Hammerback takes top spot at all-abilities championship

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This article was published 16/06/2024 (835 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Though the result was the second most important thing to come from the day, Kristian Hammerback will always take a win.

The Winnipeg golfer outlasted Kyle Miller of Calgary by one stroke in blustery conditions to defend his crown in Golf Manitoba’s all-abilities championship at John Blumberg on Saturday.

Hammerback, who entered the day with a one-stroke lead over Miller, led by as much as five before the wind started toying with him. The tournament hung on the outcome of the final hole, where Hammerback drilled a three-foot putt to seal the deal.

“When I play with my friends, you’re listening to music, (drinking) a couple of beers, but playing competitive golf, it’s fun,” said Hammerback, who won the gross score and net Stableford divisions. “It’s fun and it was a great day and I’m just glad that Golf Manitoba puts on the all-abilities.

“It means a lot.”

Hammerback remains the only winner in the tournament’s two-year history after carding 77-79 to finish 16-over par for the two-day event.

The all-abilities championship, exclusive to players with neurological, intellectual, sensory and physical impairments, returned to the provincial circuit after a one-year hiatus owing to a lack of entries.

Its return was certainly welcomed by those playing, as the event serves as an important reminder that one of Manitoba’s favourite summer pastimes is available to people of all abilities.

There were six players in the field, half of what the first iteration of the tournament drew, but the hope is more people with challenging circumstances will be comfortable playing in a competitive setting as the tournament ages.

“At the end of the day, golf is for everyone,” said Hammerback, who was born without an arm below his left elbow. It doesn’t matter who you are, and the fact that (media) is covering the event, Golf Manitoba is putting on the event, all I can hope from this is that someone out there in Manitoba — whether it’s a young kid or an adult sees this — picks up the phone and gets in touch and next year we see more people come out and it continues to grow.

“That’s the ultimate goal.”

Meanwhile, Charmaine Hayden survived a late scare to hang on and win the women’s city and district championship for the fourth time in her renowned career on the local scene.

Hayden began the day one back of Hannah Diamond but led by as much as six at one point.

Owning a comfortable four-stroke lead on the 17th hole, Hayden was the victim of an unlucky ruling in which she thought she lost her ball but found it as she was walking back to where she originally shot. By that time the allotted time she had to look for her ball had passed, forcing her to declare her ball — which sat pin-high in the rough — lost and re-hit from the original spot.

“I didn’t know at that point how far ahead I was,” Hayden said. “I was pretty sure that I was far ahead but I told my husband (and caddy) not to tell me.”

She scored a triple bogey, leaving herself with a two-stroke lead coming home. A bogey at the 18th was enough to edge Diamond by one stroke.

“I don’t really think about it too much other than, ‘Why can I win this one?’” said Hayden, who first won in 2004 before going back to back in 2018-19. “I’m not sure why. I think it’s helpful mentally that it’s two rounds. Three rounds, thinking of a provincial amateur, it’s just more mentally challenging and for some reason, two rounds are suitable for me.”

A little earlier, Ryder St. Laurent ran away with the junior men’s U15 championship, while Jewel Lafleche wore the junior women’s crown.

St. Laurent, who also won the 13 and 14-year-old age group, entered the day with a four-shot lead and never relinquished control, firing 73-83 for a comfortable victory at 12-over.

Meanwhile, Lafleche, who won the U15 women’s championship in 2022, proved to be the class of the young field once again, cruising to a 12-shot victory after firing 79-87 to finish 20-over .

Maisy Shewchuk, last year’s overall junior women’s champion, won the U12 division at 32-over, while Grant Secord took home the U12 junior men’s title at 35-over and Hunter MacLean captured the overall bantam championship at eight-over par.

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

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