Double repeat as Kartusch and McDonald retain amateur golf titles

It was an exciting case of deja vu for Addison Kartusch and Allan McDonald.

The reigning champions of the Diamond Athletic Manitoba Women’s Amateur and provincial Men’s Mid-Amateur held off some stiff competition to claim their second consecutive titles Friday afternoon at St. Charles Country Club.

Kartusch, 18, ended up pulling away for an eight-stroke victory following rounds of 73-70-74 which left her at one-over par for the 54-hole event. Minnedosa’s Clara Peake (76-70-79) and Killarney’s Cala Korman (76-72-77) finished tied for second.

“It was pretty special to play on my home course,” Kartusch said. “It was nice to play the way I wanted to and the way I know I could here.”

At one point Friday, her lead over Peake was down to a single stroke but Kartusch quickly got her game back in order and stepped on the gas.

“I kind of went back to the basics with my swing and got the rhythm flowing, I felt that produced some better shots,” she said.

Kartusch, a talented hockey player who skated for St. Mary’s, just finished her first year at Bowling Green State University in Ohio where plenty of valuable lessons were learned.

“It just put it into perspective that I have a lot more golf shots to hit and a lot more tournaments to play in. One tournament does not define who I am,” she said.

“I think I have improved overall as a golfer. Overall I just hit some way better shots this year and consistency of ball striking was better.”

Next up: Defending her Manitoba Junior title in a three-day event which begins Monday at Quarry Oaks.

As for McDonald, he rebounded from a tough opening-round 75 by shooting 68 on Thursday and 71 on Friday and finishing at two-under par. That left him two strokes in front of Breezy Bend’s Eric Johnson (74-72-70).

“It feels good. I’ve been always under the belief that you’re not a champion unless you defend it,” said McDonald, who plays out of Breezy Bend. “Anyone can have one good year. But we all know how golf is. You can be hot one year and just not there the next year.”

The 33-year-old, who also won the event in 2020, said he never felt comfortable with his accuracy off the tee at St. Charles but was able to manage that during the tournament — especially against a deep field which made every shot count.

“It’s hard to defend. But just happy I could get it done,” he said.

Four players finished three shots behind McDonald and tied for third — second-round leader Jeremy Kirk of Thunder Bay (70-72-75), Drew Jones of Shilo (70-75-72), Curtis Markusson of St. Charles (72-72-73) and Patrick Perrin of Elmhurst (69-77-71), who previously won the event in 2023.

One of the province’s most decorated amateur golfers, Todd Fanning, had the round of the tournament on Thursday with a six-under 66. However, it was book-ended by rounds of 78 and 77, which ultimately left him in ninth spot overall in the 69-player field.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg