DEWINTON — A combination of rain and snow forced the cancellation of Thursday’s third and final round of the Alberta Open and left Mitch Evanecz of Red Deer as the tournament runner-up.
Evanecz, who fired a 6-under 65 Wednesday to move within three shots of leader and eventual winner Jamie Kureluk of Calgary Cottonwood, had a 36-hole total of 134 — including an opening-round 69 — and finished second overall and as the top amateur in the field at the Carnmoney Golf and Country Club.
With Evanecz, of the Red Deer Golf and Country Club, already named to the Alberta Pacific Coast Amateur team as the defending Alberta Amateur champion, Steve Lecuyer of Edmonton Windermere, who tied for sixth in this year’s Open with a 139 total, earned the other team position. The third team spot will be determined during the Calgary Glencoe Invitational in June.
Meanwhile, Kureluk captured the weather-shortened Open title with an 11-under 131 total that included rounds of 61-70, and Kris Wasylowich of Lethbridge was third overall at Carnmoney with a two-round total of 137. Rounding out the top 10 and ties were Ryan Yip of Calgary Bearspaw and Wes Heffernan of Calgary Silver Springs at 138, Ryan Vallely of Medicine Hat and Lecuyer at 139, and Todd Halpen of Calgary Country Hills, Mike Mezei of Lethbridge, Darren Hupfer of Edmonton Windermere and Neil Thomas of the Edmonton Country Club, all at 140.
Carson Kallis of the Red Deer Golf and Country Club (RDG&CC) finished 20th overall at 144 (75-69), while Todd Butterfield of Stettler Pheasantback tied for 25h at 147 (79-68).
Central Albertans missing the 36-hole cut were Jordan Krulicki of the RDG&CC (79-75-154), Ron Harder of Innisfail (82-76-158), Jason Thiels of Olds (80-79-159), Kyle Morrison of Red Deer River Bend (82-80-162), Ryan Tofani of the RDG&CC (85-79-164) and Derek Crichton of River Bend (82-82-164).
Evanecz, as a member of the University of Victoria men’s team, will compete in the Canadian University/College championship in Fredericton, N.B. Sunday to Wednesday.