Fanning near top of Canadian Amateur leaderboard

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This article was published 11/08/2011 (5534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Todd Fanning of Niakwa has joined the hunt on the first day of the Canadian Men’s Amateur at his home course.

The 43-year-old former tour professional and member of the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame shot a two-under-par 69 today at Niakwa and sits just one shot off the lead mid-way through the opening round.

Fanning had five birdies and three bogeys, including one at the 18th, to put his name up on the leaderboard in his first major competition since 2008, when he played the Manitoba Amateur and Canadian Amateur just after regaining his amateur status.

The former Canadian and Nationwide Tour player said the competitive game came back today.

“It was surprising that it kind of did, but I’d only say mentally,” said Fanning, who will go out for his second round Friday afternoon at Elmhurst. “The shot patterns and the swing are going to be what it is. That’s just eight years from not practising, you’re going to get what you get.

“But at least my thinking, I was very surprised how clear I was thinking and how it did come back to me mentally. One of the strongest things I did as a pro was that I was good mentally. I could hit it to places when I was in trouble and eliminate big scores.”

Fanning trails Albertans Wilson Bateman and Lewis Chong and Ontario’s Mackenzie Hughes by a single shot. Bateman shot his 68 at Elmhurst, while Chong and Hughes were at Niakwa.

The next best Manitoba players who had finished today were Niakwa’s Scott Markham and Southwood’s Bret Thompson, who were at 72.

The field of 240 will be cut down to the low 70 and ties after Friday’s play, and will then compete at Niakwa on the weekend.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca