Chuback, Cornell seek more Tamarack hardware

While there won’t be a repeat champion in the Tamarack golf tournament men’s event this year, two men are vying for the trophy after winning other divisions in 2024.

Chris Knoop didn’t sign up after his impressive run to the men’s title last year due to family commitments. But the field still features plenty of proven winners.

Grady Chuback has graduated from the junior ranks after back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, while two-time masters men’s winner Ron Cornell decided to test his game against the best this year.

They begin qualifying for the 92nd annual match play tournament at Clear Lake Golf Course today with extra excitement.

“I’ve been really looking forward to moving on to the men’s finally. I’ve been looking forward to more golf. I really loved playing in juniors, but now I get to play with some different people, and there’s more competition,” said Chuback, who tried to play in the men’s event last year but hadn’t hit the minimum age of 19.

Cornell, 60, is shifting back from the 50-and-up masters event for a few reasons.

“To get away from Bruce North,” Cornell chuckled. “I’m just kidding. No, I’ve won it twice now.

“When I played in Tamarack when I was younger, I was not as good a player as I am today. I’ve been a medallist in the junior but never made championship flight in the men’s. If I’m going to do it, I might as well do it when I’m playing my best. Hopefully I can. If I don’t, that’s OK, too.”

Cornell and Chuback have undergone opposing philosophical shifts in their approach to golf.

And not in the directions you’d expect.

Chuback left the University of British Columbia golf team in May, during his sophomore season, after rising through the junior ranks and proving he was one of the best young players in Manitoba.

He still had fun playing a few events for the Thunderbirds but simply “wasn’t feeling it anymore.”

“I felt like I needed a change and needed to move in a different direction both for myself and my future,” Chuback said

“I want to still play in events and still play weeknights or practice, but I don’t want it to be consuming anymore. There’s lots of other things I’d love to be doing, so I need that type of balance.”

The 19-year-old from Headingley spent last summer working for G&K Electric as an electrician and now works in sales for the company.

He hasn’t played much golf this summer but still finished tied for 13th at the Golf Manitoba men’s amateur, shooting two rounds of 1-under 71 at Southwood Golf and Country Club and ending up 5 over for the week.

He said the shift in mindset regarding competitive golf has taken some pressure off.

“I’m just going to have fun at this point,” Chubcack said.

“There is a bit of pressure with Tamarack, winning the past two years in junior. I know it’s still junior, but I shot a couple of good rounds, so there is some pressure from that, but ultimately it’s just to go and have fun.”

Going from university tournaments at championship setups around 7,000 yards to Clear Lake, which tips out around 6,300, means driving distance isn’t as much of an advantage. But Chuback still plans to be aggressive throughout 36 holes of qualifying today and Sunday and as far as he goes in the match play portion.

“As much bush as there is on that course, I like to get quite aggressive,” Chuback said.

“The more aggressive you get, the more gettable the course is, and oftentimes the greens receive quite well.

“So I think for me coming into Tamarack, having my shots off the tee as consistent as possible is where I focus. Being 100 or in on a lot of holes, or sometimes on par 5s, having an eight-iron in is a really big advantage.”

CORNELL SEES

RESURGENCE IN GAME

On the other side, Cornell has found a new level in his game. Since turning 55 and being eligible for Golf Manitoba senior competitions, the Clear Lake member has contended on the provincial stage a few times now.

Cornell is coming off a terrific week, finishing tied for fifth in the senior provincial championship at Glendale Golf and Country Club. He was 10 over for the week but finished with an even-par 72 featuring three birdies on his last four holes.

“It’s a huge confidence booster. I’m a lot more comfortable at Clear Lake than I am at Glendale when I’ve only seen it four times. Obviously, I got more comfortable there each round I played but the amount of times I’ve played Clear Lake, I’m pretty comfortable with it,” Cornell said.

“The confidence I had to finish strong at the end at 3 under on the last four to solidify a quota spot (for the Golf Canada senior men’s national championship) gives me confidence that if I’m down against any of these young guys, I’ve got a solid shot at least at keeping it competitive.”

If an older, shorter hitter is going to keep up with some of the long bombers in the Tamarack’s star-studded field anywhere, it’s Clear Lake, where course knowledge and strategic shot-making can play massive factors.

Cornell still feels the odds are against him, but he’s ready to embrace the challenge.

“There’s such a long list of guys that can shoot 65, 66, which I can’t do there. My low this year is 67,” Cornell said. “Those guys can do it consistently, but I just need to stay within my game and make a few putts and try and keep it down the middle and keep it close.

“Now that I’m going to the Canadian senior, it’s just another test to see what I can do at Clear Lake.”

The top 16 players in men’s qualifying make the championship flight, with a playoff to decide the last spot(s) if necessary on Sunday evening.

The men play the round of 16 on Tuesday and the quarterfinals on Thursday.

The men’s scramble, now in its second year, follows the same schedule.

The masters men follow the two-round qualifying schedule but go straight to quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Other divisions, including senior men, junior and ladies scramble, qualify on Monday, with their quarterfinals on Wednesday.

All semifinals are on Friday, with finals set for Saturday.

EVENT UPDATES

When events are around for the better part of a century, it becomes tougher to find issues to fix.

This year’s Tamarack is almost identical to last year’s, with the addition of one more flight of 16 teams in the men’s scramble, bringing it to 48 duos.

“We won’t increase that event anymore in the future,” said Tamarack president Jason Curtis. “We still want to keep the integrity of the men’s event, which is important to us because that’s the original feel of the whole tournament.”

Curtis added all of the events had waiting lists entering the weekend, while the cubs (children’s) event was full.

“We are super excited to get the event going.”

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