`Best field ever' is gathering for Nipawin Evergreen event
Scotia Wealth Management Open attracts 10 past winners, array of emerging talent
Dean Prosky apologizes for sounding like a broken record, seemingly repeating the same song and dance year after year.
“I know it gets tiring hearing `It's the best field ever,' but I have to admit, this one we have right now, with some of the late additions that are really good, we've got a great crop of players,” says Prosky, organizer for the annual Scotia Wealth Management Open, June 4 to 5 at Nipawin Evergreen Golf Course.
“It'll be interesting to see how it all shapes up. We've got an absolute amazing field, as we always do.”
Prosky counts 10 past champions — some of them have won it twice — in the field.
Phil Jonas, who won the event last year, is set to return to defend his title. Jonas has played on a number of tours internationally, with 45 career starts on the PGA Tour.
He's joined by multiple winners: Dean Brown, Brett Henry and Tyler Frank, along with fellow past winners Jerry Christiansen, Colin Coben, Danny Klughart, Pat Marcia, Dave Stewart and Ashley Ziegeman.
Fourteen pros are entered in the Nipawin event, along with Saskatchewan's next wave of young golfers.
“You know what? We've got so many good young players,” noted Prosky. “Everybody's making their mark on golf and there are such good, strong players.”
Prosky lists PGA Tour Canada hopefuls Ty Campbell and Kade Johnson, along with 2021 Saskatchewan Amateur champion Roman Timmerman, Saskatchewan Junior champion Hunter Kutcher, Alex Swinnerton (2021 provincial junior runner-up and 2020 Junior Lobstick winner) and two-time junior champ Josh Nagy.
Timmerman recently teamed up with Marc Sweeney to capture the Northern Team Championship, with a 14-under two-day score, at Prince Albert Cooke Municipal.
Campbell won the Sask Am in 2020 and Johnson captured the title in 2018. They'll chase the dream in the Canadian circuit this summer.
“It's nice to see guys are still working on their game and trying to get better,” noted Prosky.
They're joined by 2019 Saskam and three-time Mid-am champion Klughart and former junior champ Christiansen in the field.
“Just lots of great young players,” stressed Prosky. “I've mentioned this before — ever since Graham Delaet (emerged on the PGA Tour), the growth of golf in this province has been tremendous.
“The field is just fabulous.”
Also in the mix is former PGA Tour Canada player Clint Schiller, who has been busy trying to do U.S. Open qualifying.
Up for grabs this year is a spot in the upcoming PGA Tour Canada event at Elk Ridge.
“It's a nice feather in the cap to all the players who come to the event that have an opportunity, with our event, to get an exemption to the Elk Ridge Open on the PGA Canada (circuit),” added Prosky. “It's nice to be thought of in that way.”
Nipawin Evergreen is sure to provide a real test for the golfers. It always does.
“It's amazing how Nipawin Evergreen holds its own,” noted Prosky. “You always expect someone to go really low out there, but no one's ever really done it. It's a tough start and tough finish. And it's not long, which is nice. You don't have to be a 7,100-yard golf course to challenge it, which is nice.”
KOZAK GETS INVITE
Ella Kozak, who won the 2021 Saskatchewan Women's Amateur, is also in the field.
Kozak is set to become the second woman to play in the tournament. The other is Carla Odnokon.
Yorkton's Kozak has already started her season off strong, taking the 15 — to-19-year-old girls' category at the Maple
Leaf Junior Golf Tour event last weekend in Swift Current with a three-round score of 218 (70, 74, 74)
“I think it's nice for her to play and get more competition and be well received,” said Prosky. “It's nice to give the top lady in the province an invitation to be playing the event.
“It grows the game and it's something different and nice to have.”
This year's honourees include the late Kathy Morrow, Marla Meginbir, Wenda Coley and Warren Woods.
The Nipawin tournament was played in 2021 after taking 2020 off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We kind of missed it, so it's nice to be back at it,” admitted Prosky. “It comes quick (in the spring).”