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![\"THOMAS](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4433441_web1_Golf-Todd.jpg\")
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THOMAS FRIESEN \/ BRANDON SUN FILES<\/p>\n
Defending champ Todd Fanning is tied for first heading into the final round of the men\u2019s senior\u2019s championship on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Elmhurst member takes a one-shot lead into Wednesday\u2019s final round of the 2026 Hodson Financial Women\u2019s Senior Championship at Breezy Bend after posting rounds of 80 and 79.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously you\u2019re dealing with a little bit of nerves and confidence, because I haven\u2019t been in these situations much in the last 16 years,\u201d Martens told Golf Manitoba on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it feels good. Once you get a few holes under your belt you kind of settle in and it feels like it used to feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stacey Borowski has the benefit of home-course advantage and is in hot pursuit after rounds of 81 and 79 through the first 36 holes. Angela Ause will round out the final group and sits just two shots back after rounds of 80 and 81.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it gives you a focus,\u201d Martens said of being able to draw from past experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m still competitive in nature. You always want to push yourself to improve and I think that\u2019s the beauty of the game. If you can stay physically healthy it\u2019s a game you can continue to play at a certain level, or even improve upon. I think that\u2019s what\u2019s really appealing about golf and makes it unique to other sports.\u201d<\/p>\n
Others still in the hunt include Niakwa\u2019s Tammy Gibson, five shots behind Martens, and Southwood\u2019s Fran Povoledo, seven back. First-round leader Cathy Derewianchuk of Glendale followed up her opening 78 with a 92 on Tuesday and now trails by 11 shots.<\/p>\n
There is guaranteed to be a new champion crowned Wednesday, as Rhonda Orr \u2014 winner of the last 10 senior titles \u2014 was unable to compete this year after undergoing a recent medical procedure to treat heart arrhythmia.<\/p>\n
That leaves Gibson as the only other former champion in the 19-player field, having won the title in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think just try to make some putts. Don\u2019t get in your own way. Stay calm and don\u2019t worry about the outcome,\u201d Martens said of her mindset.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust enjoy the experience. I think that\u2019s going to be my mental strategy going into the last round (Wednesday).\u201d<\/p>\n
The final trio of Martens, Borowski and Ause is set to tee off at 11:57 a.m.<\/p>\n
OVER ON THE MEN\u2019S SIDE\u2026<\/p>\n
It\u2019s turning into a two-horse race between a pair of former winners who also happen to be good friends and clubmates.<\/p>\n
Defending champion Todd Fanning is at five-under par after rounds of 71-68, giving him a one shot lead over fellow Niakwa member Jay Doyle (68-72), who claimed the title in 2023.<\/p>\n
Fanning, one of the most decorated golfers in Manitoba history, carded four birdies and an eagle during Tuesday\u2019s second round at Breezy Bend.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best game of golf I\u2019ve played all year,\u201d said Fanning. \u201cI\u2019ve really played quite poorly most of the year, including the tournament rounds I\u2019ve played. There were signs of it being pretty good (Monday), just didn\u2019t score all that well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t THOMAS FRIESEN \/ BRANDON SUN FILES<\/p>\n Niakwa golfer Jay Doyle is tied at five-under with his clubmate Todd Fanning at the men\u2019s senior\u2019s championship.<\/p>\n Cornell Ruddock (74-73) and Dale Coulter (75-72) are tied for third at three-over par, while Mike Walker (71-78), David Kuik (72-77) and Dan Scanlon (75-74) sit at five over. Walker is also no stranger to victory in the event, having won in 2016, 2017 and 2019.<\/p>\n Another three-time winner, Garth Collings (2013, 2015, 2021), is currently tied for eighth with John MacKinnon at six-over.<\/p>\n The top six finishers this week will earn spots on Team Manitoba for the Canadian Senior Men\u2019s Championship, which, fittingly, will be held in Fanning and Doyle\u2019s backyard at Niakwa from Sept. 8-11.<\/p>\n The final trio of Fanning, Doyle and Ruddock will tee off Wednesday at 10:51 a.m.<\/p>\n \u201cI still don\u2019t have a ton of confidence, but it\u2019s building,\u201d said Fanning, who has made no secret of his desire to add a national senior championship to his impressive resum\u00e9.<\/p>\n MEANWHILE, IN CALGARY\u2026. <\/p>\n The second round of the Canadian Men\u2019s Amateur Championship is complete, with seven Manitobans among the 263-player field.<\/p>\n Brandon\u2019s Evan Nachtigall continues to lead the provincial contingent at four-under par after rounds of 68 and 72. The 2025 Manitoba Amateur champion is inside the Top 25 at the halfway point of the 72-hole championship, which is being co-hosted by Mickelson National Golf Club and Heritage Pointe Golf Club.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t Nachtigall was the lone Manitoban to survive the cut, which fell at even par for the top 70 players and ties.<\/p>\n Winnipeg\u2019s Rory Neill, fresh off capturing the 2026 Manitoba Amateur title earlier this month, missed advancing after rounds of 73-75. The remaining Manitobans were Lorette\u2019s Kaleb Lambert (74-77), Brandon\u2019s Drew Jones (76-75) and Winnipeg trio Ryan Blair (79-72), Tyler Polanski (78-75) and Lyle MacKenzie (78-82).<\/p>\n In the Willingdon Cup inter-provincial team competition, Team Manitoba \u2014 comprised of qualifiers Neill, Lambert and Jones, with the top two scores counting each round \u2014 finished sixth.<\/p>\n Three golfers from the Thunder Bay area are also competing under the Golf Manitoba banner. Jack Moro made the cut on the number at even par after rounds of 74 and 70, while Jeff Hunter (72-76) and Jordan Walford (78-87) failed to advance.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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