Veronica Vetesnik & Allan McDonald Take First Provincial Titles of 2020
It was another perfect day at Bel Acres Golf & Country Club for the third and final rounds of the 2020 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships.
In the Women’s Amateur Championship, Veronica Vetesnik of the Kingswood Golf & Country Club protected her second round lead to hold off Bobbi Uhl of Shilo Country Club to win the event by a single shot. Uhl managed to pull even with Vetesnik after the first nine holes, but Vetesnik held her ground with a steady back nine carding a final round of 77. Uhl finished alone in second and also posting a 77. Marisa Naylor, who started the round tied for second, finished with a final round of 7-over par 80 to finish alone in third. Defending champion Greer Valaquenta finished in fourth after a final round score of 85.
Allan McDonald, 2020 Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion
On the men’s side, Allan McDonald of the Breezy Bend Country Club is your 2020 Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion. Allan McDonald, who started the day 2 shots back of second round leader and clubmate Justin McDonald, fired a final round of 1-over par 73 to finish at 219 for the 54-hole event. Justin McDonald and Eric Johnson, the 2019 defending champion and also of Breezy Bend, both tied for second at 224.
Mike Tibbs of Breezy Bend won the Mid-Masters (40+) division shooting 225 for the event assisted by a final round of 73.
Golf Manitoba would like to thank our event title sponsor, Gerald Diamond and Diamond Athletic Medical Supplies for their incredible support of these two events! Thank you!
Golf Manitoba also wishes to extend a sincere thank you to membership, management and staff of the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club including PGA of Canada Head Professional, Robin Henderson and Head Superintendent, David Linstead. A special thank you also to all the competitors who helped make this another great event!
Veronica Vetesnik and Justin McDonald Take Second Round Lead
It was near perfect conditions for round two of the Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships at the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club.
Veronica Vetesnik of the Kingswood Golf & Country Club will take a one shot lead into the final round of Women’s Amateur. Vetesnik shot a 4-over par round of 77 to sit at 152 for the event. First round leader Bobbi Uhl of Shilo Country Club is tied with Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge for second place at 153. Defending champion Greer Valaquenta made the move of the day moving up into fourth place after shooting a 2-over par 75.
On the men’s side, Justin McDonald of Breezy Bend holds the 36-hole lead after shooting a 2-over par 74 in the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. McDonald sits two clear of clubmate Jesse Skelton who posted an even-par round of 72. Moving into a tie for third place at 146 is Curtis Markusson of St. Charles Country Club and Allan McDonald of Breezy Bend.
Bobbi Uhl and Justin McDonald Take First Round Lead
The first round of the 2020 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships is complete with the 54-hole events being contested at the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club. Bobbi Uhl, the 2020 Women’s Match Play Champion, is the first round leader in the women’s event fashioning a 1-over par round of 74. Uhl, who plays out of the Shilo Country Club, sits one clear of Veronica Vetesnik of the Kingswood Golf & Country Club who opened with a 75. 2017 champion Marissa Naylor of the Pine Ridge Golf Club is two back after an opening round 76. Defending champion Greer Valaquenta of Southwood Golf & Country Club is just 5 shots back after an opening round 79.
In the opening round of the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, it was Justin McDonald of the Breezy Bend Country Club who set the early pace posting a tidy 3-under par 69 to sit two clear of clubmate Allan McDonald who opened at 71. Sitting in a tie for third, and all from Breezy Bend, is 2019 defending champion Eric Johnson, Mike Tibbs and Jesse Skelton.
Golf Manitoba (Winnipeg) – The 2020 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur & Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships are set to go July 6-8 at the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club. These are the first two provincial championships of the 2020 Golf Manitoba event season.
WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
Greer Valaquenta
Dates: July 6-8
Course: Bel Acres Golf & Country Club
Yards/Par: 5,865 yards/73
Field: 21
2019 Champion: Greer Valaquenta, Southwood Golf & Country Club
2019 Runner-up: Hannah Diamond, St. Charles Country Club
Format: 54 holes of stroke play
Awards/Placing: Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd lowest competitors.
MEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
Eric Johnson
Dates: July 6-8
Course: Bel Acres Golf & Country Club
Yards/Par: 6.975 yards/72
Field: 60
2019 Champion: Eric Johnson, Breezy Bend Country Club
2019 Runner-up: Todd Fanning, Niakwa Country Club
Format: 54 holes of stroke play
Awards/Placing: Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd lowest competitors. First place also to Mid-Masters Champion (age 40+)
LOOKING BACK
Greer Valaquenta of Southwood Golf & Country Club won the 2019 Diamond Athletic Women’s Amateur Championship. Valaquenta played steady golf over three days on rounds of 73-78-75 for a 3 shot victory over Hannah Diamond of St. Charles Country Club. Finishing in third place and just four shots back was Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge Golf Club.
It took extra holes for Eric Johnson to win the 2019 Diamond Athletic Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion. Johnson, who plays out of Breezy Bend County Club, made a par on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to beat Todd Fanning of the Niawka Country Club. Johnson fired a final round 69 for a three day total of 208. Fanning shot a final round of 68 to also finish at 208 to earn a spot in the playoff against Johnson. Mike Tibbs of Breezy Bend finished alone in third place shooting a final day round of 72 to finish two shots back at 210.
The top three players will place in the Women’s Amateur Championship. The top three players will place in the Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship in addition to the winner in the Mid-Masters (40+) division.
