Golden Monday for Batsel, Martin at 63rd Victoria Day Classic

That was followed up by a chip attempt that landed short of the green, giving Valk some life on his final hole.

However, Batsel’s earlier lead was enough to hold off the younger Valk and capture the weekend title at the Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club.

Valk held a one-stroke lead entering Monday’s final round, but Batsel said he was able to find a groove to build up an early cushion on his opponent.

“Going into [Monday] Mike was playing really good, so I knew I had to come out and play a half decent round,” said Batsel. “Tried to do everything I could and I was playing well up to the last three holes. I just kind of made a couple of dumb mistakes coming in, but it was all good.”

It’s the first Victoria Day Classic championship for the former Jacksonville University product, after finishing last year’s tournament as the runner-up to Ryan Werre.

It was a third place finish for Werre after firing a 72 to end his tournament at two-over par, with Reef Caulder shooting a Monday-best 69 to end the weekend in fourth.

Posting a 76 after back-to-back days of 71 on Saturday and Sunday, Valk said Batsel deserved to be crowned winner of the Victoria Day Classic.

“I honestly would have rather have him hit it on the green, because I know he’s not going to make those mistakes,” said Valk. “I don’t want to see him make mistakes to lose a tournament. So, he was the better player and I thought he deserved it.”

Getting back into the swing of things, Batsel added the results this weekend weren’t as important as regaining some consistency in his game after the winter break.

“After that late start you don’t expect fireworks right off the bat,” he said. “If you make good strides every single time you’re playing, you’re going to be okay. Obviously winning is awesome, but if I was just playing better every round that I was playing, that’s all that matters to me.”

While the men’s championship was tightly contested, it was another runaway victory for Becky Martin in the ladies bracket.

Coming into Monday’s final round with a 20-shot lead over Stephania Duffee and Jean Nitchke for second place, the former Medicine Hat College Rattler cruised to a score of 76 Monday to win by 32 strokes.

Going wire-to-wire to win the 2018 title, Martin said she was able to stay out of danger over the first few rounds of the tournament.

“It really comes down to just not making big numbers,” said Martin. “You can’t really win the tournament the first day out, you can only lose it. So, as long as you keep it bogey or less, maybe throw in one or two [double bogeys] at most.”

A model of consistency on the women’s side, Martin has won the Victoria Day Classic title seven of the last eight years, missing only the 2015 competition due to injury.

Pat Hall moved herself into second place on Monday with her best round of the weekend by shooting an 84, while Duffee and Cathy Fisher tied for third place at 45-over par.

It was a wire-to-wire victory for Gary Kavanaugh as well, as he held off a charge from Kelly Risling to capture the senior men’s championship flight by two shots.

Risling ended his tournament in second place at 16-over par, with Ed Wagner also hitting the podium at 18-over par and a third place finish.

by Scott Roblin

Golden Monday for Batsel, Martin at 63rd Victoria Day Classic

Our Community