68s lead the way for Young, Frank
Not only did Anna Young take the lead Monday, she shot an all-time personal best.
The reigning provincial women’s golf champion fired a 4-under 68 — one better than her previous alltime best — to take a commanding six-shot lead at the 2012 Saskatchewan Amateur women’s golf championship at the Willows Golf and Country Club.
Saskatoon’s Katherine Robinson is next at 2-over, after a 74 Monday, followed by fellow Saskatoon golfers Thea Hedemann (75), Kathy Ziglo (75) and Danielle Pinder (76).
Young carded four birds and 14 pars Monday. Three of those birdies came during the front nine for a score of 33. Rumours about her being a bit sour at the turn were entirely false.
“No way — it was a good score; it was a good day,” said Young, who recently played in the British Amateur, where she qualified in the open tournament and then lost in the second round during match play.
Staying in the present moment was key, she said.
“It’s something I always try to work hard at. It has always benefitted me. It was good.”
It came down to making putts and hitting greens.
“I mean, my mental game made a big difference because I was in the present moment and really focused on what I was trying to do,” she explained. “Sometimes, you have other thoughts running around your head when you’re setting up at the ball but the shots that I was doing that, I backed away.
“That was the difference. That helped with putts and it definitely helped with hitting the greens.”
The Saskatchewan Women’s Amateur, a three-round tournament this year, continues today and Wednesday at the Willows.
“I would love to win it,” admitted Young, who had Jerry Christiansen on the bag as her caddy. “I love winning tournaments. It feels awesome, but I’m just going to do my best. The best is all you really can do, as long as you can do your best.”
In the Saskatchewan MidAmateur men’s golf championship, also being played at the Willows, Riverside’s Tyler Frank took the lead with an opening round of 4-under 68.
Frank had a bogey-free round by carding four birdies and 14 pars.
Regina’s Rick Ledingham sits one shot back, shooting a 3-under 69 Monday. Ledingham carded a tournamenthigh seven birdies to go along with a double-bogey 7 on the par 5 No. 14 and two bogeys.
Defending champion Cadmus Delorme, of Cowessess First Nation, is two back of the leader after a 2-under 70. Delorme carded four birdies and two bogeys.
Delisle’s Colin Coben is next at 1-under 71. Regina golfers Ryan McNall and Jason Galon both shot evenpar 72, as did Saskatoon’s Brad Phelps.
Tied for eighth overall, at 1-over par, are eight golfers. Lloydminster’s John Higgins, Saskatoon’s Rob Reid, Blane Nieman, Mark Mekelborg and Rick Hillestad, Prince Albert’s Clint Rissling and Regina’s Harold Klempner all shot a 73 Monday.
A total of 77 golfers out of an original men’s field of 79 will continue this morning, while the women will tee off in the afternoon.