Kolby Day wins 64th Grey Owl

First-round leader Kolby Day went the distance—and then some—to capture his first Grey Owl  men’s golf championship on Sunday at Clear Lake Golf Course.  

The Brandonite, who plays out of Shanks Driving Range & Grill, made a four-foot par putt on the fourth extra hole to  win the four-man playoff and claim the 64th edition of the 36-hole tournament, which is presented by IG Private Wealth  Management.  

“I’ve been coming to this tournament for a couple years now, and I’ve come close a couple times,” Day said after  accepting the Cactus Jack Wells Memorial Trophy from Owl president Sean Ashton. “I tried to give it away several times  today, but finally got the job done, so it feels great.”  

Day, who shot 65-77 for a 2-under 142 total, outlasted Elmhurst’s Dave Spurr, (69-73) who bogeyed the fourth playoff  hole, which was the par-4 ninth. Two-time Owl champion Nick Myhre of Rolette, N.D., (72-70) and Brandon’s Braydon  Nault (70-72) were both eliminated from the playoff on the second extra hole.  

It was the largest playoff at The Grey Owl since 2001, when Dauphin’s Ryan Horn won over four others on the first  playoff hole. Sunday’s extra action was the eighth playoff in Grey Owl history and first in 14 years.  Day, 29, had a one-shot lead on the 18th tee during regulation play, but he failed to get up and down from just off the  green. Nault drained a 25-foot birdie putt on 18 to get into the playoff, while Spurr parred. Myhre, who played in the  group ahead of Day, Spurr and Nault, eagled the par-4 16th hole and parred 17 and 18 to get to 2 under as well.  Day was cruising along nicely until he got to “the horn,” as 13, 14 and 15 are known at Clear Lake. Day double bogeyed the par-5 13th and then tripled the par-5 14th. He called that a “speed bump” and was able to get back on track  with a par on 15.  

“It was just a matter of just keeping calm,” Day said. “Having (Nault) in the cart with me today obviously helped. I  think if I was by myself it might have been a different story, but Braydon was great to have in the cart today. He kept me  pretty in line.”  

Myhre had a great chance to win the tournament on the first playoff hole, but he left his six-foot birdie putt short, and  all four moved on the tough, par-4 seventh. Day and Spurr both made pars to eliminate Myhre and Nault, who both  bogeyed. On the par-4 eighth, Spurr had a glorious opportunity to claim the title, but he hit his six-foot birdie putt through  the break.  

Day had the shot of the day into the ninth green, sticking his 58-degree wedge to about two feet, but he didn’t make it  easy on himself when he rammed his downhill birdie putt about four feet past the hole. Spurr had already made bogey, and  Day showed nerves of steel and rammed in the comebacker for the win.