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The 2025 university golf season marked a homecoming for Winnipeg native Ryan Blair. After spending three years in the states, the last of which was halted due to injury, he’s come back in a big way for the Bisons.
In September, Blair made his return to college golf for the first time in 18 months after wrist surgery, helping lead Manitoba to a second-place finish at the Augsburg Invitational. Blair shot a 72 on day one and 73 on day two, finishing in a tie for second overall with teammate Ethan Portey, whose day two score of 69 tied for the lowest all tournament.
Manitoba’s second-place result at Augsburg was their best finish at the event since 2017, when they also tied for second.
It was full steam ahead from there for Blair. He’s been the top Bison in two of Manitoba’s last three tournaments, and has finished in the top 15 in every event the Herd have participated in this season.
Notably, Blair placed ninth at the Bemidji State Invitational (shot a 67 on day two to lead all golfers in the tournament) and he also shot a -5 on day three of the Twin Cities Classic a week and a half ago, skyrocketing 29 spots to finish in a tie for 13th overall.
“I played under [Bisons golf founder] Garth Goodbrandson as a junior golfer. I saw him a few weeks ago. Being able to share with him that I’m now as Bison, and knowing what he’s done for this program, it’s such a special feeling and being home with my family, it means so much,” said Blair.
“[Teammate] Rory [Neill] I’ve known for a few years, Jack Rudick I’ve known since I was probably eight or nine years old, we played junior golf growing up. Eric [Prokopowich], same thing, and then Braydon Boge is my younger brother’s age, that’s how long I’ve been doing this for it feels like.”
Long journey
While it’s Blair’s first year with the Herd, as he alluded to, he’s no stranger to college golf. Now in his third year of eligibility, he began his post-secondary career in Arizona and then New York, with a talented skill set that’s been evident for a long time.
“I won my first tournament I ever played in when I was eight years old in Calgary. We drove out to play in a CJGA event. That opened some doors. I was out in LA and North Carolina that same summer when I was eight years old competing against the best. That really opened my eyes,” said Blair, whose dad was an assistant pro at Kingswood Golf Course.
“At 11 years old I qualified for the drive, chip and putt at Augusta. That’s everyone’s dream. I know I was 11 years old, but I’ll never forget that experience and seeing the tour guys out there. That really started the dream for me.”
Blair moved down to Phoenix after high school, playing two years of Division 2 Junior College at South Mountain in Arizona. During his two years there, he had numerous top ten finishes, including a tie for second at the Pima Community College Invitational in 2023, where he shot a -3 (141 overall). He also placed fifth at the CGCC Invitational that same year, finishing at -4 (138 total).
Blair played in eight spring tournaments in the 2023 season, amongst a loaded roster that pushed him every day.
“The competition was very strong. Within our own team we had 12 guys and my first year eight of 12 could’ve competed in every tournament and my second year all 12 guys could’ve competed. Qualifying to play in a tournament, that made me get so much better.”
Blair’s performance in Arizona earned him a scholarship to Niagara University in New York, an NCAA Division 1 program. Unfortunately, he never got to compete due to needing wrist surgery. He came home last year, taking online classes, making a major splash in 2025 for Manitoba.
Gifted in all aspects of the game, Blair’s mental resilience is just critical to his success as his vision on the course. In Bemidji he got off to a rocky start with a 76 on day one, but he followed that up with the best score of the day in round two, a 67. He ended up at +1, and ninth overall in the tournament.
“My biggest strength is my mental aspect of the game, since I’ve been doing it so long, and studying psychology in university, it’s helped me to have some resilient rounds. For example this last tournament I had the worst start to a tournament in my entire life, and then I followed it up with a four under the second round. Lots of golfers talk about having the memory of a goldfish,” he said.
“You can’t change what’s happened, so just do your best to keep moving forward. Skill-wise, I’ve always been a naturally talented golfer. I think my iron play and my putting is my strength right now.”
Blair isn’t the only Bison who’s stood out. On top of Portey’s tie for second at Augsburg, 2024 Bisons MVP Rory Neill was the top Bison at the Saint John’s Fall Invite, finishing in tie for seventh, shooting 72 on both days.
As a team, the Herd have finished in the top half of the leader board in multiple events, with a versatile roster of eight that’s seen all kinds of success.
They’ll look to finish the season strong on Monday and Tuesday at the Canada West Championships, hosted by Victoria.
“I think we have a very strong team this year,” Blair said.
“We’re so dedicated to this team this year. We want to prove it. It’s been a long time since we’ve won a tournament or placed well in CanWest. This year we’ve got our eyes set on a good finish.”
