COVID-19 pulls pin on Manitoba’s top golf event

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This article was published 29/05/2020 (2270 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The premier event of the Manitoba golf season won’t be held, as the Mackenzie Tour — Canada’s professional men’s circuit — has cancelled its 2020 season amidst the COVID-19 health crisis.

Officials of the 13-stop, cross-Canada tour, considered a stepping stone to the PGA Tour, pulled the pin on Friday, largely due to the Canadian government’s restrictions on border crossings and the need for people entering the country to quarantine for 14 days. Many of the tour’s participants hail from the U.S. and abroad.

The Manitoba Open, one of North America’s oldest tournaments, had been scheduled for Aug. 13-16 at Southwood.

Selkirk product Travis Fredborg, who made his pro debut at the 2019 event, said he was disappointed but not at all surprised by Friday’s news.

“It’s unfortunate. I was really looking forward to the season. I was down in Arizona all winter and was prepping for (qualifying) school and my game was in a very good place,” said Fredborg, 24, who graduated from the University of Arizona (Tucson) last year. “Unfortunately, with the pandemic, we’re not going to be able to go. But they definitely made the right decision.”

The Mackenzie Tour has vowed to resume play with a full slate in 2021, including a return visit to the Manitoba capital.

Fredborg, a two-time Manitoba junior champion, has played in the local pro tournament three times as an amateur and once as a pro, missing the cut in 2019.

“That tournament means a lot to me, it’s definitely one of my favourite ones of the year being held basically in my hometown,” he said. “I was really looking forward to having a big summer, playing week in, week out. It’s going to be so different, with my whole summer schedule cancelled. It’s just a matter of waiting it out and coming back stronger.”

Instead of playing for a paycheque, Fredborg’s working in the Rossmere pro shop but will practise and play each day at either the East Kildonan course, Pine Ridge (where he’s a member) or at the familiar track in Selkirk.

Mackenzie Tour officials have been meeting virtually with tournament organizers from B.C. to P.E.I. for months, working on strategies to stage at least some of the events. In late March, the first seven tournaments of the season and a series of qualifying schools were postponed, however, it became clear cancellation was the only option.

“We spent the better part of the lasts two months trying to figure this out. We tried everything, but at the end of the day it just couldn’t work out,” said Manitoba Open executive director Adam Boge. “The Mackenzie Tour made the right call. For now, we have to make sure we’re doing all the right things to keep people safe, not only in Manitoba but also all of our touring players.”

The 72-hole championship has undergone several name changes (it was the Players Cup from 2013-19) and has been staged at a few different venues since it was first held in 1919. It was to return to its roots this year, carrying the weight of the provincial name behind it once again.

Past winners include legendary Canadians George Knudson and Rob McMillan of Winnipeg, Moe Norman of Ontario and Brandon’s Dan Halldorson.

“We have to do what’s right in the times we’re living in right now. Everyone has to stay positive. It gives us a chance to keep going forward. The Manitoba Open will be back in 2021 and it’s going to be strong,” Boge said.

A few Winnipeg Jets players have competed in the tournament on sponsors’ exemptions, including forwards Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor. Teammate and blue-liner Josh Morrissey was selected to play this year.

Derek Barron of Tacoma, Wash., captured last year’s tournament title, firing an even-par 72 in the final round to finish the tournament at 14-under, good for a one-shot victory.

Mackenzie Tour executive director Scott Pritchard said finality was important so players still have time to seize opportunities in countries with more relaxed return-to-play protocols.

“With growing uncertainty surrounding the border and the 14-day quarantine regulations, among other factors, we’ve weighed all of our options and concluded that it is not feasible to play this summer,” said Pritchard in a statement. “We also wanted to be considerate of our players and their desires to play golf… we knew it wasn’t fair to leave our members in positions that might prevent them from pursuing other playing opportunities elsewhere while waiting to see what transpired in Canada.”

 

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell