Winning never gets old

Todd Fanning is among the most decorated golfers in Manitoba history.

But a second straight senior men’s championship — captured Wednesday at Breezy Bend — was especially sweet.

That’s because it opens the door for him to represent the province at the Canadian senior men’s championship, which just so happens to be set for his sporting backyard at Niakwa in early September.

“This tournament was really important for me. Not only defending, but to try and get on the team and try to represent our home course,” Fanning told the Free Press.

“It was really a fantastic week. I was really happy with the way I held it together.”

You can officially mark Fanning down as one of the favourites if he’s able to bring the type of game that was on display the past three days.

The 58-year-old opened Monday with an one-under 71 which left him three shots behind good friend and Niakwa clubmate Jay Doyle. A second round four-under 68 gave him a one-shot cushion, which he turned into a four-shot victory after a final round 72.

This completes a double ‘Grand Slam’ for Fanning, who had two Manitoba Junior titles, two Mid-Amateur titles and a whopping five Manitoba Amateur wins to go along with his first Senior championship a year ago.

Doyle (68-72-75) finished at one-under and will join Fanning on the provincial team, along with David White of St. Charles (73-78-71), who bounced back after making a quintuple-bogey during his second round.

“I’m more proud of him that I am of myself,” said Fanning, who has been friends with White since they went to high school together.

Four other locals — Mike Walker, Dan Scanlon, Dale Coulter and David Kuik — will also get invitations to the national championship by finishing in the top seven of the Manitoba event.

Fanning expects the competition to be fierce in September, with upwards of 20 top American amateurs in the field as well. One of them is Bryan Hoops, a 57-year-old from Minnesota who is the No. 1-ranked senior in the U.S. and recently won the British amateur.

“Anyone who thinks they’re going to come out and see a bunch of old guys just whacking it around (is mistaken),” said Fanning. “It’s going to be a heck of a week.”

Fanning plans to up his training and practice routine over the next six weeks, although he does plan to take a few days to savour this latest win while also tending to something more important than golf — his daughter is due to give birth on Friday with his first grandchild.

“And then I’ll put a lot more attention on things you need to do to compete at that level. A more structured routine for what I’m trying to get accomplished in September,” he said.

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Talk about a roller-coaster of emotions.

Angela Martens stood on the 18th and final hole at Breezy Bend on Wednesday afternoon, enjoying a two-shot lead as she tried to close out her first senior women’s title.

The Elmhurst member was feeling pretty good about her chances, considering she’d rolled in birdie putts on the previous four holes.

But then disaster struck — an errant tee shot to the left found water and would lead to a costly double-bogey. Playing partner Stacey Borowski, playing at her home course, made a clutch par putt that pulled her into a tie and forced a winner-take-all playoff.

On the very same hole they had just played. Uh-oh.

“I said on the tee ‘I’d like that shot over’ and I got a chance to play it again, so that was awesome. It wasn’t a mulligan but I got a do-over,” Martens said.

She wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. A perfect drive, a solid approach and two putts had her tasting victory after Borowski’s par putt hit the lip and stayed out.

Martens was again a provincial champion — 27 years after she captured the Manitoba Women’s Amateur.

“We had a great match. It was back and forth,” said Martens, who had rounds of 80-79-74 on the par-73 track (for women).

Borowski (81-79-73) is the second member of Team Manitoba for the Canadian championship which will be held in September in Alberta. Tammy Gibson of Niakwa (79-85-78) earned the third and final spot.

Martens stopped playing competitive golf more than 15 years ago, focusing on her children’s athletic pursuits and other aspects of life. Her return this summer couldn’t have gone better.

“I wanted to try and put myself in contention, maybe get into the last group on the last day. That was kind of where my expectation stopped,” she said.

“So this is kind of the cherry on top.”

The competition was wide open this year as Rhonda Orr, who had won 10 straight senior title and 12 of the last 13, was unable to compete due to a recent procedure for heart arrhythmia. Orr was at the course on Wednesday to embrace Martens following her win.

“She’s a good friend and a great competitor. This really is her event,” said Martens.

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Brandon’s Evan Nachtigall continues to hang tough against some of the best amateur golfers in the world.

The 25-year-old is tied for 17th — in a field of 263 — heading into Thursday’s final round of the Canadian men’s amateur in Calgary, which is being co-hosted by Mickelson National Golf Club and Heritage Pointe Golf Club.

Nachtigall, the lone Manitoban to survive the 36-hole cut, fired a one-under 71 on Wednesday after opening with scores of 68-72.

The 2025 Manitoba Amateur champion is nine shots off the lead, which is shared by Tobias Buffam of Calgary and Dawson Lew of Toronto. There are also players from the United States, Mexico, France, Poland, Australia, Austria and China in the field.

Jack Moro from Thunder Bay is also competing under the Golf Manitoba banner. He is tied for 69th after rounds of 74-70-75.

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