Brett Shewchuk birdies final hole to capture District Amateur crown

Brett Shewchuk says he wasn’t worried about a potentially costly bogey on his 17th hole on Monday.

It didn’t bother him that moments before he lined up his birdie putt on the 18th green, playing partner Evan Littlefield dropped a 20-footer to pull into a tie for the Canadian Tire District Amateur lead.

Shewchuk, coming off a win at last month’s Strathcona Invitational, simply walked up to his ball, looked it over for a second or two and then calmly drained it from 15 feet, a slight fist pump the only sign of emotion.

It proved to be the difference, the Thunder Bay golfer capturing his second District Amateur – and third local major – crown with an even-par 72 round at Whitewater Golf Club.

It was enough for a one-shot triumph over Littlefield, who bides his time working at Markham, Ont.’s famed Angus Glen course these days, and Fort Frances’ Kevin Jackson, who held the first-round lead in the tournament after an opening-day, five-under 66 at Chapples Golf Course on Saturday.

Jackson shot a six-over 78 in Round 2 of the event, which was shortened from 54 holes to 36 due to wet conditions on Sunday. 

“It feels really good, actually. I was really happy with the way I came down the stretch today and sank a few putts that I needed to,” he said.

Shewchuk, who finished the tournament with an even-par 143 total, was five back entering play on Monday, but tried not to focus on the deficit.

“There’s a lot of trouble out there and I figured something around even par would get me close. And that was what I ended up shooting today, so I was able to shoot the number I wanted to, I guess,” he said.

He was starting to feel the pressure, with Littlefield, the 2010 champion, making a late charge.

“Evan birdied three of the last four,” said Shewchuk, who won the title previously in 2013. “I was leading him by four strokes going into the last four holes … and he made that 20-footer right before I putted and I had to step up and make mine so I wouldn’t have to go to a playoff with him.

“It was a little nervy on the back nine, but it didn’t really feel like it affected too many of the shots. I was definitely nervous.”

He’d love to keep the momentum going.

“It’s unbelievable to win two (majors). It’s a real big honour,” said Shewchuk, who credited his tee shots and his putting for his great play of late.

Littlefield said he did all he could to put the pressure on.

“He had me by four coming down the stretch and I knew I had to do something, so I hit a couple good shots, made a couple good putts in the end, but Brett also made a couple of clutch putts and ended up taking it.”

Also in contention was former Strathcona Invitational champ Mark Willianen.

His putter let him down in the end, he said, finishing two shots off the lead after a bogey on 18.

“I thought I hit good putts and sometimes the hole gets in the way and sometimes it doesn’t. Today was a doesn’t,” he said.