Batsel hangs on
Maybe it wasn’t the closing hole he had in mind, but the resulting win at the Victoria Day Classic was definitely one Dillon Batsel has dreamt of.
The hometown pro earned the title at the first big Medicine Hat event of the year Monday, firing a final-round par 72 at the Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club to edge Michael Valk by three strokes, winding up at 1under 215 over three rounds.
Batsel may have won the Southeastern Open on his home course of Connaught three times, but this was his first Victoria Day victory.
“Any time it’s in your home town it’s good to win,” said the 25-year-old, who also shot rounds of 69 and 74. “It was nice to get the monkey off the back for sure.”
He made it interesting by nearly hitting his approach shot on the dogleg 18th out of bounds right. But a relief drop from the cart path, a chip and a couple putts were no big deal even though Valk made birdie.
Another couple yards right on the approach and it could’ve been a different story.
“Did my heart stop for a second? Yeah, yeah, most certainly it did,” said Batsel, who had enough of a lead to play for a birdie coming home. “You miss that green with that (back right) pin by four yards and that’s what happens. I tried to be a little aggressive and hit a bad shot.”
Though the younger contender had a oneshot lead entering Monday’s final round, Batsel was too consistent to be caught.
“He’s too good a golfer to make two mistakes, I was out of it by then,” Valk – who went 71, 71 and 76 – admitted. “I just didn’t have my stuff today. My yardages were off, I hit some shots I thought were going to be really good… and I ended up making bogeys.”
In the same way Batsel and third-place finisher Ryan Werre used to contend – but not win – at Victoria Day when they were in college, everyone knows Valk will have more chances. He just finished his freshman season playing at Waylan Baptist University in Texas and said he enjoyed playing with guys who have been mentors to him growing up.
“They’ve pretty much taught me everything I know about golf the last five, 10 years,” said the 19-year-old. “It’s getting to the time we’re all similar in playing ability, so it’s really fun.”
Werre, last year’s champ, shot a 54-hole score of 220. Calgary’s Reef Caulder had the best score Monday, a 69, and was fourth with a 222.
On the women’s side of the draw, Becky Martin made it a remarkable seven titles in eight years, shooting rounds of 75, 77 and 76 to match the score of 12-over 228 she won with last year. Multiple-time champion Pat Hall was 32 shots back in second place.
“I just did my normal thing, playing each shot and playing the next one,” said Martin, who’s won every year starting in 2011 except for 2015 – when she didn’t play due to injury. “It was a good time, always a fun tournament. As long as you have fun you play decent.”
Gary Kavanaugh was the senior men’s champ with a 230, two better than Kelly Risling. One hundred and 40 players teed it up on the weekend in excellent conditions.