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Pasula gets 'special' win at Wolf Creek

WOLF CREEK GOLF RESORT — He called it the biggest win of his young career, yet Brett Pasula wasn’t completely happy following the final round of the CN Future Links Western Championship Thursday.“As soon as the wind picked up my swing left me, my putting left me, everything left me,” he said. “But the front nine I was two under, so that’s a highlight.”
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Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate Staff

WOLF CREEK GOLF RESORT — He called it the biggest win of his young career, yet Brett Pasula wasn’t completely happy following the final round of the CN Future Links Western Championship Thursday.

“As soon as the wind picked up my swing left me, my putting left me, everything left me,” he said. “But the front nine I was two under, so that’s a highlight.”

Pasula shot a 34 on the front nine, but a nine-over 45 on the back left him with a 79 and made for a much tighter finish than it should have been. But the 16-year-old from Red Deer, who plays out of the Red Deer Golf and Country Club, finished with a seven-over 223 total on the 54-hole event and a one-stroke victory over Zach Sackett of Winnipeg and Jason Martens of Edmonton, both of whom had 74 Thursday.

Pasula was heading into the back nine Thursday when the wind picked up and the temperature dropped drastically. By the time they got to 15 the rain and lightning forced close to an hour delay.

“Most of the last groups played through it, so it was fair for those guys,” he said.

Pasula went into the final round with a three stroke lead, which proved to be enough.

“I think I was far enough ahead it intimidated some guys and it certainly helped me out today coming in with a big lead.”

Still he didn’t like what he saw over the final nine holes.

“I was happy with the first 45 holes (of the tournament), but the final nine I have to erase from my memory bank and start new next week.”

Pasula, who has just finished Grade 11 at Notre Dame, will compete in the Alberta men’s amateur in Sundre, beginning Tuesday.

The Western Championship is one of six events on the CN Future Links calendar.

“It’s a special one to win,” said Pasula, who competed in the Alberta junior championship with strep throat and still finished a respectable 21st.

“Wasn’t my best but this made up for it,” he said.

He still has two years of junior ahead of him, but hopes to make his mark at the Canadian junior championship, set for July 30-Aug 2 in Garson, Ont.

“It would be nice to win it,” said Pasula, who earned a berth in the Canadians with Thursday’s victory. “But really a top 25 finish is realistic. I’m still a juvenile so I wouldn’t mind winning that either.”

Pasula is playing his best golf of his career this season and is hoping his strong play will catch the attention of an university golf coach in the States or Canada.

“I’m hoping to get a scholarship after high school,” he said. “I may take a year off, but playing university golf is a big thing. It’s a matter of sending out letters and getting some emails and hopefully this summer I get an offer.”

Pasula is one of several strong young golfers in Central Alberta, which only makes his game better.

“It keeps me practicing . . . keeps me going as I know they’re there,” he said.

Pasula is into crossfit training and trains six days a week.

“I used to be into hockey, but not any more,” he said.

Now it’s strictly golf.

“My goal is to turn pro, but if it doesn’t work out I’m looking at being a doctor,” he concluded.

Matt Codd of the RDGCC had a final round 79 and tied for 16th at 233 while Logan Hill of the RDGCC came in with an 86 and finished 40th at 246.

Kolby Vold of Ponoka and the host club was 45th at 252, following an 87, while Nolan Bruin and Carter Graf of the RDGCC finished 48th and 60th respectively.

Bruin shot an 82 and came in at 257 while 12-year-old Graf had a 100 for a 286 total.

Sabrine Garrison of Calgary won the girls’ title with a 216 total, following a final round 69. She won by six strokes over Michelle Kim of Surrey, B.C. and 10 ahead of Alix Kong of West Vancouver.