Golf Manitoba – (Winnipeg, MB Tuesday, May 24^th / 16) – The 2016 Golf Manitoba Championship schedule will begin this weekend May 28^th & 29^th with the Men’s (Amateur & Senior) & Women’s (Amateur & Net) Match Play Championship Qualifiers taking place at the Transcona Golf Club. 
 
The season opening event will see both the men’s and women’s fields competing to secure a spot in the Match Play Championship.  The top 32 amateur men, 16 senior men, top 16 amateur women and 16 net division women will qualify and are placed into a match play tree with the matches taking place at the Elmhurst G&CC June 4, 5, 8, 9 & 11.
 
Past champions of this event in the Women’s amateur division include Jill Hardy (2004), Judy Lang (2005), Tammy Gibson (2006, 2008 & 2010), Mindy Lichtman (2007 & 2011), Faye Zachedniak (2009) and defending champion Bri-ann Tokariwski (2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015). 
 
In the Men’s amateur division, past champions include Matt Johnston (2003 & 2004), Brian Kornelsen (2005), Peter More (2001, 2006 & 2010), Ben Bandura (2000 & 2007), Brad Kirton (2008), Tyler Mancini (2009), Jesse Skelton (2011), Aaron Cockerill (2012 & 2013), Bret Thompson (2014) and Justin McDonald (2015).
 
The inaugural Men’s senior division took place in 2015 with Elmhurst’s Tom Humniski winning the title.
 
The second event of the year, the Women’s Alternate Shot Championship benefitting Golf Fore the Cure, will take place Monday June 6^th at the Pine Ridge Golf Club.  This event has teams of two women vying for net and gross prizes. 
 
Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru is a Golf Canada initiative celebrating 12 years of increasing women’s participation in golf while raising funds for breast cancer research and support programs in Canada.  Since the inception, Golf Fore the Cure had raised over $5.4 million towards ending the fight against breast cancer.  Participants are encouraged to raise funds for this worthy cause and Golf Manitoba has also made a financial contribution in support of the annual event.  All funds raised at this event stay in Manitoba and will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society – Manitoba Division.
 
The registration deadline is Monday, May 30^th.
 
To register for Golf Manitoba events, please visit our website (www.golfmanitoba.mb.ca) and click on Tournament Registration.  A Master Card or Visa will be required to register on-line.  Competitors can also mail in entries or drop them off at the Golf Manitoba office (145 Pacific Ave).
 
About Golf Manitoba:  Golf Manitoba is the governing body for golf in the province of Manitoba and North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the game of golf in Manitoba and North West Ontario for the benefit of all participants.  To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or Golf Manitoba, visit www.golfmanitoba.mb.ca.  Follow Golf Manitoba on Twitter @golf_manitoba.
 
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For more information, contact:
Dave Comaskey
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
dcomaskey@golfmanitoba.mb.ca
204-291-8032