Assiniboine pro leads PGA field

Conservative approach pays off for Mills; North one shot back

By: Allan Besson Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 26, 2011

Dean North knows what it takes to win the Titleist Footjoy PGA of Manitoba title.

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Dean North knows what it takes to win the Titleist Footjoy PGA of Manitoba title.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/07/2011 (5416 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dean North knows what it takes to win the Titleist Footjoy PGA of Manitoba title.

The Carman Golf Club professional has won it three times, but a conservative game plan Monday during the first round of the 2011 event has him in a tie for second place after narrowly missing a birdie putt and a share of the lead on the 18th hole at the St. Boniface Golf Club.

“Oh yeah, that putt you are just trying to be defensive because if you can two-putt from above the hole on there that’s all you are trying to do,” North said, reflecting on the opportunity lost.

wayne glowacki / winnipeg free press
Matt Lorenz tees off during the first round of the PGA of Manitoba Championship at the St. Boniface Golf Club Monday. — wayne glowacki / winnipeg free press Matt Lorenz tees off during the first round of the PGA of Manitoba Championship at the St. Boniface Golf Club Monday.

North’s caddy since 2001, Jerry Hodson, agreed.

“That is a very tough putt. If you can two-putt from up there you take it every time. It went past the hole by about three or four feet, but the good news was that we touched the hole because you can’t stop the ball there. It’s either got to go in or its going to go past by about 10 feet, so we got a little lucky there.”

The lead heading into today’s second round belongs to Assiniboine Golf Club’s Glen Mills, who also played a conservative game but shot a 1-under-par 71. North, Niakwa’s Terry Reilly and Walter Keating Jr. from Thunder Bay’s Whitewater Golf Club hold down second place at even-par 72.

“I thought if I played fairly controlled golf it would be fairly simple,” said Mills. “I didn’t hit too many drivers off the tee today. I think I hit two drivers all day. I was taking the risk factor out because when I play irons off the tee I am pretty much ensuring that I am going to make par.”

Three players, Henry Hemmes of Dauphin Lake Golf Club, Transcona’s Pat Beaudoin and Brad Poleschuk of Bel Acres sit two shots off the lead.

Hodson says his job is to keep North on an even keel. “He wants to be aggressive and I am more conservative, so it is my job to keep him relaxed and calm. He has to go through me, but whatever he decides to play, that’s what he’ll play. So I just try to show him the conservative route.

“He is driven to play well. He wants to perform well. If you win, you win, but my job is to remind him, don’t get ahead of ourselves. If you come here thinking you are going to win it, then you forget what you are trying to do.”

North appreciates Hodson’s advice.

“You know what makes us kind of click and do well together is that we are such good friends,” said North. “Jerry has a pretty good knowledge of the game, so when I am thinking about shots that maybe I shouldn’t, he helps talk me out of it.”

The starting tee-off time for today’s second round is 7:15 a.m.

allan.besson@freepress.mb.ca

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