Amateur’s oldest champion heats up course 3 years later

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This article was published 25/07/2012 (5064 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WHEN he authored history three summers ago with his third Manitoba Amateur championship — he became the oldest-ever winner at age 51 — Breezy Bend’s Garth Collings said modestly he was thrilled about the opportunity for another title because his career was hanging by the fingertips.

Don’t mind Collings’ rivals at this year’s championship at Glendale Golf and Country Club if they laugh that line out to Portage Avenue and right out of town.

Here he is again at 54 and knocking on the door again after a second straight round of one-under 71 on Tuesday.

This one had the course abuzz for a good while during the afternoon, since the three-time Manitoba player of the year and member of the provincial golf Hall of Fame went out in five-under-par 30 in Round 2.

That had Collings in a brief lead, but at the end of the day and his back-nine struggles. he’s one back of first-day leader Thomas Strandemo, the 18-year-old Minnesota native who lives in Fargo and plays at Oxbow Country Club.

Strandemo lost a little of his opening-day fire but still managed a one-over 73 to remain the pacesetter at the halfway point.

Southwood’s Bryce Barr will join them in the final threesome today after his own 73, putting him two shots out of the lead.

Collings has become something of a competitive phenomenon. He’s won seven Manitoba mid-amateurs, including the latest just two weeks ago, and after being first, second and fourth in the last three amateurs, here he is again slugging it out, mostly with players less than half his age.

“The mojo was good today,” said Collings, an obvious understatement after dunking his 52-degree wedge for an eagle two on Glendale’s first hole Tuesday.

An eagle three at the par-5 sixth and a birdie at the par-3 seventh had tongues wagging around the course, but a slowing pace on the day took its toll on Collings, who has a reputation as a quick player.

“Three groups standing on the 10th tee, so you’re standing around waiting, and then I made some bad swings,” he said. “But you know what? I made some good swings on the front and apparently they all even out.

“I don’t know who said that, but the guy’s a jerk,” he laughed.

Strandemo, the three-sport star from Fargo’s Shanley high school, had four birdies to go with five bogeys on Tuesday. Monday, he blazed the back nine with seven birdies in the last eight holes.

“Today, I didn’t hit as many great shots,” Strandemo said. “Driving was my main thing today. I hit a couple of poor drives that got me in some poor situations.

“Me and my dad (Guy, who’s also his caddie) were talking that it’s almost a different course again today because of the elements and where they put the pins. It should be a good test (the rest of the week).”

Pine Ridge’s Josh Wytinck rebounded from a first-day 75 with a 70 on Tuesday to pull within four of the lead. He’s one better than Southwood’s Teale Merkeley (71-75) and defending champ Jesse Skelton of Breezy Bend (74-72).

The rebound star of the day, however, was Pine Ridge’s Myles Sullivan, the 2011 Manitoba Junior champ, who had a forgettable 80 on Monday. Sullivan posted the best round of the week so far on Tuesday, a slick five-under 67 to join the group of six chasers at three-over and within six of the lead.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

LEADERBOARD

At Glendale

Par 72-72–144

Thomas Strandemo 68-73–141

Garth Collings 71-71–142

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Bryce Barr 70-73–143

Josh Wytinck 75-70–145

Teale Merkeley 71-75 –146

Jesse Skelton 74-72–146