Chuback, Sheard through to men’s final

WASAGAMING — Grady Chuback has been itching for this moment and everything that comes with it.

The 19-year-old tees it up in his first Tamarack golf tournament men’s championship final today at Clear Lake Golf Course after growing up around the event and finally graduating from the junior ranks this year.

On Friday, he defeated Onanole native Cal Vanderschuit 5 and 4, while Ross Sheard downed Dustin Dyck 4 and 3 in the other semifinal.

While there were just a few people following along, that’ll change today as the final typically features hundreds of spectators by the end of the match.

“I absolutely love having spectators. I think it’s the most fun thing ever,” Chuback said.

“I remember being in the juniors when I shot my 68 and got medallist, I think I was 14 and having those 50, 60 people standing on the 18th green, while it’s nerve-racking, it’s a really amazing feeling to have people out there supporting you.”

Chuback may be a first-timer in the men’s event but he has more experience than most handling tournament pressure. During his last few years of junior golf, he contended for the junior provincial title and has been near the top of the men’s amateur leaderboard as well.

“It really relieves the pressure you get if you’ve never been in this position before. I’ve been in this position a couple of times, and I just play my game,” Chuback said.

“Whatever happens, happens. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be and if it’s not, it’s not. I just go in with the mindset that I’m going to try my best.”

He qualified as the No. 7 seed, then clawed back from 4 down to beat Kolby Day on the last hole to kickstart his run.

After that, he rolled over Greg Misenser 4 and 3 to reach the semifinals and hasn’t looked back.

In some ways, Chuback let Vanderschuit beat himself on Friday, starting with a bogey on the short opening hole.

They halved seven holes, mostly with pars, then Chuback pulled ahead thanks to a pair of Vanderschuit bogeys on the ninth and 10th. He birdied the 13th hole to take a commanding 4-up advantage and slammed the door shut by reaching the 14th green in two shots before Vanderschuit failed to make birdie and conceded the eagle putt.

“I honestly just tried to make as many pars as possible given the weather,” Chuback said as the wind whipped around the course.

“The wind was unpredictable on some holes and I found I was hitting shots I thought were downwind that were actually into the wind and it made it tough.”

SHEARD DOWNS

TWO-TIME CHAMP

Sheard was the steadiest player on the course on Friday, especially given the circumstances.

He strung together 10 straight pars to sneak two holes ahead of the two-time champion Dyck.

Sheard bogeyed the 11th hole but went back up by two a hole later, then birdied both par 5s on the back nine before ending the match a hole later at even par for the day.

“Really good ball striking round, I didn’t really give him much,” Sheard said.

“He made some mistakes early and there were a couple of points I could have really put my foot on his throat, but he came up clutch on seven, made a really good birdie there, and I just pulled it out on the back.”

He’s on his first run on the A-side of the championship flight, having reached the top 16 a handful of times but bowed out early each time.

Sheard didn’t feel he played his best in an opening-round 3-and-2 win over Dustin Schneider, but got through and rallied late to beat Darren Ritchie 1 up on Thursday.

The Brandonite played his best in the worst weather he’s seen this week.

“When I saw the weather forecast last night, I was really excited because I know what I can do in the wind,” Sheard said. “I just hope that it blows again (today) because it really kept me focused and paying attention on every shot. Born and bred in Shilo (Country Club) … my golf game, anyways.”

The final, one Sheard has dreamt of playing in for years, begins today at 12:42 p.m.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “I don’t really know what I’m feeling right now, kind of weird, need to refocus.”

FAWCETT BACK IN

MASTERS FINAL

Keith Fawcett, 75, is still not just hanging around with the top masters men; he has a chance to beat all of them again.

The 2017 and 2018 winner of the 50-and-older event beat Darren Graves 3 and 2 on Friday to head back to the final against Dale Murray, who survived a playoff over Bruce North.

“I’m happy to make the final,” Fawcett said. “All these guys are quite a bit younger than I am, so any time I can make the semifinals or final is great.

“It comes down to chipping and putting in almost every match. If you have that going, you have a chance.”

The final is at 12:15 p.m.

BIEBER, TROOP RETURN

TO LADIES TITLE MATCH

Jody Bieber and Jayne Troop defeated Dorelle Fulton and Kandis Matthews in the ladies’ scramble semifinals in the morning.

They face defending champions Leslie Olson and Tracy Rutledge, who defeated Sherri Ferguson and April Popple 1 up.

The match begins at 11:39 a.m.

• • •

The junior final between Jaxon Jacobson and Hunter Oakden tees off at 11:57 a.m., with the senior final between Glen Parker and Larrie Kidd one group later at 12:06 p.m.

Parker dropped Gene Hodgson while Kidd eliminated Emmett Elves.

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