As he prepares for the U.S. Men’s Amateur Golf Championship in August, Niverville’s Colwyn Abgrall has added another title to his name: 2019 Manitoba Men’s Amateur Golf Champion.
Close into the final round at Quarry Oaks Golf Course on July 18, Abgrall birdied the seventy-second hole and finished two shots ahead of Austin Dobrescu of Shilo, Manitoba on his way to a final round even par 72, finishing the tournament with a two-under par 286 total.
Of the 80 competitors registered, Abgrall was the lone golfer to finish under par.
“It feels great to put my name on the trophy, especially at Quarry Oaks,” said the Niverville product. “I was down in the front nine… but Austin made some mistakes and I was able to keep the ball in play and make my shots.”
It was a rematch of sorts for the 22-year-old, who had finished second to Dobrescu earlier this year at the 2019 Golf Manitoba Match Play Championship held at Breezy Bend Country Club in Headingley.
For now, Abgrall looks toward the 115th Golf Canada Men’s Amateur Championship, held August 5–9 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where the top seven championship finalists have been invited to represent Manitoba. Colwyn says his flight is booked and that it’s an honour to represent Manitoba in team play at the Canadian Men’s Amateur.
He will get a few days off before heading to the U.S. Men’s Amateur Golf Championship in North Carolina, held August 11–18 at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club. Abgrall qualified for the event last month in Fargo, North Dakota.
Abgrall is no stranger to the U.S. amateur circuit, having golfed at the collegiate level while studying hospitality/tourism and golf management at Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, where he graduated in 2017. For the past two years, he has returned to Arizona during the offseason, golfing in amateur tour events across the state.
“These are some of the best players not only in North America but across the world,” he says. “So I’m looking to go out there and do my best… My expectations are pretty low, to be honest. I just want to keep the ball in play and stick to the game plan.”
At this point, Abgrall isn’t sure what his plans are after the U.S. Amateur. There’s some talk of turning pro, which he isn’t in any rush to do. Other options include going to qualifying school or even returning to Arizona. For now, he’s focused on the upcoming tournaments.
