A Weyburn golfer, Carter Hilkewich, will be playing with Team Saskatchewan at the national level in the Canadian Men's Amateur Championships, to be held Aug. 10 to 14 at the Paradise Canyon Golf Resort in Lethbridge, Alta.

"I think it will be a good experience for me to play with other golfers at that level," said Hilkewich, "As I will be playing at the top level at the national level."

Hilkewich was one of three Weyburn golfers who played in the 2008 Access Communications Sask. Men's Amateur Championships held July 22-25 at the Royal Regina Golf Club in Regina, along with Rick Hallberg and Travis Mryglod.

All three Weyburn golfers had a difficult first round. Hilkewich scored four over par with a 76, seeing five bogies, 12 pars and only one birdie. Hallberg scored seven over par for a 79, including five bogies, one double bogey, eight pars and three birdies. Mryglod shot three-over-par with 75, including four bogies, one double bogey, 10 pars and three birdies.

"After the first round, I felt I got away okay with not playing well, since the conditions made it rough the first day," said Hilkewich. After the first round, all three Weyburn golfers were still in contention. There had been a round planned for day two, but it was canceled due to rain, with the second round taking place on day three.

In the second round, Hilkewich turned around his game, shooting one over par with a 73, he had four bogies, 11 pars and three birdies. Hallberg also did better, shooting two over par at a 74, he saw three bogies, one double bogey, 11 pars and three birdies. Mryglod suffered on the second round, shooting nine over par at 81, he saw six bogies, two double bogies, nine pars and one birdies.

"It had been tough to focus in the second round, because we had a short time to play due to a rain delay," said Hilkewich. "I hit the ball pretty bad, but I scrambled hard to get those pars. It really helped to have my father (Kelly Hilkewich) there as my caddy, because he helped me keep my focus on the game."

Hallberg and Mryglod did not make the cut for the third round, while Hilkewich stayed in the game and golfed his best round to come up from tied for ninth to second place. In the third and final round of the game, Hilkewich only saw two bogies, 10 pars and an amazing six birdies to shoot a 68, four under par.

"I was able to get the low round of golf at the tournament in the third round, with my par pretty good for provincial play," said Hilkewich. "I was able to hit the ball straight and either get it on the green or keep it out of trouble on the fairway."

"It felt good to earn second placing, as I felt that I had the capability," said Hilkewich. Heading to nationals now, Hilkewich joins the four-person team of David Stewart from Prince Albert (team captain), Brad Piero of Regina and Ken Rodgers of Regina, with Tyler Frank of Saskatoon serving as an alternate.

He will be taking time off from his regular position as groundskeeper at the Weyburn Golf Course. "I really appreciate the support from my bosses Lach Reeve and Corey Koski in giving me the time off to attend the tournaments, as well as the tips from Rod Carroll who has helped my game since I was a junior player," said Hilkewich.