Grey Owl Saturday report

MacGregor’s Darcy Howarth will have the lead going into the second and final round of the 63rd annual Grey Owl men’s golf tournament, presented by IG Private Wealth Management.

No player on Saturday could match Howarth’s opening round of 3-under 69 at Clear Lake Golf Course. Two-time defending champion Jay Thiesen of Russell carded the best round on Saturday, shooting an even-par 72 to sit three strokes back going into the final round.

Howarth and Thiesen on Sunday will play in the final group along with St. Charles’ Curtis Markusson, who shot 70 on Friday, and Brandon’s Jared Jacobson, who carded a 71, also on Friday.

Thiesen will attempt to become just the second player in Grey Owl history to win three consecutive titles. Breezy Bend’s Garth Collings has accomplished the feat twice. A victory on Sunday would give him five tournament wins, which would leave him third behind Collings (11) and Jim Scissons (seven).

Jacobson has won the Cactus Jack Wells Memorial Trophy twice (2022 and 2014), while Markusson is a former Canadian mid-master men’s champion. Two-time winner Nick Myhre of Rolette, N.D., shot a 75 on Saturday and will play in the penultimate group. Four shots back of Howarth are Breezy Bend’s Todd Slatnik and Marcus Friess of Estevan, Sask.

Another Saturday highlight was the second hole-in-one in as many days on the 138-yard, par-3 12th hole. Shilo’s Braydon Nault used a 9-iron to record the ace and to gain free entry into next year’s tournament.

Owl trophies will be given to 10 other flight winners and the Greyer Owl champion for those age 60 and over. Sunday’s tee times and more information can be found at thegreyowl.ca.

(article submitted)