Amateurs aiming to go low

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This article was published 21/07/2011 (5474 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE only way to protect the lead may be to move it more under par in today’s final round of the Nott Autocorp Manitoba Amateur men’s golf championship.

At least that’s what third-round leader Jesse Skelton of Breezy Bend will be thinking as he heads to the Portage Golf Club for Round 4, having slept on a one-shot advantage over St. Charles’ Derek East.

I think you’re going to play that course aggressively no matter what,” Skelton said after shooting a one-under-par 69 on Wednesday to move into sole possession of the lead at 10-under for the week. “The greens are soft and you’re going to have to shoot a good round, which is the way it should be.”

East, co-leader after 36 holes, was even-par 70 on Wednesday and is at nine-under.

The best of the province’s amateur players are enjoying the week at the 6,311-yard course when it comes to scorecards. Thirteen competitors are under par through three days.

Last year at Breezy Bend, only 12 players shot better than 10-over in four rounds, and only three broke par.

“It can be very scoreable,” Skelton said. “It’s because the greens are really, really soft and there are a lot of short par-4’s. You can make birdies out there.”

A shorter competitive course, though, can leave more room for error, Skelton said.

“It really depends on the player,” he said. “You can get away with some bad tee shots but over the course of four days, I think that works out evenly.”

Wednesday featured a short morning weather delay and early in the afternoon strong winds picked up. More breeze is expected for today’s final round.

“I play at Breezy, I should be used to that,” Skelton laughed.

East won’t be the only player Skelton will be keeping his eye on today. Pine Ridge’s Josh Wytinck, who bogeyed the last two holes on Wednesday, shot 69 and is at six-under, four back of the leader.

Tied in fourth spot at four-under are Breezy’s Eric Johnson after a hot 64 and Teulon’s Aaron Cockerill, who was 66.

Another shot back and seven behind the leaders are perennial contender Garth Collings, a two-time amateur winner, who shot 67 on Wednesday, and Southwood’s Charlie Boyechko, who was 69.

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Four of the top six players heading into today competed in last week’s Canadian Tour Players Cup at Pine Ridge. All four missed the cut.

“I think it was helpful,” Skelton said. “The first round I was awful but I figured a few things out for the second round and hit some good tee shots. There are some tough tee shots there. It was good to get a couple of competitive rounds in before our big one.”

Skelton also gained some confidence from last year’s Manitoba Amateur, when he had his best-ever finish, tied with Collings for second behind champ Peter More.

“That was about knowing that I can win, really,” Skelton said. “I played good last year, but not anywhere near my best. It was my home course, which is a little easier, but I’m fairly familiar with this course, too, and that helps.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca