Staff
Greg Ward is no stranger to winning golf tournaments in these parts, and that edge in experience was the difference Sunday as he prevailed in a playoff to capture the Heron Landing Men’s Open.
Ward, who fired identical rounds of 76 last year to finish second with a two-day total of 152, carded a 146 this year to tie 17-year-old Alex McDonald.
But Ward was able to beat McDonald on the first playoff hole by parring the par-five ninth.
McDonald actually had a chance for birdie to win the tournament on the extra hole, but a downhill putt from about six feet away ran well past the cup.
His par attempt coming back up the hill to extend the playoff missed to give Ward the victory.
Finishing third in the championship flight was Kevin Webb, who had a two-day total of 147, while Ty Nelson came fourth (153).
The rest of the flights had handicaps factored in.
Jordan Sinclair had the low net score of 139 in the first flight, followed by Kevin Jackson (148) and Brent Tookenay (148).
The second flight saw Jason Chwartacki shoot the low net score (145), followed closely by Taylor Jorgenson (146) and Fred Crowe (148).
Travis Green prevailed in the third flight with a net 147. Alex Bruyere (159) took second in a countback, followed by Jim Ballard (159).
Andrew Easton carded a 159 to top the fourth flight, with Jason Green (161) nabbing second in a countback over Kyle Turgeon (161).
Defending champ Dave Bruyere wasn’t in the field this year due to another commitment at a tournament at Black Bear.
McDonald, meanwhile, also tied for 21st at the Manitoba Men’s Junior Championship at the Rossmere Country Club in Winnipeg on July 14-17 with a 72-hole total of 318.
