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Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘It's nice to get it done'
Todd Fanning left the door open momentarily, then promptly slammed it shut. Leading by two strokes in the final round of the Golf Manitoba Hodson Financial senior men's championship with two holes to play, Fanning dumped his approach shot into the water on the 17th hole at Glendale Golf and Country Club. Rather than compound the rare mistake by showing any frustration, Fanning calmly identified the point of entry, dropped his ball and made a precise chip to about 18 feet. With playing partner and nearest competitor, Dan Scanlon, waiting to try and roll in a short putt for birdie, Fanning avoided a two-shot swing by confidently draining his par saver. 'That was the one,' said Fanning, who carded an even-par 72 to finish the event at 2-under 214 to earn a four-shot victory over Scanlon. 'He's looking at a four-footer for birdie — and he had gone birdie and par on the last two holes and I was in trouble. For that one to go in, it probably took the air out of his balloon — even though he made a birdie. A two-shot lead is a lot different than one.' BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Todd Fanning added the Manitoba men's senior title to his long list of golf accomplishments. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Todd Fanning added the Manitoba men's senior title to his long list of golf accomplishments. There was an element of grinding to Fanning's game, as he needed 20 putts on the front nine for an even-par 36, but his trademark feel on the greens improved at the turn. 'I was a bit jittery, but on the 10th hole I made a 15-foot putt and after that, I settled down,' said Fanning. 'It's nice not to shoot over par in any of my rounds. Today was by far the best I hit the ball. 'The last three holes kind of got away from me, but it's hard not to peak at the finish line before you get there. You hear the guys on tour say it — and it's true. It's hard to win a golf tournament.' With the victory, Manitoba's most-decorated golfer added a new trophy to his lengthy list of accomplishments. Not only did Fanning capture his first Manitoba senior title, this victory allowed him to complete a career grand slam: with championships in the Manitoba junior (1984, 1985), the Manitoba men's amateur (1984, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 2014) and the Manitoba men's mid-amateur (2017, 2021). 'As I turned 55, I started thinking about the grand slam and it's nice to finish it off. Now I've won them all.'–Todd Fanning Fanning is the first Manitoban to achieve the feat. 'As I turned 55, I started thinking about the grand slam and it's nice to finish it off. Now I've won them all,' said Fanning. 'I had a couple of seconds (in the Manitoba senior in 2023 and 2025). The third time's the charm, I guess. 'I've played against these guys for most of my career and it's nice to get it done against your peers.' and the former touring pro is already looking ahead to his next goal — as Niakawa Country Club is hosting the Canadian senior men's amateur championship next summer. After winning the Canadian junior championship in 1985 and 1986, Fanning delivered Canadian mid-amateur and mid-masters championships in 2017. So yes, working his way into the winner's circle with another national crown is on Fanning's wish list. 'You're at your home course, in your home province and I want my game to be tidy for next year,' said Fanning, who played professionally between 1993 and 2003 and regained his amateur status in 2008. 'That will be my best shot. I've played twice (in the Canadian senior) and I've played well, with a 12th and a ninth. But I really feel like next year, if I have my game in order — with the local knowledge, that will be the one that I'm shooting towards.' Ken Warwick of Niakawa won the super senior championship by shooting 73 in the final round to give him a three-round total of 224, which was enough for a two-stroke victory over Mike Walker of St. Boniface. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Rhonda Orr won her 12th Manitoba women's seniors title. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Rhonda Orr won her 12th Manitoba women's seniors title. On the women's side, Rhonda Orr of Southwood shot a final round of 4-over 76 to capture her 10th consecutive Manitoba women's senior championship by 20 strokes over Cathy Derawianchuk of Glendale, with Shannon Taweel of Elmhurst finishing third. It's the 12th Manitoba senior women's title for Orr, who also won the super senior championship. 'I felt a little bit of pressure. Going for 10 in a row has been a goal and the course was playing pretty tough,' said Orr. 'It seems kind of surreal when I take the time to look back (at the 12 provincial championships). When you look at how many it's been and all of the different courses and all of the different people that you've played (with). 'It's kind of weird, actually. But I feel like my game is okay. I can still compete and I hope to keep it going.' When it comes to the old adage that winning never gets old, Orr confirmed it's actually the case. 'One hundred per cent,' she said. 'Every time you go out, you want to do your best. It just feels good to take a trophy home.' Orr entered the day with a sizable lead, but didn't alter her mindset. 'I'm generally going to play a conservative strategy, but with a confident swing. That's how you want to play,' said Orr, who only started golf regularly when she was around 40 years old after a lengthy career as a softball player. 'Pick a nice target and make sure that you make a nice confident swing towards it. Try not to do anything stupid. There are definitely a few holes out here where you can take a (big) number. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'My wedge game was great today and I drove the ball pretty well.' Orr also weighed in on the size of the field of just 12 players (11 after one player withdrew after the first round) on the women's side, urging players from around the province to heed the call to compete in the event next season and beyond. 'I played with a couple of people that haven't played in the senior before and it's nice to have some new people coming out and learning to enjoy competitive golf,' said Orr. 'What I would say to them is, 'Don't be worried about shooting a bad score or a bad score on a hole. You have to put yourself out there, to prove to yourself that you can do it. And it doesn't really matter what other people think or what other people say.' 'There's no golf like tournament golf. It's different and it can be stressful, but we've got to learn to just manage through it. There are a ton of really great golfers who don't quite want to put themselves out there, but it's OK (to put yourself out there).' The Canadian senior women's championship is scheduled for Naninamo Golf Club in B.C. from Aug. 26 to 28, while the Canadian men's senior championship is set for Sept. 8 to 12 at KenWo Golf Club in Nova Scotia. X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld Ken WiebeReporter Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken. Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Steady play, solid putting has veteran Fanning tied for first
