Quarry Oaks steps up to host provincial Mid-Amateur after flooding

Torrential rainfall meant the scheduled Manitoba Women’s Amateur and the Men’s Mid-Amateur provincial championships had to be scrapped last week. The tournaments were scheduled for Gilbert Plains Country Club, just West of Dauphin, July 1-3.

The re-scheduled men’s mid-amateur is coming to Quarry Oaks in late-July. The women’s amateur was quickly re-scheduled to be at St Charles as nationals are right around the corner. Flooding at Gilbert Plains nearly reached the roof of their storage sheds that weekend.

“I’ve never seen something like this in 20 years,” Gilbert Plains golf professional and general manager Scott McCallum told the Brandon Sun. McCallum was unable to drive into the property on the day of the tournament.

“I’m looking for a boat to try and get there… It’s certainly disheartening, especially in a year when you’re trying to empower your grounds crew to be detail-oriented all the way up to this event, and we were two days away or one rain away, essentially, from hosting the event.

The Canadian Mid-Amateur championship is set for Aug. 18-21. The tournament features the best amateur players who are older than 25-years-old.

“First of all, our thoughts are with everyone in Western Manitoba dealing with these devastating floodwaters; please know the entire golf community stands with you during this incredibly difficult time” Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk said in a news release.

“Since Tuesday afternoon we have received several calls from golf courses offering their facility to host this championship showing how close the golf community is. Thank you to the membership and staff at Quarry Oaks for working us into your calendar.”

Play will begin at 7 a.m. July 21. Golfers will play 36 holes on the first day, with the final round beginning at 8 a.m. July 22.

Steinbach Fly-In Golf Club hosted a provincial Men’s Amateur qualifying event June 26, with the top 52 finishers advancing to provincials later this month.

Elmhurst’s Patrick Perrin carded a tournament-best five-under to lead the way. Ryder Chabot, Troy Blad, Kaan Bitchok and Matthew Penner of Quarry Oaks all made the cut, which was at plus-nine. Greg Pusztay, Lance Chaloner and Easton Swain of Pine Ridge Golf Club and Derrek Funk and Andre Carriere from La Broquerie also qualified.

The Nott Autocorp Men’s Amateur Championship is July 13 – 15 at St Boniface Golf Club.