Three solid rounds of golf and 18 holes that can best be described as phenomenal has earned Devon Schade the 2015 Manitoba Men's Amateur Golf Championship.

The 20-year-old Beausejour native, who plays out of Elmhurst, fired a final round one-over par 73 Thursday at the Bridges golf course near Starbuck and finished with a 72-hole total of seven-under par 281.

“It's pretty unbelievable,” said Schade. “It hasn't really sunk in yet but it's a pretty good feeling on the 18th hole when that putt went in.”

“It's a big stepping stone in my career,” added Schade who's goal on Thursday was to drive it in the fairways, hit greens and make two-putt pars. “It's what I wanted to win for a couple of years now and I can't believe I've finally done it.”

Schade had a nine-shot lead heading into Thursday's final round and withstood a charge from five-time champion Todd Fanning of Niakwa who was four-under par 32 on his first nine holes.

“I heard a little bit,” Schade said of the 2014 champions hot start. “He had a great front nine and I was a little anxious and a little nervous when I heard that, but I kept it cool on the back. I shot one-under on the back so it felt good.”

Fanning fired a final round seven-under par 65 and finished three shots back of Schade who played in his first Manitoba Men's Amateur Championship last year at Niakwa.

“It went pretty well and I knew I could try and play with the big boys,” Schade said. “It was a big confidence booster last year coming in top 10 so it really helped my play this year.”

Three years ago Schade, who played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with both the Portage Terriers and Waywayseecappo Wolverines, decided to put his skates away and turn his full attention to his golf game.

"I knew I was a pretty decent golfer and if I put some hard work into it and put some effort into it I could become a better golfer than hockey player.”

Schade also gave a ton of credit to his dad Bruce who caddied for his son at Bridges.

“It was pretty awesome. He helped me a lot this week. He was a great help to me, calmed me down a lot and I'm sure he'll be on the bag for quite a few years.”

61 – ultimately Tuesday's bogey free 11-under par second round put Schade in total control of the Amateur.

“It was pretty surreal looking back at it – everything went in for me,” said Schade whose previous low round was a six-under par 65 which included a duece on the par five sixth hole at the Manitoba Match Play Qualifier in Winkler back in late May. “It was just one of those rounds where I couldn't miss anything. It was pretty spectacular actually. I'll be looking back quite a few years from now thinking about that round.”

 

 

Seven members of the Shilo Country Club played all four days and low honors went to Austin Dobrescu who fired a final round seven-over par 79 and finished in a tie for 17th place at plus 13.

“It felt really good,” said Dobrescu of his four rounds at Bridges. “This is my first year playing in the event, first time qualifying for it and it feels really good to even be in the running. And the last day playing with good players, it's awesome to even be out here.”

Brad Pardy was even par 72 Thursday and finished in 24th place at plus 15. Jared Gossen and Travis Fifi were in tie for 25th place at plus 16. Gossen fired a final round 75 while Fifi was 76. Drew Jones was 79 and finished in a tie for 44th spot at plus 24. Tyler Turner was even par 72 and finished in a tie for 55th place at plus 30. David Glenn was 85 and finished in 58th place at plus 33.