Patrick takes top seed in master’s

WASAGAMING — Chris Patrick has more Tamarack success to look up to than anyone around Clear Lake Golf Course this week.

His family includes a seven-time ladies champion and four-time men’s winner in his mother, Marg, and uncle, Jack.

While Chris has yet to have his name etched on a trophy at the 93-year-old tournament, he just put himself in a great position.

“I get chills even thinking about it. I’m stoked. I really want to win this,” Patrick said after securing master’s men’s medallist honours at 6-over 150 in qualifying.

He led after an opening 73 on Saturday, despite making bogeys to start and finish the round. Realizing he was in the mix for the top seed, he worked something new into his pre-game routine on Monday.

“I went and hit balls, which I never do,” Patrick said. “I knew if I played my game, I’d more than likely be there (unless) Darren (Graves) got hot or somebody else got hot. I didn’t think about it too much.

“I was feeling pretty good. Couldn’t get any putts to the hole (Monday), though.”

Patrick was playing right in front of Uncle McDiarmid, and despite his opening-round 78, he narrowed the gap and took the lead down the stretch after nearly acing the par-3 12th hole.

McDiarmid birdied the 16th to get back to 5 over for the week and got up and down from a precarious spot on the 17th, but doubled the last hole to fall back to a tie for second with Dale Murray and Darren Penny.

The top four safely reached the top eight, but they aren’t safe anymore.

When Wednesday’s matches roll around, Patrick draws past master’s champion Darren Graves, who stumbled to an 80 on Monday after opening with a 74.

Murray plays Rod Klassen, who shot 80 and 74.

McDiarmid draws another past master’s winner in Rod Lindenberg (78-76), and Penny plays Murray Lindenberg (79-74).

While Marg, who knows Clear Lake as well as anyone, was there to watch every shot on Monday, Chris said he doesn’t get any motherly advice while he plays.

“No, she just gives me s— for not getting putts to the hole,” he chuckled.

• • •

George Panagiotou won the senior men’s medal, shooting 81 to top the eight-man event. He’ll face Paul Crane (102) in the first round.

Glen Parker (87) takes on Phil Cels (99), while Larrie Kidd (87) faces Dean Murray (94).

Emmett Elves (91) and Eugene Hodgson (94) square off in the fourth quarterfinal.

• • •

The men’s championship flight round of 16 takes place this morning.

Medallist Marcus Friess plays defending champion Grady Chuback at 8:42 a.m., along with Brad Pardy and Joel Matthews on the other half of the draw.

Next is No. 8 Jason Thorpe against Bryce Evason, and three-time champ Kody Fawcett against Christian Laughland.

No. 4 seed Lars Johnston plays Carson Adams, with seventh-seed Nolan Tutkaluk facing Dustin Schneider in the third match.

Bringing up the rear is a group of three past champions, as fifth-seed Josh McPhail plays Dustin Dyck and 2024 champ Chris Knoop plays champ flight newcomer Kurt Martin.

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com