Winnipeg Jets forward Morgan Barron will participate in the 2023 Manitoba Open.
The organizers of the 2023 CentrePort Canada Rail Manitoba Open have announced Jets forward Morgan Barron will serve as the sponsor's exemption for this year's tournament.
"We are thrilled to share that Morgan Barron of the Winnipeg Jets has been granted a sponsor's exemption to play in this year's Manitoba Open," the official Manitoba Open Twitter account shared. "We look forward to watching Morgan tee it up with PGA Tour Canada players at Southwood. Congrats Morgan!"
Running August 24-27 at Southwood Golf and Country Club, Barron will replace the initial sponsor's exemption, Blake Wheeler, who had his contract bought out on June 30, and signed with the New York Rangers the following day.
Barron, 24, will take the place of his former captain and look to fill the shoes of teammates Mark Schiefele and Kyle Connor, who have each suited up in past renditions of the event. Scheifele golfed in 2018 and 2022, while Kyle Connor suited up in 2019. The 2020 and 2021 runnings did not occur thanks to the COVID pandemic.
The Nova Scotia product will compete as an amateur in a field of some of Canada’s best golfers suiting up in the PGA Tour Canada event. Having hosted the Manitoba Open 15 times, Southwood is no stranger to the event or to having Jets on the course, with many players holding memberships at the club.
“A hallmark of PGA TOUR Canada is how we try to engage with the communities in which we play,” PGA TOUR Canada Executive Director Scott Pritchard said. “I can think of no better way than to have a player from the Winnipeg Jets play in the CentrePort Canada Railpark Manitoba Open."
Proceeds from the Manitoba Open will again be sent to the True North Youth Foundation and its work through Project 11 in supporting the Mental Wellness Program at Camp Manitou – an initiative that helps teach children the game of golf. Last year, $115K was donated to the True North Youth Foundation. Dating back to 2013, the Manitoba Open has raised nearly three-quarters of $1 million for local charities within the province.