Oakden, Vikings win city golf crown
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Hunter Oakden wasn’t the happiest player at Wheat City Golf Course on Thursday, even though he was the best.
To be fair, his 1-under 70 to win the Zone 15 boys championship was a full six strokes higher than the round he shot to make the Vincent Massey Vikings’ squad as a sophomore.
The 15-year-old certainly struck the ball well enough to fire another 64, something he’s done twice at the Brandon track, but hitting 17 greens in regulation was still something to be proud of.
Vincent Massey's Hunter Oakden shot a 1-under 70 to win the Zone 15 boys golf championship at Wheat City Golf Course on Thursday. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
“It feels good because it’s at the home course, too,” Oakden said. “I’m just used to all the shots, and some putts didn’t drop, but I hit all the right shots.”
Oakden actually trailed by two shots heading to the last hole, then lipped out an eagle putt and tapped in his third birdie of the round before teammate Kale Jones lost a ball and double-bogeyed the 18th to slide back to even-par 71.
“I thought I played very good. My driver is the best it’s ever been,” Jones said. “Putting was rough, but it happens, a couple of three-putts and a couple of stupid plays, just not taking my time with the short putts.
“On the back nine, I started to line up every putt. Even if they were three feet, I took my time and marked them.”
Jones made five birdies en route to the solo-second finish, with teammates Daylan Duncalfe (73) and Cole Lobreau (74) in third and fourth.
None of the Neelin Spartans or Crocus Plainsmen broke 80 in one of the most lopsided city championships ever.
That speaks more to the Vikings quartet, who have a legitimate shot at their first provincial golf title since the girls won in 2016 — their last boys’ championship was 1973.
The championships are a week away at Oak Island Resort on Sept. 19. The top three of each four-player team count, with individual medals also up for grabs.
Kale Jones carded an even-par 71 to finish alone in second place as his Vincent Massey Vikings claimed the Zone 15 golf title and will head to the MHSAA provincial championships at Oak Island Resort on Sept. 19. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
“I feel like we have a pretty good group of guys this year. I couldn’t make it last year, and I feel like we have a pretty good chance of winning this year,” Oakden said.
“All of us can put up good numbers,” Jones added. “It shows if we’re all consistent, we can put up a good number and hopefully come out on top.”
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com
» Instagram: @thomasfriesen5