ESTEVAN — Payden Benning has captured the 36-hole tournament at the Estevan Oilfield Technical Society's (OTS) Oilmen's Golf Tournament for the first time.
He shot a 1-under-par 71 on May 31 to win the 36-hole championship by one stroke over Taysen Holt, Mark Spencer and Jayson Fenwick.
Benning won the OTS in 2020, when it was held amid the COVID-19 pandemic and contested over 18 holes. He enjoys the 36-hole event, playing in it every year, and said it was more meaningful to win it this time around.
"I squeezed into the championship flight … so to come out and play as I did today, it feels really good," said Benning.
He shot a 78 in his first round on May 30 to claim the 12th and final qualifying spot in the championship flight. Then in the second round, he shot a 37 on the front nine and didn't record a birdie until the 11th hole. He then birdied 13 and 14, had a double-bogey on 15, and recovered with a birdie on the 18th hole.
"Off the tee, I couldn't hit my driver very well yesterday, and today it was down the middle most of the time, so it made the round a lot easier," said Benning.
The distance on his wedges was also really good, he said, which left him with a lot of short putts.
After his round was finished, Benning had to watch the two other groups in the championship flight finish before knowing he had won.
"I knew that if I could hit a good drive off of 18, I had a good chance at birdie, and ended up birdieing 18," said Benning.
The forest fire smoke that blanketed southeast Saskatchewan on May 30 and 31 didn't hinder his game, but winds picked up during the final round, which made scoring a little more difficult.
Benning praised the course conditions, saying superintendent Bob Currie and his crew always do such a great job. He was also pleased with the tournament's social element.
"It's always fun. It doesn't matter how I play out here. It's always a good time."
Spencer won the tournament last year and had the best score in the opening round with a 68, highlighted by a 33 in the first round. After shooting a 35 on the front nine for his second round, he triple-bogey on the 10th hole that diminished his championship hopes.
Fenwick had a chance to tie Benning and force a playoff, but parred the 18th hole. Holt shot a 36 on both the front and back nines, and finished second on a countback.
For the 36-hole event, a golfer played a qualification round May 29 or 30 to determine their flight. Then they played a second round on May 31. The score on the final day determines the champion. Forty-eight golfers were entered the 36-hole event.
Nolan Rohatyn won the first flight with a 71 in the second round, which tied Benning for the lowest round of the day. The winner of the 36-hole tournament has to come from the championship flight.
Dallas Kuntz won the second flight with an 85 and Warren Gall took the third flight with a 90.
The tournament also had an 18-hole competition that was won by Jeff Clauson with a 72.
