TAMARACK: Blackbird, Young form powerful pair

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This article was published 26/08/2021 (1747 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WASAGAMING — Donna Blackbird is free to swing for the fences and attack pins at the Tamarack golf tournament this week.

Normally a women’s singles player for the past few years, she found out her only option would be the women’s scramble at the 88th annual event due to diminishing interest. Blackbird called up Tamarack veteran Janice Young and formed a dynamic duo favoured to take the title. They shot a 1-under 73 in qualifying on Monday, then dropped Stacy Gill and Erin Geekie 7 and 6 in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

“It’s a different game. Playing in the scramble I honestly didn’t play as well (Monday) because I may have been a little too relaxed knowing you have a partner to count on. If you miss it’s not a big deal. Your partner’s there,” Blackbird said.

“(Young’s) really reliable. I know she always puts it out there and she can read those greens. She gives me really good reads so I have something to go with. Her short game and her reads are awesome.”

Young tees off first and strokes a driver in play more often then not, then Blackbird can launch tee balls well over 200 yards and chase birdies. Young takes the first crack on the green as well, showing Blackbird exactly what to do to find the cup.

“It’s great to play with Donna. She’s a great player,” Young said.

“It’s been fun. She’s got the complete game, I’ve got a bit more of the short game, but Donna’s a great player … I keep it in play and she can be really aggressive and it’s been working out well.”

Blackbird is used to much more pressure-packed rounds.

The Keeseekoowenin First Nation product took up golf at age 16 after trying it in a physical education class.

“I’m competitive, so instantly I took to it,” she said.

She can shoot in the 70s on command and regularly puts her game to the test big-money events.

“(Golf’s) really strong in our Indigenous communities because we host a lot of cash tournaments,” Blackbird said. “We have a circuit of about 90 golfers that will show up to a tournament every weekend and that’s not even all of it.

“It’s definitely a lot more stress but it’s fun too. If you’re competitive it’s really fun. Every game is different.”

Most of the events are two-player scrambles, with a few individual stroke play tourneys in the mix. She’s been as low as 8-under par with a partner and 74 by herself, which are certainly good enough to be in the money.

Blackbird figures she has grossed more than $4,000 in the past month.

During the week, she’s an executive assistant for Child and Family Services, serving nine bands including her own.

This week, Blackbird and Young are two matches away from the title. It’s bittersweet, however, as they hoped to vie for the individual title. This is the first year since 1934 the Buffalo-crowned trophy that sits on display in the Clear Lake pro shop won’t be awarded.

For Young, who has attempted to claim it nearly 30 times and would have a terrific shot this year, it’s hard to see.

“(The scramble) is lots of fun and I understand why we have this and why everybody likes to play in it but I really miss the ladies tournament and regular match play,” Young said.

“It was a great tournament, a really tough one to win. Some really great players have won it and it was always so fun. A little more nerve-racking to play your own ball good, bad and ugly.”

Blackbird and Young take on Lindsay Hextall and Krista Carlisle, who beat Lois Fowler and Laurie Hooke.

In the other semifinal, it’s Jennifer Dyck and Trish Robson against Margo Goodhand and Colleen Sinclair.

Dyck and Robson took down Cindy Nylen and Tracy Nylen. Goodhand and Sinclair bounced Jody Bieber and Jayne Troop.

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