7 days ago
Korman learning on the links
It's been a year of improvements for Cala Korman. The golfer out of Killarney is back in Manitoba after completing her sophomore NCAA Division I season at Weber State University in Utah — and she's come in hot to kick off the 2025 Golf Manitoba championship season.
It will be more of a quiet summer tournament-wise for Korman now that she's home, especially compared to her second year with the Weber State team, where she posted the second-best stroke average on the squad at 73.85 across 10 tournaments. She improved nearly two strokes from her freshman average of 75.44, placing in the top five twice and finishing in the top 10 in four events.
One of those top-five performances was at the Fresno State Classic in March, where Korman set a program record with a 6-under-par 66 in the final round. She finished the tournament at 1-under 215, earning a fourth-place finish.
GOLF MANITOBA PHOTO
Cala Korman earned a bye to the quarterfinals of the Golf Manitoba Match Play Championships.
'My season in the spring was really good and I had a solid fall season,' said Korman. 'Overall, it's just fun being with the team and I did improve.'
She ended the year by being named, along with two of her teammates, to the 2025 All-Big Sky Conference Second Team, going on to compete at the Wigwam Golf Resort in Arizona April 14–16 and helping the Wildcats secure a second-place finish, the best result for Weber State women's golf since 2001.
'I've gotten way more experience, and knowing that I have more tournaments to play and more opportunities helps lots,' said Korman. 'Just way less pressure, knowing that I'll have more chances and my seasons longer, it helps so much with the mental side.'
Now, Korman is taking on the Golf Manitoba Match Play Championships, which are being held at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club this weekend.
It's a tournament she has yet to win, but the young golfer is in a strong position after qualifying as the top seed with a 3-under par 68, one stroke clear of Niakwa's Jeri Lafleche. Korman, along with Lafleche and Clara Peake of Minnedosa, thanks to their qualifying placements, all earned automatic byes to the quarterfinals, which are set to go Saturday.
'I don't think there's one thing I'm fully focused on,' said Korman. 'I think if I just continue to stay patient and go for greens, fairways, and then two-putt.'
Korman will play Hannah Diamond of St. Charles, who defeated Camryn Thomas on Day 1 of the tournament for the women on Friday.
Another player to watch is Addison Kartusch of St. Charles, who is used to dominating the match play championships. Kartusch is looking for her third title in a row and fourth in the last five years. Coming off her freshman year at Bowling Green State University, Kartusch advanced to the quarterfinals on Friday, where she will face India Young.
Lafleche is set to take on Charmaine Hayden of Breezy Bend, while Peake will play Jewel Lafleche, Jeri's sister and also of Niakwa.
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'It's always fun coming back and just talking about our winters,' said Korman. 'This year, hearing about (Addison's) first year, and Jeri going to her school and Clara at her school. It's all fun to just reconnect and hear everything we missed.'
Over on the men's side of things, a new champion will be crowned, as the 2024 winner, Marco Trstenjak of the host course, made it to the big leagues after turning pro this past winter.
The quarterfinals, which tee off Saturday, will see No. 1 seed Evan Nachtigall of Shilo face Liam Comaskey of Pine Ridge, Niakwa's Michael Tanchak take on Grady Chuback of St. Charles, Jordy Lutz of Elmhurst play Lyle MacKenzie of Niakwa, and David Spurr of Elmhurst go up against fellow host-course member Kaleb Lambert.
In the senior men's division, Rossmere's Rob Oliphant, the No. 1 seed, is playing David Powell of Elmhurst, Carl Lechman of Elmhurst is playing Blair Neal of Rossmere, Cornell Ruddock of Southwood faces Brad Moore of Pine Ridge, and Niakwa's Jay Doyle will meet Jason Groshak of Elmhurst.
