Pine Ridge’s Brad Kirton was awarded the Labatt Amateur Golfer of the Year Award for the second year in a row this past Monday at Golf Manitoba’s Annual Awards Dinner at the St. Charles CC.

Kirton was a three time champion in 2008, winning the Men’s Match Play Championship in early June and following it up with victories at both the Manitoba Amateur and Mid-Amateur titles in July. He was a member of the Willingdon Cup squad that placed second at the Canadian Amateur, where he tied for 40th individually. Kirton is 29th on the Royal Canadian Golf Association’s National Order of Merit.

The other finalists for this premier award for amateur golf in were GARTH COLLINGS of Breezy Bend, JILL HARDY of and PETER MORE also of Elmhurst. Four other golfers received an honourable mention from the selection panel – Aaron Cockerill of Teulon, Kevin Giesbrecht of Carman, Ryan Pitzel of Rossmere and Noreen Stewart of Southwood.

The Labatt Amateur Golfer of the Year Award dates back to 1975, and was presented for the 34th time on October 20th.

A second prestigious award was presented on Monday night to Don Forsyth of the Bel Acres G&CC as the second recipient of the annual Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award. Don has been involved as a volunteer with amateur golf since 1992 where he was a part of the first four person team to introduce course and slope rating in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario. In 1993 he had his first experience as a rules official at the Men’s Match Play Championship at the Wildewood Golf Club. He has continued as an active rules official to this day. He served on the Board of the Manitoba Golf Association and Golf Manitoba from 1998 to 2004 where he held the position as Officials Chair for the duration of his tenure. An accomplished player, Don has also been club champions at the Polo Park Golf Club, the Assiniboine Golf Club and the Breezy Bend Country Club. He was also crowned the provincial senior champion in 1988. “Through golf, I’ve met and enjoyed friendships of many fine people both administratively and competitively and would do it all over again if I had the chance. It has been my way of putting something back into golf” “Everyone who knows Don knows what a personable and dedicated individual he is,” said Trish Jordan, president of Golf Manitoba. “He has made a significant contribution to our Association over many years of service as both a Board member and active volunteer. Don is a well-respected and knowledgeable rules official and is a very deserving recipient of this prestigious award.”

Along with the Distinguished Service Award, Golf Manitoba also recognized all volunteers within the Association for their years of service to the association. Recognition was given to those individuals reaching the five, ten, fifteen, twenty and twenty-five plus years of service benchmarks.

Pine Ridge’s Brad Kirton was awarded the Labatt Amateur Golfer of the Year Award for the second year in a row this past Monday at Golf Manitoba’s Annual Awards Dinner at the St. Charles CC.

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