If at first you don’t succeed…

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This article was published 22/06/2020 (2246 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bobbi Uhl proved the third time really is the charm.

For the past two years, Uhl, an Erickson native who golfs out of Shilo, lost the final of the women’s Match Play championship to St. Charles ace Hannah Diamond.

Signs pointed to Diamond three-peating as this year’s Match Play was held at her home course of St. Charles. But Sunday’s 36-hole marathon had a different ending than the previous two years as Uhl was able to get the monkey off her back and claim a 5 and 4 victory over Diamond to be crowned the 2020 women’s Match Play champ.

It wasn’t easy, though. Uhl had to regroup after a rough start on Sunday where she trailed by five after 11 holes. So, what was the secret in turning her game around? Eating a deep fried lunch, apparently.

“The last two years we went to 35 holes both times so it feels good to win, especially on her home course. I really struggled this morning but I figured it out after I had some chicken fingers,” said Uhl, a 20-year-old who golfs for Longwood University in Farmville, Va.

Brandon’s Austin Dobrescu won his second straight men’s title Sunday.

Uhl caught a bit of a break in the semi-final as her opponent, Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge, withdrew. Instead of using Saturday as a rest day, Uhl still came out to St. Charles and worked on her craft ahead of Sunday’s final round.

“It wasn’t a match so it was less mentally tiring for me to go out and just play a round of golf for fun,” Uhl said. “So I think it was definitely beneficial for sure.”

With Diamond knowing the course like the back of her hand, Uhl knew she had to bring it if she was going to finally turn the tables.

“I was nervous coming in because I know it’s her home course and I’ve seen her play here many, many times,” said Uhl.

“But honestly, I also know what it’s like when I play my home course and I struggle on my own home course so I knew there was a chance she could falter at times and when she did I tried to step up at those times.”

There was, however, one defending champion that was able to defend their title on Sunday. Dobrescu beat Elmhurst’s Jack Werhun 4 and 2 to win the men’s Match Play championship for the second year in a row. Dobrescu trailed by one after the first 18 holes but was a new man after the break as he won four straight in the second segment.

“I just knew from last year to stick to my game,” said Dobrescu, a 23-year-old who plays out of Shilo Country Club.

“I know if I play solid and just keep it in front of me that I’ll definitely have a chance no matter who I’m competing against. I kind of just stuck to my game and at the end of it I was lucky enough to come out with it.”

Winning at a prestigious course such as St. Charles with his family there to watch makes it that much sweeter for Dobrescu.

“It was awesome. This is a perfect venue for the Match Play championship,” Dobrescu said.

‘I was nervous coming in because I know it’s her home course and I’ve seen her play here many, many times’– Bobbi Uhl, on her St. Charles opponent’I knew from last year to stick to my game’– Men’s champ Austin Dobrescu

“I don’t get to play here a ton, but it’s definitely one of the top courses for me in Manitoba. I loved the greens, I loved the layout and it was really an honour. It was nice to play it for sure.”

Dobrescu was hoping to challenge himself against some of the best golfers in the country this summer, but last week Golf Canada announced they’ve cancelled all amateur competitions for the 2020 season owing to COVID-19. As disappointing as it is, Dobrescu isn’t letting the bad news get to him.

“I’m lucky. A lot of people don’t have the benefit to be able to compete and do what they love right now,” he said. “A lot of people are stuck at home. I’m lucky enough that I’m still able to compete and play golf, which is awesome. I’m just grateful for the chance to play.”

Playing 36 holes of competitive golf in a single day would be daunting task for some, but it’s just another day at the office for Dobrescu thanks to his playing days at Chicago State University.

“Near the end of it, you start to get a little bit gassed,” Dobrescu admitted.

“You got to just push through it. It’s tough to do but I’m a little bit used to it more than a lot of the other guys. When I was in college we’d have two-day events but they were 54 holes. The first day of most of those events were 36 holes so I’m a little bit used to it. But this summer, not as much so it’s definitely wearing on me right now.”

The senior men’s final is 18 holes but Carl Lechman only needed 13 to get the job done. Elmhurst’s Lechman, who beat top-ranked Garth Collings in Saturday’s semifinal, dominated Sunday as he handed Southwood’s Gordon Hudson a 6 and 5 loss.

“Well, I had four birdies in the first 11 holes and no bogeys,” Lechman said. “That’s just solid play for amateurs.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31