The key now will be to keep that momentum going the rest of the week -- because based on scores through the first 18 holes of action, there’s the potential for all sorts of movement to take place in rounds two and three.
Blake, who plays out of the Royal Regina Golf Club, carded a two-under-par 69 on Tuesday, good enough for a one-stroke lead over four other players.
He turned in a consistent performance throughout the round, with a pair of birdies and a single bogey on the back nine for a 34 before putting together a three-birdie, two-bogey back-nine 35.
Playing partner Theoren West, representing Golf Kenosee, kept the pressure on with a surge over the final six holes -- sitting at three-over through 12, West birdied the 13th, rolled in a putt from the fringe for eagle on the 16th and birdied 17 after an outstanding approach from 150 yards out to card a one-under 70.
Royal Regina’s Hunter Kutcher recorded six birdies and five bogeys to also sit at 70, while Radville’s Davin Bourassa went four-under through the final seven holes to overcome a rough start and also finish at one-under. Saskatoon’s Zachary Szakacs followed a similar path, with an eagle on the 14th helping him join the group one back of the leader heading into play Wednesday.
Saskatoon’s Tommy Danielson and Regina’s Luke Cote are tied for Juvenile (under-17) lead at even par, Beuna Vista’s Elias Haukeness was the top Bantam (U15) player at plus-four, Kai Kriekle leads the U13 division at plus-nine.
Familiar footing for Fry
Sitting atop the leaderboard after the first round of a golf tournament is nothing strange for Shell Lake’s Brooklin Fry.
The 16-year-old defending junior women’s champion had a literal banner year in 2020, also winning the amateur women’s championship despite being only 15 at the time.
She was the only member of her group of fellow elite ball strikers not to falter on the back nine on Tuesday, carding two birdies and two bogeys on both ends to finish at even par.
That’s good enough for a four-shot lead over Saskatoon’s Sarah Grieve, who had three bogeys on the back nine to card her 75.
Sitting one shot back of Grieve is Yorkton’s Ella Kozak, who less than a week ago edged Tuesday playing partner Autumn Neiszner by a single stroke to win the Saskatchewan women’s amateur. Kozak was even par through nine, but went five-over on the back, including a double bogey on 16. Nieszner had double bogeys on 16 and 17 and shot 79 to sit eight shots back.
Sask Landing Golf Resort’s Chloe Wills shot 89 to lead the U15 girls, Saskatoon’s Tayla Perry carded a 101 to lead the U13 girls.
The tournament continues through Thursday at the Hillcrest Golf Club.
