Patrick Perrin crouched on the 17th fairway after a wayward tee shot, desperately searching for a way around the trees and back into play on the last hole at Pine Ridge, with his share of the lead in the men’s mid-amateur championship under threat.
The 32-year-old from Elmhurst, competing in his first provincial tournament since leaving his post as a golf pro at Niawaka Country Club in November 2021 and regaining amateur status earlier this year, miraculously hoisted his next shot 200 yards over the towering pine trees to the back-left fringe, firmly placing the pressure on his playing partner, Shilo’s Drew Jones, who held the other half of the lead.
The approach shot was almost as memorable as the one that gave Perrin a chance going into the 18th hole, a 40-foot putt across the two-tiered 17th green that dropped for birdie.
Mike Thiessen / Winnipeg Free Press
Patrick Perrin won the Diamond Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Pine Ridge Golf Club on Wednesday.
Jones faltered on the 18th, and Perrin used three more shots to find the bottom of the cup and seal his victory in the men’s mid-amateur (over 25 years old) championship Wednesday. Perrin’s four-over 76 on the final day completed his title effort at five-over par.
“It’s gonna be hard to not be emotional,” Perrin, who carded a 76 and 69 in the first two rounds for a three-day total of 221, as he began to reflect on his round. “That’s a big win. I’m not used to winning, that’s for sure. I’ve always come in fifth place or 10th place or something — never held a lead. So this was an amazing day.
“I had no idea where my (tee shot on 18) ended up. I was aiming at the big tower that I usually aim at when I’m on Elmhurst. I was really jacked up after 17, so on 18 I had to take a couple of deep breaths. Had a club, had a swing, luckily, and made the most of it.”
Jeri Lafleche had a bit less drama heading to the final green moments before.
The 16-year-old Winnipegger, who plays out of Clear Lake, sported a confident strut while owning a four-shot lead in the women’s amateur championship.
Lafleche fired a rock-solid three-over 75 on Wednesday to defend her women’s amateur crown, becoming the first player since Bri-ann Tokariwski (2012-13) — who trains Lafleche in Golf Manitoba’s junior program — to accomplish the feat.
“I had a lot of fun,” said Lafleche, who finished with a three-day total of 231 after a 79 and 77 in the first two rounds, respectively. “I was playing well on the last day and, yeah, coming in on 18 was definitely a nice — kind of relaxing moment — knowing that I put it in the bag.”
Lafleche white-knuckled a two-stroke advantage while teeing off on the 17th, but holed out on her approach shot from 152 yards to assume a commanding lead.
Brandon’s Drew Jones finished second in the provincial men’s mid-amateur for the second straight year as Patrick Perrin, left, won by a shot. (Thomas Friesen / The Brandon Sun)
“My dad said it was 152 so he said, ‘You got to play this 10 yards short.’ It was a full eight-iron, luckily — it’s nice when you’re hitting a full club — and then I hit it and the rules official was waving that it was in. It was nice not having to putt on that green because I don’t like that green.”
Perrin’s rollercoaster day began with a one-stroke lead over Jones that quickly evaporated after a three-shot swing at the fourth hole. Things worsened from the ninth to 11th hole, a stretch in which Perrin played five-over and Jones played one-over to assume a two-stroke lead.
A birdie at the par-five 12th calmed Perrin, who carded three birdies in the last seven holes, including the mile-long winder on the 17th.
“That’s as difficult a round of golf as I’ve ever played,” said Perrin. “Conditions-wise, it was fair, it was fun. But that was a mental test, and as soon as I missed a shot, all of the emotions kind of poured out and I’m trying to sort everything out before I had to hit the next shot.
“…maybe the best putt I’ve ever made on No. 17 there. That’s maybe the best feeling I’ve ever had. I’m going to be chasing this every year.”
Added Jones of Perrin’s monster birdie putt on 17: “I’m not saying I was expecting him to make it, but as soon as it came of the face I was like, ‘This thing has a chance.’ It was cruising and it went right in the back of the cup and the crowd went nuts — he went nuts — it was fun to see.”
Meanwhile, Lafleche, paired with veteran Charmaine Hayden and fellow junior Cala Korman, held a two-shot lead heading into the final round. Her advantage grew to as much as seven at one point before Hayden and Korman both clawed their way back into contention.
Clear Lake Golf Course member Jeri Lafleche defended her Golf Manitoba women’s amateur title at Pine Ridge Golf Club on Wednesday. (Thomas Friesen / The Brandon Sun)
Lafleche remained unbothered, however, draining a 45-foot birdie putt on the par-five 15th that began to separate her before her sensational hole out from the 17th fairway. The teen capped a consecutive wire-to-wire title at the women’s amateur championship.
“It means a lot more when you have a field that’s stronger, and this year there was a bigger field and the course was tough,” said Lafleche. “So was Granite (Hills) last year but it’s a nice feeling to make sure it’s over.”
Twitter: @jfreysam
Joshua Frey-Sam
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Joshua Frey-Sam happily welcomes a spirited sports debate any day of the week.
