under 66 to take low medalist honours.

In all 25 qualifiers and 3 alternates emerged from the 85 player field.

Full field scores here…

The Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship will be held at the Wolf Creek Golf Resort from July 16th-19th.

Alberta Golf (Ponoka) – The second qualifier for this summer’s Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship was held Tuesday at the Ponoka Community Golf Club.

Jace Ouellette from the Innisfail Golf and Country Club fired a 1 under 71 to take low medalist honours.

In all 11 qualifiers and 3 alternates emerged from the 37 player field.

Full field scores here…

The 3rd qualifier is set for Wednesday May 29th at the Sturgeon Valley Golf and Country Club.

The Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur Championship will be held at the Wolf Creek Golf Resort from July 16th-19th.

Alberta Golf held their 2019 Spring Launch Thursday May 23rd at River Bend Golf Club in Red Deer.

The event brought together industry stakeholders, golf course professionals and staff, media, partners, sponsors, suppliers and volunteers.

Lisa Vlooswyk, Tiffany Gordon, Kim Carrington and Judy Forshner. Photo courtesy of Lisa Vlooswyk.

The focus was on Alberta Golf’s dedication to the public golfer, youth, family and recreational golf this season.

Alberta Golf has acquired the McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour presented by Crowe MacKay which will see youth compete at 25 events across the province this season.

Alberta Golf board chair Peter Major.

Also showcased were new programs Future Links “Youth on Course” and the Calgary Golf Festival presented by Shaw. The Alberta Golf Spring Launch is now a yearly staple on our calendar to unofficially kick off what should be a great golf season with programs for all levels and ages of players.

The 2019 Subaru Shootout is coming up Saturday June 1st at RedTail Landing Golf Club in Nisku, Alberta.

Teams may consist of any 4 golfers, men or women, amateur or pro. Lowest score wins !

For more info and to register click HERE