JERI Lafleche is in a familiar position at the Manitoba women’s amateur golf championship.
The 16-year-old Winnipegger, who plays out of Niakwa but spends weekends playing the track at Clear Lake, leads the tournament by two shots heading into today’s final round at Pine Ridge.
Lafleche fired a 5-over-par 72 on Tuesday and is 12-over after 36 holes.
Clear Lake Golf Course member Jeri Lafleche shot 7-over 79 to lead the Golf Manitoba women’s amateur at Pine Ridge Golf Club on Monday. (Thomas Friesen / The Brandon Sun)
Beginning the final round in top spot for the second year in a row, the Collège Jeanne Sauvé student said she’s taking nothing for granted.
“I definitely know I still have 18 holes to go. I have to just stay confident and keep building on my game,” said Lafleche. “There are definitely things to work on (Wednesday). Overall, I think just staying steady is going to be key.”
Charmaine Hayden of Breezy Bend in Winnipeg made a double-bogey on the 18th and settled for a 79 to occupy second spot.
Lafleche bogeyed two of the last three holes Tuesday and wasn’t sure where she’d be on the leaderboard when she stepped off the final green.
“I wasn’t playing my best, and because it wasn’t that windy I thought maybe other girls were going to play better,” she said. “The greens here are tough and it doesn’t really allow you to go for as many birdies as other courses. My putter kind of got a little cold, but I’ll work on it later.”
Cala Korman of Killarney shaved 10 shots of her opening-round score, carding a 76 — the low round of the day — and is tied for third with Kate Gregoire of Quarry Oaks. Gregoire fired a solid 77 on Day 2.
Korman and Gregoire trail Lafleche by six strokes.
In the Manitoba men’s mid-amateur championship at Pine Ridge, first-round leader Ryan Terdik was in cruise mode Tuesday but exploded for a nine on the par-5 12th hole to drop to the chase pack.
Leading the way into the final round of the 54-hole event is Patrick Perrin of Elmhurst, whose three-under 69 Tuesday stands as the low score of the tournament to date. He has a two-day total of one-over 145.
Drew Jones of Shilo fired a 72 and is a shot back, while Lyle Mackenzie of Niakwa, 73 in the second round and Jack Werhun of Elmhurst, even on Day 2, trail the leader by three shots.
— staff
