Young wins Sask. Amateur by a landslide
23-stroke margin for future pro
Anna Young not only won the 97th annual Saskatchewan Amateur women’s golf championship — she destroyed the competition.
The Sask a toon Riverside golfer won by a 23-stroke margin — yes, you read that correctly — after a 4-under-par 69 Friday at Waskesiu’s Elk Ridge Resort. Her three-day score was a 9-under 210 (69-72-69).
“It was good,” said Young, a 22-year-old recent graduate of the University of Florida Gators golf program. “I hit the ball very good but I didn’t hit too many putts in. I did what I had to do.”
The closest competitor, recent Saskatoon Amateur champ Kim Walker, struggled for an 82 Friday to go along with a 77 and 74 for a three-day score of 14-over 233.
Prince Albert’s Brooke Hobson and Kayla Sawchuk were next at 15 over and 19 over, respectively. Hobson carded a three-day total of 234 (81-73-80), while Sawchuk had a 238 (80-78-80).
Young carded an eagle, three birdies and a bogey to go along with 13 pars. It could have been even better if she had a hot putter.
“My ball-striking made up for it — I hit the ball very good today,” she said. “That was nice.”
Not a bad way to play out her final Saskatchewan Amateur competition as Young plans to turn pro following the Canadian Amateur later this month. Young, who won the Saskatchewan Amateur four straight years from 2010-13, was unable to play last year due to injury.
“I’m happy I was able to play it this one last year before I turn pro,” said Young.
“It was even better that it was close to our (Waskesiu Lake) cabin. It was nice being up there for the week and playing Elk Ridge again. It was a really good week and I was glad I was able to play it.”
The Canadian Amateur women’s golf championship will be played July 28-31 at Saskatoon’s Riverside Country Club.
Mid-Am playoff
A playoff was needed between second-round leader Torrie Coghlin and David Stewart to decide the 2015 Saskatchewan Mid-Amateur men’s golf champion.
Stewart prevailed in a three- hole playoff over Coghlin, a Saskatoon native and 2010 Saskatchewan MidAm champ now based in Alabama. “After last week, coming so close ... (at the Saskatoon Amateur), it’s pretty exciting,” said Stewart, 29.
“I found something at the range and the putter was working.”
Stewart forced a playoff with a 4-under 68 Friday afternoon as a 90-minute weather delay slowed things down at the 29th annual President’s Cup Mid-Am men’s championship.
“It was a long day,” admitted Stewart. “I actually haven’t had a good tournament win in quite some time. I’ve been close — a lot of seconds and thirds. It was kind of getting deflating. To get the monkey off the back is pretty sweet.”
It’s the first Mid-Am title for Stewart, a former threetime junior champ and twotime Saskatchewan Amateur champion.
“Probably the start (was key),” said Stewart, a Prince Albert native now residing in Saskatoon. “I struggled with the start of this golf course the last two days and today my goal was to get through the first six holes at even par and I got through at 3 under.
“I knew I had something going.”
Stewart’s card included an eagle, six birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey. His three-day score of 217 also included rounds of 76 and 73.
Coghlin (72-71-74—217) shot a 2-over 74 Friday after 16 pars and two bogeys.
Saskatoon’s Brad Phelps took third spot, with a threeday score of 220 (76-70-74), to round out the Saskatchewan team for the Canadian MidAm. Regina’s Shawn McNall (76-73-73) and Ryan McNall (72-73-77), along with Carnduff ’s Kris Carley (80-65-77), were all tied for fourth at 222.
The Canadian Mid-Am men’s golf championship will be played Aug. 24-28 at the Abercrombie Country Club in Nova Scotia.