A round to remember

By Sean Rooney on September 4, 2018.

srooney@medicinehatnews.com @MHNRooney

Sure, it was just one round out of three she had to play at the 85th Southeastern Open.

But oh, what a round it was for Becky Martin.

The Medicine Hat golfer shot an incredible 7-under 66 Saturday at Connaught Golf Club, believed to be the lowest round ever shot in competitive women’s play at the course.

Heck, it might be the low women’s round ever shot in the city, period.

“It was unreal,” said Martin after wrapping up her third Southeastern title Monday afternoon. “Once you realize (it’s a good round) you try to go deeper but don’t get too excited. I had luck on my side but did hit really good shots, made some long putts.”

She only shot 81 each of the last two days, but the Day 1 cushion was more than enough. Full results were not received by the News as of press time. But there was no doubt in anyone’s mind who the champions were.

“That’s impressive. I don’t care what tees (you hit off of), to shoot 66 is good,” said Ryan Werre, the men’s winner after a final-round 77. “You’ve still got to make the putts, still have to hit the shots.”

Werre finally broke through against good friend and two-time defending champion Dillon Batsel, but the buzz was still resonating over Martin’s first-round score. Head pro Trevor Ellerman said there weren’t any official records, but the 66 “is a good place to start.” Which is to say that’s the new record unless someone else claims otherwise.

“I didn’t hit the ball fantastic, but I think the wind helped, it gives you something more to concentrate on,” said Martin, who was actually at 9-under with two holes to go. “When you point and shoot you have higher expectations.”

Her scorecard included seven birdies and an eagle, from 105 yards out at the par 4 sixth hole. She started on No. 10 and was 5-under through her first nine holes.

Martin will look to take her confidence into the college season. After taking last year off from the Medicine Hat College Rattlers, she’s back as the team hosts nationals next month.

Werre’s post-secondary career ended a few years back at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and he even tried going pro briefly. But he’s moved on and now gets to play locally a lot more than he used to.

“It’s one of those things, I’m not super happy with how I played today but it was hard, it was an off-wind for this course and the greens are hard,” said Werre of his first-ever Southeastern title. “It’s nice, it honestly is.”

He’d hoped for a memorable shot-for-shot final 18 against Batsel, but it wasn’t meant to be. The steady wind wreaked havoc on all the leaders’ rounds. Batsel shot 75-74-83 to finish eight shots back of Werre (75-72-77).

“I think it was between him and I,” said the 26-year-old Werre. “We’ve been waiting the last few years for a little showdown, I felt like today was going to be the day. He didn’t get off to a good start so I didn’t force anything.”

They’ve still got lots of time for it to materialize.

In the other championship division, Kelly Risling won the senior men’s crown.

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