Tamarack – Brandon Sun

Knoop edges Baron in men’s final

By Perry Bergson 5 minute read Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

WASAGAMING — Chris Knoop’s short game went a long way at the Tamarack and ultimately made him a champion.

The Moose Jaw product beat Carberry’s Joel Baron one-up in the men’s championship flight on Saturday at Clear Lake Golf Course in a matchup between a pair of players who had never won the top prize before.

Knoop, whose wife is from Brandon, has played in the event eight or nine times over the years. He’s been in the championship flight all but once, but previously only made it as far as the semifinal.

“It feels really cool,” Knoop said. “There are a lot of really big Manitoba golfers who have come and won this, and guys I have gotten to know over the last eight, 10 years. They’re fantastic golfers, and to be able to add my name to that is pretty neat. It’s pretty cool.”

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Olson, Rutledge defend women’s crown

By Perry Bergson 3 minute read Preview

Olson, Rutledge defend women’s crown

By Perry Bergson 3 minute read Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

WASAGAMING — In a battle of the two top teams in the championship flight of the ladies scramble, the defending champions emerged victorious.

Leslie Olson and Tracy Rutledge beat Joan Johns and Kelly Sheard three-and-two on Saturday at Clear Lake Golf Course to earn their second consecutive title.

“I’m just so proud,” Olson said. “I never thought I would win a Tamarack first of all, so to win back to back is a real honour. The mystique and charm of Tamarack is so embedded in this community especially. To win it back to back is very special. It doesn’t matter who you are, it’s just a fabulous experience and a great feeling to go home a champion.”

Johns and Sheard led the way in qualifying with a 73, and then beat eighth-ranked Karla Dane and Cyndy Nylen and fourth-ranked Barb Coulter and Patty Gordon. Olson and Rutledge, meanwhile, were second in qualifying with a 76 and beat seventh-ranked Cathi Bowd and Rhonda Williams and third-ranked Dorelle Fulton and Kandis Matthews.

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Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

Leslie Olson, shown in action, and partner Tracy Rutledge won the ladies’ scramble at the Tamarack on Saturday at the Clear Lake Golf Course. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
Aug. 24, 2024

Late camp provides early opportunity in men’s scramble

By Perry Bergson 4 minute read Preview

Late camp provides early opportunity in men’s scramble

By Perry Bergson 4 minute read Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

WASAGAMING — As it turns out, Riese Gaber’s move to professional hockey was bad news for the other golfers participating in the inaugural men’s scramble at the Tamarack.

The 24-year-old forward from Gilbert Plains graduated from North Dakota after an outstanding four-year college career, and signed a deal with the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers.

Since training camp opens much later in the pro ranks, it allowed he and his friend Scott McCallum — the former Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman who is head pro and general manager of the Gilbert Plains Country Club — to enter the annual event at the Clear Lake Golf Course.

“Riese had been away at university so he never had the opportunity to play in the Tamarack so we made a pact that when he did come back and was able to play in the Tamarack, that we would do it together,” McCallum said. “This year, pro camp doesn’t start until September so he was able to come, and then the scramble came out and we said ‘Heck, why don’t we do that together, that would be so much fun!’ And it really was.”

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Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

Riese Gaber watches as Scott McCallum chips on the ninth hole during the final of the men's scramble at the Tamarack on Saturday at the Clear Lake Golf Course. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
Aug. 24, 2024

Tamarack worth wait for Hodgson

By Perry Bergson 3 minute read Preview

Tamarack worth wait for Hodgson

By Perry Bergson 3 minute read Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

WASAGAMING — Gene Hodgson nearly didn’t make it into the Tamarack.

After winning the senior men’s championship flight over top seed George Sheard on Saturday, he’s certainly glad he did.

“I was on a waiting list until Thursday,” Hodgson said with a chuckle. “The seniors only had eight to start with, which is absolutely ridiculous. It used to be 32 and sometimes more, but this year there were 13 entrants so they had a waiting list, and I was fifth on the waiting list.

“I had played quite a bit because I was going to go to Tamarack and I wanted to be good, and then it was ‘I’m not going,” because I was on the waiting list. However, my son and my daughter and my grandson and my grandson’s girlfriend were in, so I was ‘OK, I didn’t get in but I can watch them. Then I got in too so it was a busy week.”

