Golf Canada makes format change, cuts

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/08/2011 (5411 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Canadian amateur will again feature its accompanying interprovincial team competition for the Willingdon Cup but the days of the trophy’s prominence at the championship are dwindling.

Golf Canada has introduced a format change this year that further de-emphasizes its importance and policy changes for travel subsidies are likely to make that even more true into the future.

Starting with this year’s tournament in Winnipeg, each province’s team is made up of only three players, not four, and the team’s top two scores, not three, will count on Thursday and Friday to determine the winning province.

The national governing body has made a sharp and many would say controversial cutback to funding team members to travel to seven of its national championships — mostly done through provincial associations — and by 2013, Golf Canada will provide no assistance to players traveling to the various national championships to compete for their province.

Manitoba’s provincial team in the Willingdon Cup competition this year will be amateur champion Jesse Skelton, Josh Wytinck and Derek East.

The last time the home side captured the trophy was also the last time the Canadian amateur was conducted in Manitoba, in 1996.

— Campbell