Selkirk’s Fredborg encouraged by pro debut

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This article was published 16/08/2019 (2557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Travis Fredborg’s professional debut won’t end with him raising a trophy on Sunday — or even cashing a cheque, for that matter.

But the 23-year-old Selkirk product is still hailing it a success despite missing the cut by five shots at the Players Cup following rounds of 72 and 74, believing it’s only a matter of time before he breaks through in a big way.

“I hit the ball very, very good both days. I just didn’t really get the putter going. It was just cold. But I’m happy with where my game’s at,” a still-confident Fredborg said Friday after his second round at the par-72 Southwood Golf & Country Club.

“I know my game. I’m just as good, if not better, than a lot of the guys out here. It’s just a matter of having everything working that week. I know I can shoot 8-under on any given day. Just a matter of staying patient and taking advantage of opportunities.”

At 2 over, Fredborg tied for the best result of the six Manitobans in the 156-player field. Devon Schade, who also recently turned pro after finishing studies at the University of Manitoba, followed up his opening-round 77 with a stellar 69 on Friday.

Winnipegger Bret Thompson, a Simon Fraser University grad who earned his way into the tournament after Monday qualifying at Glendale, had rounds of 73-75. 

Shilo’s Austin Dobrescu, the runner-up in the Manitoba Men’s Amateur earlier this summer, went 78-75. Josh Neufeld, an amateur currently enrolled at the University of Manitoba, shot 80-74. And club professional Derrik Goodwin of St. Charles went 85-78.

Fredborg, Schade, Dobrescu, Neufeld and Goodwin were all given sponsor’s exemptions into the event, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Fredborg was in the marquee group of the first two days, along with Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor and a Monday qualifier from Arizona, Dalen Yamauchi.

“Probably the most nervous I’ve ever been on a tee shot (on the first hole Thursday). That’s probably one of the bigger crowds I’ve ever hit in front of. Of course, being with one of the stars on the Jets, that was pretty cool. All in all, it was a great experience, he’s a great guy. We went out for dinner (Thursday) night. It was a lot of fun,” Fredborg said.

After a steady round of even par to open the event, Fredborg said he got a bit too aggressive Friday, knowing he needed a low score to make the cut and play on the weekend.

“Definitely a few putts I hit a little too hard, trying to make them. And then missed a couple coming back. I got in my own way a little bit. I thought I kind of settled down,” Fredborg said.

Fredborg is considering going to Montreal in two weeks to try to Monday qualify for the final Mackenzie Tour event of the year, then will head south to go play a few events on the Dakotas Tour this fall.

After that, it’s off to China to attempt to qualify for the PGA Tour in that country this winter, with Plan B trying to secure his Mackenzie Tour card at qualifying school next spring. And he’s already eyeing a stint on the European Tour next fall, where good friend and fellow Manitoban Aaron Cockerill is now making some hay.

He will take pack away plenty from his experience this week.

“Stay patient. Don’t press too hard. You don’t have to hit perfect golf shots to make birdies. A lot of the birdies that I made are on shots that I didn’t hit the greatest. Just leaving yourself in the right spots and not letting emotions get the best of you, for sure. And just staying away from big numbers,” he said.

 

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He took a few more swings than he would have liked, but Connor has no regrets about trading his hockey sticks for golf clubs this week.

The Jets winger followed up his opening-round 94 with a slightly-better 90 on Friday. That included a birdie on his second hole of the day, draining about a 15-foot putt on the par-three hole.

“It was a lot of fun. I hit some good shots, some bad ones. Some tough holes. The best part is just being able to watch these guys play, and at the range. It was pretty special to watch,” Connor said.

Judging by the big crowds following his group for both days, the decision to give Connor a sponsor’s exemption to try to bring some more fans to the product must be seen as a success. And kudos to Connor for subjecting himself to what he knew was going to be a bit of a humbling experience.

“You’ve got to be dialled in every single shot. You lose focus for a little bit, you start compounding your errors and it’s pretty tough,” he said of his biggest takeaway.

“It was definitely a lot more comfortable just playing the whole round (Friday). I had no idea, hadn’t played competitive golf, what it’s going to be like. Everybody tells you it’s tough, and it was. But I’m glad I got to do it.”

He came a few shots short of improving on the rounds of 87-86 teammate Mark Scheifele shot in the same event last year.

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There’s nothing more exciting in golf than a hole-in-one. And Southwood saw a pair of them on Friday.

Daniel Stringfellow, a 27-year-old from Illinois, aced the par-three 17th. That was part of a strong late-day run in which he went 6 under over a six-hole stretch to get to 11 under for the tournament, just two shots off the lead.

The other one came off the club of Wesley McClain, a 27-year-old Texan who made quick work of the par-three second hole.

Unfortunately for McClain, it wasn’t enough to survive the cut and get to the weekend. Although he shot a 4-under 68, his opening-round 76 sealed his fate.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg