Vetesnik leads field heading into final round of Women’s Amateur Being chased by dangerous rivals in quest for first title By: Mike Sawatzky Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Tuesday, Jul. 7, 2020

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Veronica Vetesnik is on the cusp of winning her first Manitoba Women’s Amateur Golf Championship.

Trouble is, her security at the top of the leaderboard was hardly assured with three dangerous rivals all within two shots of the lead heading into Wednesday’s final round at Bel Acres Golf and Country Club.

“We’re all quite close here in Manitoba, we get along,” said Vetesnik after firing a second-round 77 Tuesday to take a one-shot lead over opening day leader Bobbi Uhl of Erickson and 2017 provincial champ Marissa Naylor of Pine Ridge. “I think it’s a little bit more pressure on me then them.”

Defending champion Greer Valaquenta of Southwood was another shot back of Uhl and Naylor with a 154 total after a 2-over 75, the best round of the day.

Vetesnik was steady Tuesday, capitalizing on Uhl’s rough day to get into position to win a provincial title after finishing sixth in 2019 and 11th in 2018.

The 23-year-old from Kingswood almost holed out a 25-foot eagle putt on 18, needing only to tap in for birdie. 

“I had a few hiccups but not really bad ones,” said Vetesnik. “No doubles or anything that’s really going to set me back. I also started off with a birdie and ended with a birdie. That was pretty good.”

Uhl, asked for an assessment of her performance Tuesday , didn’t have much good to say after losing balls on Nos. 2, 4 and 17 en route to a 6-over 79.

Her problem areas?

“One was my driver and the next one was an iron,” said Uhl. “My putting was fine. It was mainly just tee shots I would say was my issue.” 

The 20-year-old from Erickson, who is preparing for her junior season with the Longwood University golf team in Farmville, Va., offset some of the pain with four birdies.

Uhl is eager to add a provincial amateur crown to her resume.

“It’d be exciting, because I won the (provincial) match play (earlier this season),” said Uhl. “Because these are the only events I’m playing up here this year. So I’m thinking if I won this and the match play, I feel like that’d be like a really big accomplishment for me.

“And I won my first junior here (at Bel Acres in 2016), so we get to win my first Am here too, would just be special.”

Uhl, a sixth-place finisher at this event in 2018, was confident she could rally in Wednesday’s final round.

“I shot 74 (Monday) — I was just struggling off the tee today,” she said. “So if I can work those kinks out tonight, then I’ll be good to go tomorrow.”

The 22-year-old Naylor was also well positioned to strike in the final round with the extra benefit of championship experience. She beat Charmaine Mackid in a three-hole playoff three years ago and following that up with third-place finishes in 2018 and 2019.

Naylor also has a comfort level at Bel Acres where she was a member for five years.

“Knowing it’s Bel Acres, I just kind of like ‘OK we’re at home, we’re we’re chill,’ ” said Naylor, who had a 15-footer for birdie on No. 18. “So I felt good overall and I know the greens really well, I know the course like it’s my backyard pretty much.”

Her only significant trouble came with a lost ball on the par-5 12th hole. 

“I had a oopsie hole on 12 I had a bad shot that went OB but other than that was a solid ground,” said Naylor. “It did cost me a seven so if I didn’t have that hole I think I’ve been a little bit better position but I can’t complain.”

Breezy Bend’s Mackid, meanwhile, was seven shots out of the lead in fifth place after a 77 Tuesday.

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14