Melanson, Baker capture top prizes at the 2011 Creston Blossom Open Golf Tournament
By The Nelson Daily Sports
By The Nelson Daily Sports
Granite Pointe golfer Jordan Melanson staged a final round charge to edge clubmate Josh Coletti and capture the 2011 Creston Blossom Open Golf Tournament Sunday in the East Kootenay City.
Melanson finished ahead of Coletti by two shots and Creston players Jared McMillan and Daniel Brown — the latter now living in Kelowna.
“I’ve been really focusing on my ball striking and hitting the last 14 greens in regulation under a little pressure is really encouraging,” Melanson, who is captain of the Simon Fraser University Clan men’s golf team during the university season, said following the tournamenet.
” It really helps to stay focused on the next shot, which is all you can control.”
Melanson started the final round trailing Coletti, opening with a first day 70, by five shots. McMillan was three behind the first round leader.
Melanson, finishing the opening nine with a 34, went right to work reeling in Coletti with birdies on the 6th, 7th and 8th holes to pull within a shot of the leader.
By the midway point of the final nine holes, roles were reversed as Coletti trailed Melanson and needed an eagle on the par four 15th hole to tie with Melanson.
On the 18th green Coletti had another opportunity to pull back into a tie again, but unfortunately three putted to give Melanson the Men’s Championship by two shots.
Creston golfers fared better in the lower flights with Don Price and Mike Nelson both breaking 80 to take the first and second low gross in the First Flight.
In the Men’s Second Flight former Granite Pointe player Dale Benedetti cruised home with a four shot win over Tom Proud.
In the Ladies’ Flight, local perennial winner Cherie Baker, with a solid 169 total, outscored Linda Price by two shots.
Eight four players entered the annual tourney, down from past year due to the late start of the golfing season.
sports@thenelsondaily.com
