Kuntz grinds out historical win Breezy Bend golfer claims fourth consecutive Manitoba Amateur men’s golf title By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 6:58 PM CDT Wednesday, Jul. 24, 2024 Last Modified: 11:45 AM CDT Thursday, Jul. 25, 2024 Updates

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Take a bow, Braxton Kuntz. You now have a piece of provincial sporting history all to yourself.

The 20-year-old Winnipegger captured his fourth consecutive Manitoba Amateur championship in dramatic fashion Wednesday, becoming the first men’s golfer to accomplish such a feat.

“It’s incredible,” Kuntz, a member at Breezy Bend, said moments after tapping in for par on the 54th and final hole of the three-day event at Rossmere to finish at four-under par (68-68-70).

“To be able to come out and play well enough to win every year is something I’m really proud of. Even though I may not have had my best stuff each time, I’ve really grinded hard and stayed in it and been able to come out on top.”

This one proved to be the toughest of them all.

Kuntz began the day two strokes behind Brandon’s Drew Jones, and the pair essentially separated themselves from the rest of the field and engaged in head-to-head match play that started smooth enough — identical scores on the first five holes — and then turned into an emotional roller-coaster with plenty of wild momentum swings.

Consider this: Kuntz pulled into a tie on the sixth hole, took a one stroke lead after seven, fell back into a tie after eight, trailed by two after nine and saw Jones pull ahead by three after 10. Kuntz then got within two after 11 and one after 12.

“I’ve never experienced anything like that. It was up and down. I was leading, he was leading, he’d make three birdies, I’d make a couple. It was crazy,” said Kuntz.

Jones and Kuntz matched each other on 13, 14, 15 and 16, which turned out to be a brief calm before the final scoring storm.

On the par-five 17th (which normally plays as the 8th hole at Rossmere, but the nines were reversed for the tournament), Jones put his tee shot deep into the left trees while Kuntz striped a beauty right down the middle of the fairway.

That would prove to be a critical point.

Jones found his ball but had to take a one-stroke penalty due to it being unplayable. With no immediate relief possible within two club lengths, his only option was to go backwards — as in on to the 16th fairway — to play what became his third over the trees. His fourth shot ended up just short and right of the green, in front of a sand trap guarding the front left pin.

Jones hit a flop well past the hole, then ultimately three-putted for a triple bogey. Kuntz, meanwhile, made a safe, smart and rock-solid par to take a two stroke lead to 18. Jones, needing a miracle at that point and playing aggressively, ultimately saw it backfire when he made another bogey to finish at one-under (68-66-75).

“I think that’s a big learning experience for me,” said Kuntz, who is headed to Indiana next month to begin his final year of college studies and golf at Ball State.

“Obviously when I try and turn pro next year, I’ve got to be able to handle the pressure. There’s going to be lots of it for the rest of my golf career. I’m glad that I had this experience to grind it out and be patient.”

Jones, meanwhile, was left to wonder what could have been.

“It’s golf. I hit it (his tee shot on 17) literally a couple millimetres off the toe and it goes left and you cannot go left there,” said the 29-year-old who plays out of Shilo.

“It was just a lack of maybe attentiveness.”

Despite a frustrating finish, Jones was focused on important lessons he can take away, including how he responded when Kuntz briefly took the lead on the front nine Wednesday only for him to soar back in front by as many as three.

“I felt so comfortable all day and confident in my ability. I wasn’t anxious or stressed out, so that was a huge step forward for my tournament experience,” he said. “Just a little bit brain-dead for the few mistakes I made.”

He also was quick to tip his golf hat to Kuntz, who showed the kind of mental resolve needed to come up big in the clutch.

“He’s a gritty, gritty player. He made so many four to five-footers for par,” said Jones.

Rossmere’s Cameron McIntyre (70-69-72) and Elmhurst’s Ryan Blair (71-70-70) finished in a tie for third at one-over, while Niakwa’s Lyle MacKenzie, who was playing in the final group with Kuntz and Jones, ended up alone in fifth place at two-over (71-67-74).

The biggest mover of the day was 2020 Manitoba Amateur champion Marco Trstenjak, who followed up rounds of 74 and 75 with a 66 on Wednesday to finish tied for seventh at five-over along with Manitoba Mid-Amateur champion Allan McDonald (74-69-72). They were one shot behind Dauphin’s Eric Prokopowich (69-75-70).

A total of 114 golfers began the tournament Monday, with the field cut down to 62 golfers following 36 holes.

Only Todd Fanning (1990-92) and R.J. Reith (1933-35) in addition to Kuntz had won three consecutive Manitoba Amateurs on the men’s side, while Marg Homenuik won four consecutive women’s titles from 1961-1964. In terms of career victories, Reith and Fanning lead the way with five, while Kuntz now pulls into a tie with Allan Boes at four.

Fanning was among the dozens of spectators following Kuntz around the course Wednesday — and was one of the first to offer him a congratulatory handshake once it was over.

As a result of his victory, Kuntz will now head to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship which is being held Aug. 7-10 in Saskatoon, Sask. He’s also earned another sponsor’s exemption into the Manitoba Open from Aug. 22-25 at Southwood, which features the pros from the PGA Tour Americas.

“I already have my flight booked for Aug. 12 to go down to school, so I’m going to have to book a return flight now,” said Kuntz.

“It adds a little bit more complications, but good complications to have. I’m more than happy to be able to compete again this year (against the pros) and see what I can do out there.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg