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Amateur Men’s Championship underway at Deer Park

The 106th Access Communications SK Amateur Men’s Golf Championship is being held at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton this week. The tournament, comprised of 42 golfers, started on Monday and runs until Thursday.

The 106th Access Communications SK Amateur Men’s Golf Championship is being held at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton this week. 

The tournament, comprised of 42 golfers, started on Monday and runs until Thursday. The four-day competition has everyone playing in the first three days. After the third round, it’s cut to the best 21 and ties, who will then play on Thursday for the championship.

Dick DeRyk is chair of the host committee for the tournament, and he said there are some great golfers taking part in this week’s tournament. 

“We’re really pleased that there are eight Yorkton-and-area golfers,” DeRyk said on the first day of play. “It adds some interest for the local people to come out and watch.”

The public is encouraged to stop by and take in some of the action, and maybe support a few of the local men. But spectators should show up early. Things start at 7:00 a.m. each morning, and it wraps up in the early afternoon.

The tournament is open to not only Saskatchewan golfers, but outsiders as well. There are a few golfers from Ontario and Alberta. 

“This competition also determines the four players who will form the Willingdon Cup team - which is the team that takes part in national competitions on behalf of Saskatchewan,” said DeRyk. While anyone in the competition can win the tournament, only Saskatchewan golfers can earn a spot on the Willingdon Cup team.

“They’re playing for the honour of being the best golfer in Saskatchewan, or wherever they are [from], but they’re also playing to represent Saskatchewan on the team that takes part in national competitions,” added DeRyk.

DeRyk also talked about the course itself, and said it’s not as easy as it may look.

“This is a deceptive golf course. If you look at it on paper, it’s short – only 6300 yards, so people think ‘it can’t be that tough.’ But you have to put the ball in the right spot,” he said. “It’s not a golf course where you can just flail away and just hit it as long as you can because you can get into all sorts of trouble.”

Because of that, the hometown players have a ‘home court advantage.’ 

“Those people know the golf course. They should play reasonably well,” said DeRyk. “When you’re familiar with the greens, it makes a whole lot of difference.”

The local results of the first round, which was all that was available at time of print, are as follows:

 

Matt Procyshen

RD 1 Score: 1 over: 73

Overall Score: +1

Placing: T4th.

 

Kade Johnson

RD 1 Score: 4 over: 76

Overall Score: +4

Placing: T10th.

 

Mitchell Matichuk

RD 1 Score: 4 over: 76

Overall Score: +4

Placing: T10th.

 

Stephen Oleskiw

RD 1 Score: 5 over: 77

Overall Score: +5

Placing: T15th.

 

Paul Keys

RD 1 Score: 5 over: 77

Overall Score: +5

Placing: T15th.

 

Todd Thorsness

RD 1 Score: 7 over: 79

Overall Score: +7

Placing: T18th.

 

Chris Burton 

RD 1 Score: 12 over: 84  

Overall Score: +12 

Placing: T36th.