Delisle’s Colin Coben prevailed to capture his fourth Saskatchewan senior men’s (age 55 and over) golf championship, his first since 2014.
Three days.
Three different leaders.
In the end, Delisle’s Colin Coben prevailed to capture his fourth Saskatchewan senior men’s (age 55 and over) golf championship and his first since 2014.
Coben shot an even-par 72 Thursday at the Evergreen Golf Course in Nipawin to take a one-shot victory (75-79-72—226) over runner-up Brent Wotypka (76-77-74—227) of Swift Current Elmwood. Second-round leader Ken Rodgers of Regina’s Tor Hill Golf Club settled for third (77-72-79—228). Prince Albert Cooke’s Martin Ring (78-78-73—229) and defending champion Rick Hallberg (75-78-76—229) of Weyburn finished tied for fourth.
Coben, who was runner-up to Hallberg earlier this season at the Saskatoon Auto Clearing Senior Open, ended Hallberg’s streak of four consecutive provincial senior men’s titles. Hallberg had won the event five of the previous six years and Rodgers won it the other time, in 2019.
Regina’s Rob Schneider, who led after Day One in this year’s championship, wound up in eighth place with a three-day score of 233 (74-81-78).
McDougall crowned senior women’s champ
On the senior women’s (50 and over) side, Pauline McDougall of Prince Albert Cooke captured top honours.
Her three-day score of 242 (85-75-82) was four better than Denise Wilson (80-83-83—246) of Swift Current’s Elmwood Golf Club.
Sue Skinner of Delisle’s Valley View Golf Club placed third at 247 (83-86-78).
Kelly Hopfner (87-85-77) of Swift Current Elmwood and first-round leader Debbie Sapara (75-88-86) of Yorkton’s Deer Park Golf Course were tied for fourth with a score of 249.
Kim Walker of Regina was the reigning three-time senior women’s champ. She had won the event four of the previous five years. She did not compete in Nipawin.
Saskatoon’s Kathy Ziglo (84-85-87—256), who was runner-up a year ago to Walker at Prince Albert Cooke Municipal, finished 10th overall in Nipawin.
McDougall was third last year in Prince Albert.
Canadian junior girls championship
Ella Kozak of Yorkton finished tied for 38th at the Canadian junior girls championship that wrapped up Thursday at the Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C.
Kozak shot rounds of 79-81-71-81 for a four-day total of 312. Her third-round score was the fourth-lowest among all competitors that day.
Kozak was the lone Saskatchewan golfer to make the cut.
Niya Friesen of Swift Current shot a pair of 88s for her rounds.
Grace Odnokon of Saskatoon carded rounds of 88 and 89.
Chloe Wills of Kyle had rounds of 96 and 86.
The Canadian junior boys championship will be held Aug. 13-16 at the Innisfail Golf Club in Alberta.
The Saskatchewan contingent includes Ryan Mosher, Aricin Franklin, Max Regier, all of Saskatoon.
Canadian Am coming up next
The Canadian Amateur men’s golf championship is just around the corner.
The event — the 119th playing of the tournament — will be held Aug. 5-8 at Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club.
The qualifier will be held Saturday, Aug. 2 with practice rounds going Aug. 3-4.