The 2026 championship season officially began yesterday with the fourth edition of the Alberta Best Ball Championship at Sundre Golf Club. The championship featured a full field of 120 players and welcomed many familiar faces back to competitive golf, including the defending champions from 2025, standout university players such as Paxton Maxwell, and veteran competitors including Grant Lee and Ken Griffith.

While several notable names were in contention throughout the day, it was the young duo of Saylar May and Brae Rogalczyk who captured the 2026 Alberta Best Ball Championship title with an impressive bogey-free round of 61 (-11).

The pair put together an outstanding performance that included two eagle chip-ins from Rogalczyk and seven additional birdies. Their resilience was also on display with a chip-in for par that helped preserve a clean scorecard throughout the round.

“I think it’s great,” said Rogalczyk when asked about the Best Ball Championship kicking off his season. “It’s one of the first tournaments of the year, but it’s nice to get out there. There’s a little less pressure because you’re playing as a team, and it’s the perfect venue.” May echoed his comments and added “it makes it more fun because usually it’s just you out there”.

In the Net Division, AJ Mark and Ryan O’Neill claimed victory with a bogey-free net score of 63 (-9). Their round featured two net eagles on par fives as they secured the championship.

The full leaderboard can be found at the link below, including scoring date from all the players.

Best Ball Leaderboard

Notable Highlights

• The 2026 Alberta Best Ball Championship once again proved to be one of Alberta Golf’s most popular events, selling out in under 30 minutes.
• Saylar May became the first female competitor to win the Alberta Best Ball Championship. The victory adds to an already impressive resume that includes the 2024 and 2025 U17 Girls’ Championships, along with the 2025 U19 Girls’ Championship.
• Brae Rogalczyk earned his first Alberta Golf championship victory after several previous close finishes. The win adds to a growing list of accomplishments that includes five MJT victories in 2025 and selection to the 2024 Alberta-Montana Ryder Cup Team.
• The 2025 defending champions finished tied for 24th at 2-under-par (70). Other notable teams finishing tied for 14th included Cartwright/Maxwell, Maxwell/Utley, Butterfield/Butterfield, Scott/Hilsenteger, Rawe/Demorest, and SAIT Trojans teammates Colberg/Lehmann.

• The championship schedule gets put on hold for the next month until the 2026 Mid-Master Championship gets underway at Water Valley Golf Club on June 23. In the meantime, Alberta Golf will begin running qualifiers for the Men’s Amateur, Alberta Open, Men’s Mid-Amateur, Men’s Senior, and Men’s Mid-Master Championships.

The 2026 championship season officially begins tomorrow with the Alberta Best Ball Championship at Sundre Golf Club. Now entering its third year, the event has quickly established itself as a favourite among competitors from across the province. Before the season gets underway, here’s a closer look at what makes the championship such a unique and popular stop on the Alberta Golf calendar.

The Event

Introduced in 2023 as a relaxed, early-season competition designed to help players ease back into tournament golf, the Alberta Best Ball Championship has rapidly become a staple on many competitors’ schedules. The inaugural field featured 80 players before growing to 100 the following year and reaching a full field of 120 players in each of the last two seasons. Demand for the event has continued to rise, with registration selling out in under 30 minutes in both 2024 and 2025.

The championship is contested in a two-person best ball format, where each player competes with their own ball throughout the round. At the conclusion of each hole, the team records the lower of the two scores as its official score. The format is especially appealing early in the season, as it encourages aggressive play while also providing players with the security of a partner’s score if they encounter trouble on a hole.

The event is open to players of all skill levels, with no handicap requirements. Teams may be comprised of male, female, or mixed-gender pairings, further contributing to the championship’s welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.

Event Format

Event Leaderboard

The Course

Sundre Golf Club has proudly hosted the championship since its inception in 2023. The course’s tight, strategic layout is ideally suited to the best ball format, often encouraging one player to take a conservative approach off the tee while their partner attacks more aggressive lines and scoring opportunities.

The 18-hole facility features challenging golf for players of all abilities, highlighted by rolling greens, mature trees, and picturesque water features throughout the property. In addition to the course itself, the club offers practice facilities, professional instruction, club and cart rentals, and a renovated clubhouse complete with a pro shop and restaurant.

Alberta’s Trophy 18 – ONe Highlight Hole From Every Alberta Host Venue (Sundre #8)

The Players

With 120 players in the field, the 2026 championship features an impressive mix of established competitors, rising stars, and recognizable names from across Alberta golf. Here are several teams to watch this week:

Family Connections

The championship field also features several family pairings and head-to-head matchups:

• Joe and Sean Kelly will once again compete together, while Brad Kelly takes on his sons in the field.
• Brothers Curtis and Troy Butterfield reunite as teammates for another season.
• Ben Lehmann and Zach Lehmann will compete against one another, with Zach teaming up alongside college teammate Chris Colberg.

A Championship for All Ages

The Alberta Best Ball Championship continues to showcase the diversity of Alberta’s golf community, including a wide range of ages competing side-by-side.

• Oldest Team (Combined Age): Ken Griffith (65) & Grant Lee (62)
• Youngest Team (Combined Age): Judah Wurtz (16) & Andrew Schmidt (16)

With a full field, an exciting format, and a strong mix of talent throughout the draw, the Alberta Best Ball Championship promises to provide an exciting start to the 2026 championship season. Play begins tomorrow with a shotgun start at 12:00 p.m.