Kolby Day leads 61st Grey Owl

WASAGAMING — Brandon’s Kolby Day had himself a day on Saturday at the 61st annual Grey Owl men’s golf tournament, presented by IG Wealth Management.

The Wheat City Golf Course member fired a blistering 5-under-par 31 on the front nine at sunny and beautiful Clear Lake Golf Course and cruised in at even par for a 5-under 67. That gives him a one-stroke lead over Onanole’s Cal Vanderschuit, who carded a 68, and a two-shot edge over Winnipeg’s Steven Young, who plays out of St. Charles.

The second and final round of the tournament will be played on Sunday.

Day was 4 under through five holes on Saturday, birdieing the first and fourth holes before recording an eagle on the par-5 fourth. He tacked on a birdie at the drivable par-4 eighth to go out in 31. Day had two birdies and two bogeys on the back nine and signed for a 67.

Vanderschuit, who is the driving force behind IG Wealth Management’s title sponsorship of The Grey Owl, shot 35 on the front nine and then toured the much tougher back nine in 3-under 33 for his 4-under total. Young, meanwhile, carded nine of 34 and 35.

The top three players will need to bring their best on Sunday, as two-time champion Jay Thiesen of Russell shot an opening-round 70 on Saturday. He will join Day, Vanderschuit and Young in the final championship flight group.

The score to qualify for the championship flight was 4-over 76, which means 16 players will vie for the crown.

Breezy Bend’s Collings, who has won 11 Grey Owl titles, leads the Greyer Owl division by five strokes over five players: Brandon’s Dwight Kearns, Rivers’ Gerry Gourlay, St. Charles’ Ken Mould, and Clear Lake’s Brad Clement and Murray Lindenberg.

There is a new twist this year, as the Media Flight is now a net event. Brandon Sun sports reporter Thomas Friesen has the best round through 18 holes, carding a 5-over-par 77 on Saturday.

Sunday’s tee times and more information can be found at thegreyowl.ca.

DAY 1 TOP SCORES
Kolby Day, Wheat City 31-36—67
Cal Vanderschuit, Onanole 35-33—68
Steven Young, St. Charles 34-35—69
Jay Thiesen, Russell 33-37—70
Garth Collings, Breezy Bend 35-37—72
Joel Baron, Carberry 38-34—72
Matt LePage, Plymouth, Minn. 37-35—72

(submitted)