The head professional at TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club received an unexpected honour to help a group of young golfers excel in the game last week by jumping in as their coach for the national championship.
Amanda Minchin, head pro at Woodlawn, served as head coach of the Team Saskatchewan junior girls’ squad during their play at the August 4 to 7 Canadian Junior Girls Championship at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton. She had originally been tasked with assistant coaching duties with Team Sask, but found herself taking over the main job due to the junior boys’ coach bowing out shortly before the tournament began.
Minchin was given two-and-a-half weeks notice to take over the head coaching duties from fourth-year coach Jay Schneider, who moved over to coach the boys’ team. The first time head coach used that time to travel to Yorkton to take in the provincial girls’ championship and introduce herself to the kids who would make up Team Sask, as well as familiarize herself with the golf course to better help them out at nationals.
“It was good,” said Minchin about what it was like being a first time coach of the Team Sask squad that included Prince Albert’s Brooke Hobson and Kayla Sawchuk as well as Melville’s Chloe Sies and quota spot golfer Hannah MacNeil of Shaunavon. “All four of them were really good kids. They’re all 16, so they’ve all got another two years to go.
“For Brooke and Kayla this was their third and fourth Canadians. They’ve been going at it a long time and they’ve only got no where to go but up. Hannah and Chloe, this was their first time. That was cool to see it through their eyes and how excited and nervous they were playing it.”
Brooke finished tops among the group at nationals with a total score of 313 (21-over) over four rounds of play for 28th place, while Kayla tied for the 62nd spot with a total of 332 (40-over). Chloe and Hannah failed to make the final round.
Minchin said Brooke and Kayla making the cut was great for the girls as both played at the Canadian Amateur Woman’s Championship the week before in Saskatoon setting them up for a busy schedule on the way to Yorkton. She said they didn’t back down from that challenge, which shows what amazing athletes they are.
“I’ve been asked to be the coach again next year,” said Minchin. “The Canadian Championship is in Toronto, so I’m looking forward to that. Hopefully for the next (year), over the winter and whatnot, I’ll work on forging stronger relationships with these kids and other kids that could potentially make the team.”
