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Once the teams have been decided, team members will then fo- cus on getting ready to bring their A game in the crucible of team competition. “The beauty of the Games is that the kids will be playing under a different format, where the three of the best five team scores are counted,” Goodbrandson says. “We’ve found that the kids really enjoy it. They get to learn how to compete, and how to help out and cheer for their teammates. It’s a great way to introduce kids to tournament golf.” Not surprisingly, the Western Canada Summer Games has acted as a launching pad for many of Manitoba’s best young golfers. Notables include Aaron Cockerill, a current member of the Mack- enzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada who recently earned status on the European PGA Tour, along with former Bisons men’s golf team standouts Charlie Boyechko, Bryce Barr and Josh Wytinck. Bri-ann Tokariwski, the current head coach of the U of M Bisons women’s golf team, along with sisters Jenna and Camryn Road- ley, also played in the Games before establishing themselves as forces to be reckoned with locally and abroad. Cala Korman of Killarney – whose best competitive score is 85 – hopes to play well enough to earn a spot on the junior women’s squad. “I want to make the team, but mostly just want to learn and have fun,” says the 13-year-old, who aspires to one day play on the LPGA Tour. “I’d be excited if I made the team. It would be really cool to play for team Manitoba against other provinces like Al- berta and B.C.” Goodbrandson says the overall experience will be beneficial for each participant regardless whether they make it to Swift Current or not. “Every experience you go through helps you grow as a golfer. It’s neat to watch the kids as they go through training, qualifying and then playing in the tournament. Initially, they’re so nervous they can barely tee it up. Then you just watch them get better and bet- ter to the point that they get so confident that they really enjoy it (the heat of competition).” He adds that the benefits derived from being immersed in a com - petitive team environment go beyond golf. “It’s a great experience that builds self-confidence, creates friend - ships and generates lasting memories,” Goodbrandson says. “From a golf perspective, you never know where a kid might go from playing in the Games. Even if they don’t go on to play profes- sionally, they’ll have made lasting friendships and found a sport they can play for a lifetime.”
BY TODD LEWYS
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The future of junior golf in Manitoba has never looked brighter than it does heading into the 2019 golf season, reports Garth Goodbrandson, Golf Manitoba’s director of player development. “In particular, interest in vying for spots on the boys and girls teams that will compete in the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games in Swift Current, Sask. from Aug. 13 to 18 has been at a record-high level,” Goodbrandson says. “We started with a meeting in December with the players to ex- plain our program and do fitness testing,” he adds, noting each team will be comprised of five players 16 years of age and under. “Then, in January, we started weekly practice at the Golf Dome. Attendance was excellent.” While there was a healthy contingent of boys on hand, the number of girls in attendance was even more impressive. “The kids were really keen, especially the girls,” he says. “We actu - ally had 11 girls aged 15 and under come out, with most of them being 13 or 14. They’re very athletic, and hit the ball hard. More girls are coming into the sport with hockey and gymnastics back- grounds, so they can really hit the ball a long way.” Over the next few months, Goodbrandson and his staff will be charged with the task of harnessing all that raw talent – a process that’s been moving forward steadily since the start of the year. “Basically, we introduced the kids to things like developing good practice habits, pre-shot routines and course manage- ment,” he says. “The goal is to make things fun so they develop a passion for the sport. We also brought out the University of Manitoba’s men’s and women’s teams to practice with the kids. They gave them role models to look up to, and someone for the kids to mirror.” Now that spring has arrived, the training will continue outdoors – and competition for the five spots on each team will get real. “Qualifying starts in May,” he says. “Players will play seven rounds, with their top five scores being used. Qualifying finishes at the Manitoba Junior, which will be played in early July (July 6 to 9 for men July 7 to 9 for women). Having the last qualifying rounds come down to those tournaments really builds excitement. It of- ten goes down to the last round, even the last hole.”
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