Soggy conditions, a veteran golfer, and even a wave of army worms weren’t enough to stop Greg Ward’s continuing success at the annual Memorial golf tournament at Kitchen Creek.
The 23-year-old Fort Frances native captured his third-straight Harry Barefoot memorial plaque Sunday after shooting a 73 (gross) to top the championship flight.
Jordan Krantz of Dryden shot a 76 to finish second in the championship flight. Mike Dick and Ben Allan carded net scores of 74 and 76, respectively.
Last year, Ward needed a playoff hole to win the tournament. He said it seems the last Sunday of May has been his day.
“I’m very pleased with the win,” said Ward, who also is the defending club champion. “I’ve just been getting lucky on the day of the tournament.”
Ward eagled the par-five, 495-yard sixth hole but faltered in the middle of his round (#8 and #9) in what he called “bonehead golf.” But he recovered towards the end with a pretty 30-foot birdie putt on the par-four, 447-yard 17th.
“I guess it bounced off one army worm and off another and it went into the hole,” he said.
Krantz, who just completed his first year of golfing for the University of Texas, said he faltered near the end of his round.
“I missed some easy shots,” admitted Krantz, an old friend of Ward’s. “But I did OK, overall.”
Army worms littering the greens were the least of the tournament’s problems heading into Sunday. A week of rain flooded the creek and temporarily closed nine holes.
In fact, club pro Steve Wood and greens superintendent Greg Ross seriously considered postponing the tourney until a relatively dry Saturday evening allowed it to begin.
As such, 53 golfers were ready to tee off Sunday morning.
Dan Livingston shot a 74 (gross) to top the first flight and take home the Bob Biggs Memorial plaque. A playing partner of Barefoot’s, Livingston noted on his way to the clubhouse that it would be nice to win the award named after his old friend.
“It was a strong game but it was tough out there,” Livingston said of the poor course conditions. “I stayed focused, though.”
Jeromy Wensley was second behind Livingston with a 77 (gross).
Terry Ellwood had the low net score (69) in the first flight, followed by Roy Dokuchie (71).
Meanwhile, the Harvey Shute Memorial plaque went to Clint Pruys, who shot an 80 (gross) to capture the second flight. He was followed by Brady Hupet (84).
Doug Currie had the low net score (73) in the second flight, with Bob Mainville a stroke behind (74).
And Sheldon Kelly took home the Tom Onichuk Memorial plaque with a net 67 to lead the third flight, edging out Darryl Little (68), Willie Cole (69), and Conley Thayer (71).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
