MADGE LAKE - The Golden Duck Match Play Championship was held at the Madge Lake Golf Resort from August 20 to 22.Participating in the event were 60 men and 30 women. While the men played singles, the women played a “two-person scramble” style.
Course partner/owner, Rich Patterson, put in a ton of work organizing the flagship event that was sponsored by Madge Lake Golf Resort, Molson, and Alaris Equity Partners. The hole-in-one prizes were sponsored by Smoker Brokers, Madge Lake Golf Resort, Nykolaishen Farms, Home Hardware and Alaris Equity Partners.
The three-day tournament kicked off on Friday with some cool weather, a gorgeous sunny Saturday, and a soggy, wet Sunday – with rain really picking up around 11:00 a.m.
“Most of the finals had to be shortened due to the rain and the course getting so saturated,” explained Darren Driscoll, partner/owner. “It was really a credit to those people that kept playing through such difficult conditions. The course was in incredibly good shape and a huge thanks to the entire grounds crew and the clubhouse staff on a tremendously successful showcase weekend for Madge Lake.”
The Iron Grill restaurant out of Kamsack catered a meal on Saturday night that players described as “exceptional.” A number of club members volunteered over the weekend to help with check-in services, pitching in at the burger bar, and assisting with restaurant service throughout the busy event.
Participating men were put into groups of 16 to start and then 12 groups of eight after day one. Each group of 12 went on to win a duck, with the championship flight getting a golden one. For those that may not know, “golf flights” are described as a series of smaller competitions within a golf tournament. A flight is a grouping of individual golfers or teams who are competing against one another, instead of the entire field. Each flight is usually made up of golfers of similar scoring ability.
In the men’s semi-finals Chris Burton of Yorkton beat Stephen Rosowsky of Yorkton. Burton dazzled everyone by sinking a hole-in-one on the par three 12th hole - winning $3,500 from a local sponsor - Home Hardware in Kamsack. Matt Procyshen of Saskatoon edged Zac Fedorak from Kamsack in the other semi-final. Chris Burton went on to overcome Matt Procyshen in a very wet and rainy final 18th hole.
Ladies were divided into two flights and the championship flight was clinched by Karen Cottenie of Madge Lake and Cathy Inglis of Yorkton who defeated Kathy Weber from Madge Lake and Jill Conkin from Saskatoon in the final. The Ladies B Flight saw sisters, Amber Trowell of Saskatoon and Erin Trowell of Sturgis defeat Sally Driscoll of Calgary and her niece, Ciara McFadden of Calgary in the B final.
A tournament highlight was the Horse Race on Friday night. Organized by Bryan Atwood, 26 teams of two started on the first hole with one club each. Players alternated shots with their partners, dropping five or six teams each hole. In the end, the 2021 Horse Race Champs were Madge Lakers Ken Cottenie and Jim Klempp.
Hub Insurance sponsored a $100,000 hole-in-one shootout from 180 yards on the 18th hole. Sadly no one won, however, Tom Jordens, Sr. from Madge Lake was closest to glory!
