ESTEVAN - Rick Hallberg added two more Golf Saskatchewan provincial titles to his collection on Thursday.
Hallberg, who hails from Weyburn but plays out of Golf Kenosee, captured both the Saskatchewan mid-masters tournament, which is for golfers age 40 and up, and the senior men's provincial title for those 55 and over, at the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Course. It's the third straight year he has won the provincial senior men's title.
Hallberg is very familiar with Woodlawn. Last year he set a new course record at the course when he shot a 59 during the second round of the Frametech Classic golf tournament.
He entered the final round Thursday trailing in both events. He wound up winning both by one stroke over Brent Wotypka of Swift Current's Elmwood Golf Club.
“I played a lot of patient golf. I didn’t take a lot of chances. Just tried to keep the ball in play and not have any big holes,” said Hallberg.
Hallberg finished with a three-round total of 1-over-par 217, thanks to a 72 in the first round, a 73 in the second and a 72 in the third. Wotypka started with a 76, but then fired back-to-back 71s to finish second.
“Today I thought I’d have to probably shoot under par. And then Colin (Coben) started running into a little bit of trouble, which is very unusual, because he’s always so steady. I felt bad for him. We were riding together in the cart. It would have been nice if he would have had his normal game.”
Woodlawn is always in great shape and it’s a great place to play, Hallberg said. He regards course superintendent Bob Currie as one of the best in the province.
“I thought Bobbie and his crew, they’ve done such an amazing job here all through the years. Last year they got hit with some unfortunate weather conditions and the drought, and lost some of the greens, but they got them back and the greens were great this weekend.”
Rick Hillstad of Moose Jaw's Riverside Golf Club was third in the senior men's event with a 220 (74-74-72). Hillstad also finished first in the super senior event for those 65 and up, one stroke better than Coben of Delisle.
Two golfers were tied for third in the mid-masters with scores of 221: Carnduff's Kris Carley (74-76-71) and Meadow Lake's Chris Reid (68-76-77).
Numerous other southeast golfers were also entered. In the senior men's, James Gordon was the top finisher outside of Hallberg, finishing in a tie for sixth at 227 (79-74-74). Others entered included Paul Grimes, Golf Kenosee, tied for 16th, 235 (80-78-77); Michael Ross, Woodlawn, 20th, 236 (81-79-76); David Lavoie, Woodlawn, tied for 23rd, 238 (77-81-80); Jim Larter, Woodlawn, 36th, 252 (84-86-82); Trevor Gessner, Woodlawn, 43rd, 272 (92-90-90); and Jim Wilson, Woodlawn, 46th, 275 (88-89-98).
Former Estevan resident Walter Wood, competing out of Outlook, was 29th at 241 (83-77-81).
Other southeast golfers in the mid-masters were Gordon, who was sixth, Ross, who was 10th; Tony Heath, Woodlawn, tied for eighth at 234 (79-80-75); Warren Waldegger, Woodlawn, 15th, 247 (80-85-82); Brian Fitzpatrick, 16th, 263 (90-88-85); and Dallas Kurtz, Woodlawn, 19th, 271 (88-93-90).