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Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

Gene Hodgson is shown in action against George Sheard in the senior men's final at the Tamarack on Saturday at the Clear Lake Golf Course. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
Aug. 24, 2024

Chuback leaves juniors as two-time champ

By Perry Bergson 3 minute read Preview

Chuback leaves juniors as two-time champ

By Perry Bergson 3 minute read Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

WASAGAMING — Grady Chuback’s last dance in the junior men’s division of the Tamarack proved to be good one.

The top-seeded 18-year-old from Winnipeg beat Brandon’s Tate Bercier 3-and-2 on Saturday at Clear Lake Golf Course to earn his second junior men’s victory in the championship flight.

“It’s really cool,” said Chuback, who golfs at UBC. “This is my favourite event of the year by far. I love everything about it and am going to continue playing in it as long as I can. I think it’s amazing with the history, so to win it twice is special.”

Chuback posted a sensational 65 in qualifying, and topped eighth-ranked Jeri Lafleche and fourth-ranked Boston Karlson. Bercier, meanwhile, was second with a 68 and beat seventh-ranked Lukas Jensen and sixth-ranked Kaeson Fisher.

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Monday, Aug. 26, 2024

Grady Chuback blasts out of the sand during the Tamarack final on Saturday at the Clear Lake Golf Course as he beat Tate Bercier to win the junior men's championship. (Perry Bergson/The Brandon Sun)
Aug. 24, 2024

TAMARACK RESULTS: Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024

3 minute read Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024

MEN

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Chris Knoop (3) def. Joel Baron (4)

CHAMPIONSHIP CONSOLATION

Knoop, Baron advance to men’s final

By Zoe Pierce 4 minute read Preview

Knoop, Baron advance to men’s final

By Zoe Pierce 4 minute read Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024

WASAGAMING — Chris Knoop’s magic on the greens and Joel Baron’s unmatched driving ability will face off today in the men’s championship flight finals, after both advanced with dominant performances on Friday at Clear Lake Golf Course.

Reaching the championship flight finals is uncharted territory for Knoop and Baron in their Tamarack careers, and both are hoping to cap off this week’s unprecedented success with a victory.

Baron defeated the top-seeded and expected Tamarack champion, Evan Nachtigall, to make his way to the final two.

“Game was a little shaky for a few holes,” said Baron after his match. “But for the most part, was pretty good today… I knew I was gonna have to play very well to have a chance against (Nachtigall).

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Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024

Joel Baron advanced to his first berth in the Tamarack men's championship flight final with a dominant 5-and-4 over medallist Evan Nachtigall. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

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TAMARACK RESULTS: Friday, Aug. 23, 2024

4 minute read Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024

MEN

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Joel Baron (4) def. Evan Nachtigall (1)

Chris Knoop (3) def. Kolby Day (10)

New men’s winner will be crowned

By Zoe Pierce 6 minute read Preview

New men’s winner will be crowned

By Zoe Pierce 6 minute read Friday, Aug. 23, 2024

WASAGAMING — A first-time winner will hoist the Tamarack men’s trophy on Saturday.

Chris Knoop, Evan Nachtigall, Joel Baron and Kolby Day all advanced to the semifinals on Thursday at Clear Lake Golf Course — none with a Tamarack men’s championship title to their names, but all determined to play their best golf in the hopes of a victory.

Day, a former Tamarack junior champion, has now knocked out two past men’s winners with a 3-and-2 victory over Josh McPhail.

“I feel like I’m definitely building momentum off that first match and that comeback against Kody (Fawcett),” said Day who beat the three-time champion in a playoff match Tuesday. “Was able to play the green really solid today and I was able to make a few putts, which is always good.”

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Friday, Aug. 23, 2024

Chris Knoop, shown last year, said his putter saved the day during the Tamarack golf tournament men's quarterfinals at Clear Lake Golf Course on Thursday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

Tamarack champs of the past decade

By Thomas Friesen 7 minute read Preview

Tamarack champs of the past decade

By Thomas Friesen 7 minute read Friday, Aug. 23, 2024

The Tamarack golf tournament has a slightly different feel on semifinal Friday.

