Lafleche defends women’s amateur crown

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This article was published 12/07/2023 (1101 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — When putting’s this tough, it’s best not to putt at all.

Jeri Lafleche employed that strategy to perfection from 152 yards out in the middle of the 17th fairway. She battled Pine Ridge Golf Club and a talented Golf Manitoba women’s amateur field down to the wire, then broke the tournament open with a perfect eight-iron that landed short, released and dropped for an eagle two.

The Clear Lake Golf Course member then enjoyed a calm stroll down the 18th fairway with her dad and caddy, Julien. She laughed off snapping her 50-degree wedge on her third shot and posted a 3-over 75 to defend her title by four strokes.

“Seventeen was good,” Lafleche chuckled of what she liked about her round. “Nice not having to putt. These greens are tough so not having to putt was good.

“My dad said it was 152 so he said ‘You’ve got to put this 10 yards short.’ It was a full eight-iron, luckily, so nice when you’re hitting a full club … I hit it and the rules official was waving ‘it was in.’”

Lafleche, who’s going into Grade 11 this fall, is the first back-to-back champ since Bri-ann Tokariwski won two straight in 2012 and 2013.

This one certainly didn’t come easily, however, with Killarney’s Cala Korman posting a stellar 73 to keep it close.

“Way more fun,” Lafleche said. “It means a lot more when you have a field that’s stronger and this year there was a bigger field, obviously, and the course was tough. So was Granite (Hills) last year but it’s a nice feeling knowing it’s over.”

Binscarth’s Clara Peake shot 76 Wednesday and finished fourth.

JONES RUNNER-UP AGAIN

Brandon’s Drew Jones took the lead, lost it, took it again and ultimately saw Patrick Perrin sneak ahead by one stroke to capture the provincial men’s mid-amateur (25-plus) title.

Jones took advantage of two double bogeys by Perrin, on the fourth and 11th holes, but simply came a few putts short for the second straight summer.

They made the same score on a hole only five times, eventually carding matching 76s as Perrin won at 5 over on the week.

“Welcome to amateur golf,” Jones said. “I hit it really well all day, really struggled with the flat stick (putter) today. Hit the first eight greens and I think I had three three-putts. It was just a struggle inside three to six feet.

“I had a lot of looks inside of there I kept missing, just barely. I also didn’t have a couple of breaks go my way.”

Perrin birdied the 15th to go up one, then Jones stuffed one close on the par-3 16th to tie it up. He hit another one tight on the 17th but Perrin poured in a 40-plus footer for birdie.

“That was so fun to see Pat make that bomb,” Jones said. “I hit it close to six feet … hit it right in the heart. That was fun.”

Then they hit the 18th tee box. Jones leaked his drive a little right and ended up behind a tree with no shot at the green. Perrin blasted his onto the 17th hole, about 50 yards right of the 18th fairway but was able to hoist an approach off the back of the green and get up and down for bogey. Jones had to chip out, missed the green and settled for a double.

“It was pretty unfortunate that way where he can hit a pretty bad shot and have an easy look at it versus just barely off and you’re chipping sideways,” said Jones, who’s headed back to the Canadian mid-amateur, taking place Aug. 21-24 in St. Andrews, N.B.

“With everything going on this week, this is a win for me in my journey of excellence in golf.”

It was Perrin’s first Golf Manitoba event since leaving the golf industry in November 2021. The former Niakwa Country Club professional regained his amateur status two months ago and took advantage of his first chance to compete.

“It’s gonna be hard to not be emotional,” Perrin told media after the round. “That’s a big win. I’m not used to winning, that’s for sure. I’ve always come in fifth place or 10th place or something, never held a lead. So this was an amazing day.

“From (the ninth to 11th holes), I really fought it pretty bad but in the end, the birdie on 12 was huge and maybe the best putt I’ve ever made on No. 17 there. That’s maybe the best feeling I’ve ever had.

“I’m going to be chasing this every year.”

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