WASKESIU - In a thrilling finale at the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open presented by Lake Country Co-op, A.J. Ewart secured his first professional victory, surging to No. 14 in the Fortinet Cup standings.
The 25-year-old Team Canada member entered the event via a sponsor exemption and dominated from start to finish. Ewart held the lead from the opening round, reclaimed it after a tie on the third day, and clinched victory with a birdie on the 16th hole. His final par on the 18th and late bogeys from his competitors ensured the title.
Ewart's victory not only secures him a full exemption on the PGA TOUR Americas for the remainder of 2024 and through the Latin America Swing of 2025, but also significantly boosts his career. His success catapults him into the top 120 of the Fortinet Cup, positioning him favourably for a potential Korn Ferry Tour card. This win is a turning point in Ewart's professional journey, following a stellar collegiate career and a promising start to his professional tenure.
Ewart had Regina's Turner Ripplinger as a caddy for all four rounds. Ripplinger, a minor pro hockey player by trade, thought volunteering as a caddy would be a unique experience. Before the first round, he told Barney Shynkaruk of the SportsCage, " A.J. just said to carry the bag, clean the clubs, and let's have some fun." Sunday, after the round, Ripplinger said, "I carried and cleaned the clubs but had a lot more fun than we expected. AJ is a great dude; we clicked right away, kept it real light on the course by telling stories and making some jokes along the way".
Yorkton native Kade Johnson impressed, finishing tied for 41st place after rounds of 70-62-69-72. Johnson, who told the SportsCage last week that he has been battling a wrist injury, was also playing on the sponsor exemption for the event.
The PGA Americas Tour will now move to Winnipeg, Manitoba, this weekend for the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open.
