Southeastern Open brings out the best

By Mo Cranker on September 5, 2017.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

The Labour Day weekend brought with it some great weather, and some great scores for two local golfers.

Dillon Batsel and Becky Martin went into Monday’s final round of the 84th annual Southeast Open with leads, and were both held on to claim a title this weekend.

For Batsel, it is the second consecutive year he has won the tournament, shooting 73-71-71 over the weekend. As for Martin, it is a personal repeat, winning for the first time since 2010, missing years due to school and health reasons. She shot 78-78-77 over the three days

“It’s a great feeling to win it again,” said Batsel after Monday’s 18 holes. “I’ve played Connaught a billion times at this point, so this course is pretty familiar to me for sure. It always feels good to win, no matter where you are. I won out in Edmonton last weekend, now I won today. It’s been a good week of golf for me.”

Martin went into Monday’s final round with a healthy lead over the second place Cathy Fisher, and Martin says she is happy with the weekend.

“Well, the weather was really great, so that made things a lot better,” she said. “I think overall, it was a good weekend. The goal is always to shoot under par, but I’m happy with how the weekend went, and with how I played.”

With a couple tournaments left to go in the season, Batsel says he is happy with his game.

“I think I’m playing smart and setting myself up for good shots after the drive,” he said. “I feel like I’m hitting the ball well, which is a good thing. I think, compared to when I was 17 or so, I’m playing a more complete game and thinking it a bit better. I just want to keep playing well, and I hope I’ve saved a couple of my best rounds for the end of the season here.”

As for areas he would like to improve, Batsel says it is his short game that needs work.

“I feel it’s that 100-yard-and-under range that needs work for me,” he said. “I am doing a good job of getting to, or around the green and setting myself up. I do find most of my errors are coming from putting and chipping, and not being able to make those closer shots. You always want to have everything be your best thing, but my short game for sure can be improved and I hope to in the coming weeks.”

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