Todd Fanning was enjoying a relaxing weekend at the lake when the conversation turned to the 2025 Nott Autocorp Men's Amateur. 'My wife and daughter said, 'So, how much is Braxton going to win by this year?'' Fanning said with a laugh. At that point, he informed them four-time reigning champion Braxton Kuntz wouldn't be in the field, as he's on the cusp of turning professional after completing his studies at Ball State University. Golf Manitoba Photo Todd Fanning is tied with seven other golfers, shooting a three-under 69 on Day 1 of the 2025 Nott Autocorp Men's Amateur on Monday. 'So, who's the favourite then?' came the follow-up. 'I told them, 'I don't know — there's a bunch of people,'' Fanning replied. He probably should have pointed to himself. Not only is Fanning one of Manitoba's most decorated golfers, but he's also the most recent Amateur winner (2014) competing this week, as the 54-hole tournament teed off Monday at Southwood Golf & Country Club. Sure enough, the 57-year-old quickly put himself in contention, joining a group of seven other golfers who opened with a three-under 69 under cloudy, cool and calm conditions. 'If you talk about a custom-made day to golf and look up the recipe, this was it,' he said. 'The only barrier to a good score was self-inflicted so I managed to stay away from most of that today.' Kuntz made history last summer with a fourth consecutive triumph, surpassing the previous record of three straight wins set by Fanning in 1990, 1991 and 1992. However, Fanning still shares the all-time record of five provincial titles with R.J. Reith. Could Fanning make it a historic six — more than 40 years after his first triumph back in 1984? Father Time remains undefeated, and Fanning admits he can't keep up with younger players bombing drives past him — joking that playing partner Jack Rudick hit drives Monday that had 'a Walmart between us.' But smart, steady play and solid putting were keys to his early success. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'I don't feel like there's a whole lot of bogeys out there for me because I don't hit it far enough to get into the deep fescue here,' said Fanning, who plays out of Niakwa. 'I kept it around the hole enough that I didn't put myself in too much trouble.' Eighteen of the 118 golfers broke par on Day 1, which Fanning said speaks to both the depth of amateur talent in Manitoba and the nature of the golf course. 'It's built for wind, so if you don't get wind there's not a whole lot of protection on approach shots here. Guys can hit a lot of greens in regulation and then rely on their putter,' he said. 'They were pretty forgiving (Monday) with the tee positions. If they wanted to, they could certainly do a whole lot of different things (to toughen it up). I'm glad they let the guys have a good Day 1 for sure.' Rudick, a member at Glendale, also shot 69. Joining him and Fanning atop the crowded leaderboard are Payne Wood (St. Boniface), Thomas Scott (Glendale), Doug Penner (Steinbach), Drew Jones and Evan Nachtigall (Shilo), and Josiah Tong (Alberta). Nachtigall rebounded from a sluggish front nine, where he shot two-over 38, with a sizzling five-under 30 on the back. 'On the front I just made some stupid mistake and got away from my game-plan. On the back, I was just like, 'Hey, let's go shoot 30,'' said Nachtigall. Golf Manitoba Photo Todd Fanning is one of Manitoba's most decorated golfers and most recently won the Amateur in 2014. 'There's a lot of birdies out there if you put the ball in play off the tee. If you're hitting the fairway you're pretty much going to have a wedge in most holes or an eight-iron at most.' Although Kuntz dominated this event in recent years, Nachtigall said his absence doesn't change the mindset. 'Golf's a hard game. There's no other sport like it,' said Nachtigall, who was just five shots behind Kuntz through two rounds last year before a final round 80 at Rossmere sunk him to 20th — 15 strokes behind the winner. 'It's me against the golf course, not me against other people. If I just go out and play my game like I did for the last nine holes (Monday) I think I'll be OK.' Four players — Ryan Blair (Elmhurst), Eric Prokopowich (Dauphin), Connor Macauley (no course affiliation) and Jaden Jones (Thunder Bay) — are one shot back after rounds of two-under 70. Notable performances included 2025 Men's Mid-Amateur champion Allan McDonald (Breezy Bend), who shot one-under 71 to sit tied for 13th, and 2025 Junior Boys champion Spence Mott (Shilo), who opened with a seven-over 79. The early leaderboard could have looked even lower. Drew Mahoney (Glendale) was four-under through four holes — starting par, birdie, birdie, eagle — but made six bogeys and eight pars coming home to finish at two-over 74, tied for 28th. Elmhurst's Brent Ingram was four-under through 11 holes but stumbled with a bogey at 12, a triple at 16 after taking an unplayable lie, and another bogey at 17 to finish at one-over 73, tied for 23rd. Southwood's Mitch Clinton, who also serves as the colour analyst on Winnipeg Jets radio broadcasts, made his tournament debut. He was among the early leaders at three-under through five holes but faded to a five-over 77, tied for 45th. Pre-tournament favourite Patrick Perrin (Elmhurst) didn't even get on the course after being disqualified for missing his 7:17 a.m. tee time. The final two rounds will be held Tuesday and Wednesday. X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg Mike McIntyreReporter Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike. Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
