City boy Thompson is the top Manitoban

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This article was published 06/08/2014 (4394 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRET THOMPSON of Southwood put local knowledge to good use on Tuesday, zooming into contention at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Golf Championship.

Thompson, 20, fired a slick 4-under-par 68 on his own course and matched with his 2-under 68 Monday at Elmhurst, has him in a tie for third spot, just two shots back of co-leaders Jonathan Garrick and Sam Saunders heading for today’s third round at Elmhurst.

The junior at Simon Fraser University had an eagle, three birdies and a bogey on Tuesday.

“It’s definitely a comfort playing on your own course,” he said. “Just knowing the lines and being able to trust your shots. I was just solid. Hit every fairway. I stayed patient.”

It’s a good spot for Thompson, who began the championship on Monday with bogeys on two of his first four holes. He managed to stay calm and play his way up near the top of the leaderboard.

Thompson said his patience will be the difference this week after a tie for seventh at the Manitoba Amateur.

“That could have been a lot better,” he said. “I know I can play but it’s a matter of keeping the momentum going. In those rounds, I’d be three- or four-under and make a stupid mistake and that kills your momentum.”

Thompson carried the flag for the 22 Manitobans in the competition.

St. Charles’ Derek East put up a fine 68 at Elmhurst on Tuesday to get to 2-under for 36 holes.

Josh Wytinck of Pine Ridge, who shot 67 at Southwood on Monday, sagged to a 75 at Elmhurst on Tuesday and is at even par. Todd Fanning is next at 1-over. Also making the cut of four-over were Elmhurst’s Scott Mazur, a member of the University of Manitoba Bisons, who’s at 4-over through two days after a pair of 73s, and Breezy Bend’s Eric Johnson, who was 72-74.

Playing hurt

Elmhurst’s firm conditions, the testy hole locations and some summer heat were enough for most players at the Canadian Amateur on Tuesday.

Surrey, B.C.’s Adam Svensson had the added challenge of poor health but got straight A’s on his second-round exam, firing the day’s best round of 4-under 66 at the main host course.

“I went to the emergency room last night; I was almost passing out,” Svensson reported after signing his card of one bogey, at the third, and five ensuing birdies. “That was crazy and it turns out I have a bad form of strep throat. I was puking all night and I wasn’t going to play today but Derek (Ingram, national team coach) said he’d carry my bag and we’d see after nine how I was playing.”

Svensson is just three shots off the lead heading into today’s third round.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca