Travis Fredborg had no clue about the power he wielded as he stepped on to the final teebox at Southwood Golf and Country Club Friday evening, darkness starting to settle in.
When the dust had settled and his short birdie putt rolled into the 18th hole, the Selkirk product had punched his ticket to play on the weekend at the Manitoba Open — and, in the process, sent two dozen other professional golfers from the PGA Tour Canada home without a single penny.
“Sorry fellas,” Fredborg, 27, said when informed of the ramifications of what had just occurred. “I had no idea going into 18 just how much it meant for everybody else.”
MIKE THIESSEN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
By making a birdie on the 18th hole Friday, Selkirk’s Travis Fredborg punched his ticket for weekend play at the Manitoba Open.
The top 6o and ties make the cut in any tournament — and are the ones who earn a cheque — and exactly what that number would be and how many players get in ultimately came down to Fredborg, who Monday qualified just to gain entry into the prestigious local event and was playing in the final group of the day
A total of 59 players were already in the clubhouse at three-under or better. Fredborg, along with 24 other golfers done for the day, were sitting at two-under and in a massive tie for 60th.
A par by Fredborg would have kept them all in the tourney. A bogey would have meant his tournament was over while they played on. The birdie ultimately meant exactly 60 players were in at three-under or better, with the 24 hopefuls now in a tie for 61st and out of luck.
“On the 18th tee I just wanted to put a good swing on it and hit one in the fairway. The main thing was just trying to hit a good number on the approach shot. And I did that,” said Fredborg, who was only aware of the stakes for himself, but not so many other competitors.
“Luckily I did that and hit to like a foot, so I made it nice and easy.”
Fredborg, who posted rounds of 70-71, said the drive and approach were two of the best shots he hit all day.
“It felt great. I striped it, right on my target. I was in a little divot on the fairway, which made it a little interesting. But I hit it and I knew it was perfect. Luckily it spun right into tap-in range,” he said.
Fredborg, who played college golf at the University of Arizona, has competed in the Manitoba Open four previous times dating back to 2014 and had never made the cut. Until now. He has a sense of the kind of grind players on this tour face, which is why a part of him felt bad about making that big birdie.
“I’ve been in that boat many times,” he said. “It’s tough. I was just trying to play the best golf I could. Unfortunately I knocked all those guys out.”
Four other players with Manitoba connections are in the field.
Sudarshan Yellamaraju, who was born in India and immigrated to Winnipeg with his family at a young age before ultimately moving to Ontario, is tied for 32nd and nine strokes behind leader Hayden Springer after rounds of 68 and 72.
Manitoba Amateur champion Braxton Kuntz of Winnipeg, who was playing on a sponsor’s exemption, missed the cut by two strokes after shooting 71-72.
“Really, I don’t think today was the problem,” said Kuntz, who was happy with Friday’s score in tough conditions. “I think it was yesterday. Before the tournament I said it was about just not making too many stupid mistakes. Unfortunately in the first round I did quite the opposite. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”
Kuntz, 19, is headed to Ball State next month and said this is another valuable learning experience, just as last year was when he missed the Manitoba Open cut by a single stroke.
Winnipegger Ryan McMillan, who also Monday qualified along with Fredborg, will also sit out the weekend after rounds of 77-74. And Jets forward Morgan Barron, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, followed up his impressive 80 on Thursday with an 86 Friday under much tougher conditions.
“It was so much fun. I had a blast out there, I really did,” said Barron. “It gives me great insight into kind of what these guys go through on a daily basis. I have a ton of respect for them. It’s a grind out there. Physically I’m way more tired than I would expect and especially mentally, I’m pretty worn down. It was a grind playing two days, and I can’t even imagine doing it week in and week out.”
Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg
Mike McIntyre
Sports columnist
Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer.