Whether it’s due to fatigue after a long week, a lack of sleep after entertainment night on Thursday or half the field being eliminated, it’s certainly quieter at Clear Lake Golf Course. As the top four players and teams battle for spots in their respective finals today, here’s a look back at how the past few Tamarack champs were crowned.

2023 — Josh McPhail

Having watched a bunch of his friends hoist the trophy after some close calls, Josh McPhail broke through with a spectacular run.

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Friday, Aug. 23, 2024

Kody Fawcett, left, and his father Keith pose with their Tamarack championship trophies at the Clear Lake Golf Course on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018. Kody won the men's title while Keith claimed the champion men's crown. (Brandon Sun files)

Master’s flight features familiar foes

By Zoe Pierce 5 minute read Preview

Master’s flight features familiar foes

By Zoe Pierce 5 minute read Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024

WASAGAMING — Each year in the Tamarack, the same familiar faces return to compete in the Master’s Championship Flight, where decade-long friendships meet on the course, continuing a long-standing tradition for many golfers at Clear Lake Golf Course.

For Kevin Ziolkowski, playing against the same men over the past seven years means he has some unfinished business.

After losing in the finals last year against defending champion Bruce North, Ziolkowski will face the seven-time men’s champion once again on Friday in the semifinals after defeating Darren Graves on Wednesday afternoon. With the win against Graves, the redemption path for Ziolkowski has already started.

In 2022, Graves ousted Ziolkowski 5 and 4 in the quarterfinals — but this year it was No. 7 seed Ziolkowski who was able to pull through with a 1-up victory against the No. 2 seed.

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Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024

Kevin Ziolkowski, shown in 2023, defeated Darren Graves at the Tamarack golf tournament masters men's at Clear Lake Golf Course on Wednesday. (Photos by Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

TAMARACK RESULTS: Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024

3 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024

MASTER’S SEMIS

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Rod Klassen (1) def. Jack McDiarmid (8)

Kevin Ziolkowski (7) def. Darren Graves (2)

TAMARACK RESULTS: Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2024

3 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024

MEN

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Evan Nachtigall (1) def. Tyson Cloet (16)

Josh McPhail (2) def. David Glenn (15)

Polanski earns marathon victory

By Zoe Pierce 5 minute read Preview

Polanski earns marathon victory

By Zoe Pierce 5 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024

There’s no quit in Tyler Polanski.

It took 25 holes, but that didn’t stop the 20-year-old out of Winnipeg from beating Trent Turner and advancing to the men’s championship flight quarterfinals on a windy day at Clear Lake Golf Course Tuesday.

Polanski is the youngest member of the men’s championship flight, but he looks like any other experienced golfer on the course — coming out of qualifying in the No. 8 seed and holding on in the men’s champions flight round of 16 to advance, even if it took six hours.

“Didn’t think my morning was going to go like this,” admitted Polanski after his win. “But at the end of the day, it paid off.”

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Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024

Braeden Mueller, shown in 2019, made his way to the quarterfinals. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)

From penalty kick saves to par saves

By Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Preview

From penalty kick saves to par saves

By Thomas Friesen 5 minute read Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024

Craig Forrest hoped the coin toss wouldn’t go Canada’s way.

It was a week before the Canadian goalkeeper would win MVP of the CONCACAF Gold Cup when following two group-stage draws, nothing separated his side from South Korea. So it had to be heads or tails for the right to play — and presumably lose badly to — Mexico.

“If we do win the coin toss we have to go back down to San Diego to play Mexico … that’s not good,” said Forrest, who had a tee time lined up for that day.

“I’m not sure I want to play Mexico, I want to play golf.”

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Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024

Canadian goalkeeper Craig Forrest, right, and defender Jason de Vos hold the Gold Cup during the award ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in February 2000. Forrest was named tournament MVP. (Wire Services)

Chuback rips it up with 10 birdies

By Zoe Pierce 6 minute read Preview

Chuback rips it up with 10 birdies

By Zoe Pierce 6 minute read Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024

WASAGAMING — Grady Chuback is back to defend his Tamarack junior title.

After putting up an impressive eight birdies last year to close out the junior finals, Chuback started this year’s qualifying with the same dominant spark.

What’s better than eight birdies? How about 10?

With a final score of 7-under par 65, Chuback’s performance was more than enough to give him the medallist honours at Clear Lake Golf Course on Monday.

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Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024

March 2, 2025

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