Dauphin’s Scott in hunt for nationals berth

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This article was published 14/07/2022 (1317 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Thomas Scott hopes the past few summers of long drives pay off with one big flight.

The Dauphin native has one round left at his new home course to punch a ticket to the Canadian junior boys golf championship. He shot a 3-over 75 at St. Charles Country Club on Thursday to sit 4 over in the provincial junior, in line for Manitoba’s fourth and final spot at nationals.

“That’s my goal for the year, but got one more round to play,” Thomas said with a grin. “I’m just trying to keep that in the back of my mind because that’s the last thing I need to think about right now.”

“… I hit the ball really bad (Thursday), but I was 3 over through four so it was a good comeback.”

Scott’s nine strokes back of Grady Chuback and defending champ Braxton Kuntz (5 under), and four back of Ryan Blair (even par) for third and the final spot on Team Manitoba for nationals.

While it seems odd to play out of a club three-and-a-half hours from home, Scott’s been making the trip almost every week since 2020. He met Jack Taylor through junior tournaments and Taylor’s family suggested he stay with them throughout the summer to hone his craft at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club.

Scott and Taylor switched over to St. Charles the following year and are enjoying the home-course advantage in the 100th edition of the junior event. Taylor slipped up late in Round 2 but shot 77 and is in the top 10, four strokes back of Scott at 8 over.

They played together on Thursday, making it feel somewhat like another casual lap around the perfectly manicured track.

“We just really like golf and we’ve bonded over that,” Scott said. “That’s how it started but after we started being friends we found a lot more in common than just golf. We have fun.”

“It’s great,” added Taylor. “(We’ve) kind of been really close over the last two to three years, he just comes in and plays every week with us and it’s good competition. It’s good to have another good player to push you.

“He does a lot of things well. He’s really smart with his club selection and there’s not really a situation he’s (can’t) get out of … You can never really count him out of anything.”

That was the case for Scott on Thursday. He finished a few swings with his golf club and jaw dropped in a combination of surprise and disgust. However, they resulted in just five blemishes on his scorecard.

Scott said you can get away with a few misses around the near 6,800-yard loop, as long as they’re good misses. He’s gained course knowledge but also experience playing under pressure from more than a year at St. Charles.

“The practice facilities are insane so it’s great to have a membership here, really helps the game,” said Scott, who’s taking a gap year and hopes to land a college golf scholarship for 2023.

“You can go play for a chocolate bar or milkshake and it adds some pressure to keep you playing. I have some good friends in Dauphin too, it just helps to play with better players.”

• • •

Two brilliant juniors will battle it out in the final group today at 11:15 a.m.

Kuntz followed up an opening 67 with a 72 while Chuback was under par for the second straight day at 70.

“I felt pretty nervous about (Thursday). It was a big day,” Chuback said. “I knew there were going to be some tougher pins out there and the tees were going to be moved back even more. My main goal was just to make par and I managed to do that … and sneak a couple of birdies in there which helped quite a bit.

“(Today) we’re going in tied and I’m really excited for that. I’ve never been in this position before so really looking forward to it.”

Kuntz won the 2021 junior at Shilo Country Club handily. Then he ended up in a phenomenal battle with Ryan Sholdice in the men’s amateur. Kuntz drained a 40-foot bomb on the 72nd hole to win by one.

“It’ll be fun going out (today),” Kuntz said. “It’s just like the am, right? It’ll kind of be neck and neck. Lots of competition, but I’m sure we’ll still have fun with it. Overall, I mean, (there’s) no point being out here unless you’re having fun so that’s hopefully the main goal.” “(Chuback’s) been really consistent,” he added. “He hasn’t made too many mistakes. I mean, that’s what golf is all about: just limiting how big your mistakes are. And he’s been rolling the ball pretty well, too. So, yeah, I’m sure he’ll play pretty well tomorrow as well.”

Brandon’s Hunter Oakden leads the 12-and-under division by three after a 15-over 87.

• • •

Crystal Zamzow kept what could have been a runaway train within striking distance in the junior girls championship.

The Swan River product posted a 1-over 73, matching leader Addison Kartusch to trail by five shots entering the final round.

Zamzow is four shots clear of Killarney’s Cala Korman (81) and seven ahead of Clear Lake member Jeri Lafleche (79) and Binscarth’s Clara Peake (82).

“I hit a lot more fairways (Thursday), got more spin coming out at the hard greens, everything stuck more, stayed short of the pin and made some putts,” Zamzow said.

“Definitely got used to the faster greens and had some putts fall, and had a chip go in so I was definitely looking to make stuff instead of just lagging it there.”

Zamzow won the 2020 junior title then struggled the following year at Shilo as Peake claimed the crown. Zamzow feels she learned a lot from the letdown.

“It made me think,” she said. “ The frustration helps. Now I know that when I’m out here I can just keep playing. I’ve done it, I haven’t done it, go play … You’re going to shoot what you’re going to shoot. Have fun.”

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