‘A shock and a surprise’

“Manitoba’s rich and storied golf history will be on full display Thursday night as the latest inductees to the provincial Hall of Fame were celebrated during a banquet at Pine Ridge”

Former Free Press sportswriter Tim Campbell was enshrined in the builder category for his award-winning work on the golf beat. He chronicled the careers of homegrown talents such as Glen Hnatiuk and Rob McMillan, covered 12 Masters including the 2003 event won by Canadian Mike Weir and later co-authored a book with the major champion.

“It was quite a shock and a surprise,” said Campbell.

“Just scanning the roster of Hall of Famers from here, it’s pretty deep. An absolute wealth of talented people, quality people, passionate people.”

Campbell has previously won awards with the Golf Journalists Association of Canada and was inducted into the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Media Roll of Honour in 2012. He is now retired after finishing his journalism career with NHL.com.

“One of my favourite adopted sayings over the years is that you learn a lot about people on the golf course,” he said. “For me, having that job, being able to tell the stories, I learned a lot. About the people I was writing about. And about myself.”

Campbell tipped his cap to the likes of legendary Winnipeg sportswriters such as Ralph Bagley, Bob Picken and Eddie Dearden who came before him and served as mentors.

“Those guys paved a lot of roads for golf coverage in this province,” he said. “I’m the beneficiary of that great wealth of knowledge they had.”

Jill Hardy, Nick Mickoski and Sandy Paterson are the latest entrants in the athlete category for their various accomplishments on the links.

Hardy is one of Manitoba’s most successful amateurs, winning the provincial women’s showcase in 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2009. Other titles include the 1999 Junior Girls championship, the 2004 Women’s Match Play Championship and the Women’s City & District Championships in 2007 and 2008. She was named Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year in 2004.

Mickoski’s resumé is as diverse as they come. He won the Manitoba Amateur in 1966 and the Manitoba Senior in 1983. He was a three-time winner of the Harold Eidsvig Memorial Trophy as low amateur at the Manitoba Open (1962, 1964, 1968) and captured the Grey Owl Championship twice (1964, 1967).

He represented Manitoba on the Willingdon Cup team three times at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship (1963, 1966, 1967) and Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in 1983, 1984 and 1986.

Mickoski also spent 12 years in the NHL, playing for the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. He was named coach of the WCHL’s Winnipeg Jets midway through the 1969-70 season, spending two years in that role before getting hired as an assistant coach of the WHA’s Jets for the following two seasons.

Mickoski, who died in 2002 at the age of 74, is already a member of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also named the 1966 and 1983 Manitoba Ukrainian Sportsman of the Year.

Paterson played on the Canadian Tour from 1972 to 1977 and teed it up in the 1977 Canadian Open. He became head professional at Breezy Bend in 1978, remaining in that role until 2014 where he helped mentor numerous successful golfers.

He was named PGA of Manitoba Professional of the Year in 1979 and 1980, winning the 1981 PGA of Manitoba Championship and capturing the PGA of Manitoba Fall Classic three times. He also served on the PGA of Canada Board from 1976 to 1977 and was honoured with the Canadian PGA Merchandiser of the Year Award.

The Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame has also recognized George Sigurdson for his tireless work in supporting local golf at both the amateur and professional levels.

Sigurdson, a financial advisor, has provided guidance and resources to many local pros including Hnatiuk, McMillan, Dan Halldorson, Adam Speirs, Andrew Steep, Aaron Cockerill, Travis Fredborg and Tyler Mancini. He has also provided financial and life insurance support to numerous PGA of Manitoba professionals.

“It’s a real honour,” said Sigurdson.

“It has always given me satisfaction to help these young players when they start off to give them some financial backing and confidence. It can be a very lonely sport and to know that they have support from so many people I’m sure helps them with their mental part of the game. My father taught me to leave the world a better place than you found it.”

 

Major development

It has been 19 years since Speirs teed it up at the U.S. Open in Oakmont. Could another Winnipegger soon be following in his footsteps?

Braxton Kuntz has made it to the last stage of qualifying after carding a three-under 69 at the Country Club of Sioux Falls last week. That was good for a T2 finish, just one stroke behind Arizona’s Bob Bell. Only four of the 79 players advanced.

Kuntz, 22, will now compete in the final 36-hole qualifier — known as the “longest day in golf” — on either May 18 in Texas or one of 10 different locations on June 8. The Breezy Bend member, who turned pro last year after finishing up at Ball State, will need to go low again to earn his way in.

Two other Manitobans — Evan Nachtigall (Elmhurst Golf & Country Club) and Kolby Lavich (EVO Golf) — came up short after rounds of 75 and 81, respectively.

The 2026 U.S. Open is scheduled for June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.

 

Sizzling start

Cockerill’s quest for his first professional victory is pointed in the right direction after the pride of Stony Mountain shot a five-under 67 on Thursday in Spain.

The 33-year-old, who has struggled to find consistency this year on the DP World Tour, is tied for eighth and three shots back of the leader with 54 holes to play at the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship.

Cockerill began the tournament sitting 132nd on the DP rankings list and needs some strong showings to move up the list and ensure he keeps his tour card.

 

winnipegfreepress.com/mikemcintyre