Wyborn, Panagiotou slide into senior final
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/08/2022 (755 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
WASAGAMING — Clay Wyborn didn’t play a Tamarack golf tournament until he was 55 but quickly found a reason to return.
He walked away from his debut with the senior men’s trophy, sinking his final putt in front of television cameras back in 1999. He’s only missed one since and now has a chance to etch his name on the trophy for a fifth time after a 3-and-2 win over Gene Hodgson in the semifinals at Clear Lake Golf Course on Thursday.
Wyborn last won the event in 2009.
“I thought it would never come,” Wyborn said. “It’s been a long drought but I’ve got the chance to do this now.”
Wyborn plays George Panagiotou in the final after he eliminated medallist and defending champ Glen Parker 2 and 1.
He lived in Dauphin back in 1999, when his friend Charlie Hill recommended the tournament. It certainly wasn’t hard to get hooked, spending a week at one of Manitoba’s premier tracks and taking part in the festivities that come with it.
Now 78, Wyborn spends his entire summer at Hamiota Golf Club, working in the mornings and playing as soon as he’s off the clock.
His game remains consistent. He fired a 9-over 81 to qualify as the No. 2 seed without a double-bogey.
He hits it far for his age, holding absolutely nothing back as he lashes through the ball until his driver shaft recoils off his back.
“I’ve never been accused of swinging too easy,” Wyborn chuckled. “(My wife) says I’m going to fall down one of these times.”
Wyborn kept that steady game through victories over Howard Kelly and Hodgson, who started strong and kept the match tied after five holes.
Then Wyborn rattled off four straight and coasted the rest of the way.
Panagiotou’s match was close all the way as the two traded small leads in a war of attrition. The Greek was just a little less mistake-prone than his counterpart and took advantage of some extra length off the tee to win a few holes late and close it out on the 17th.
“I’ve been hitting the ball, striking it really well off the tee so that’s giving me the benefit of hitting shorter irons, maybe an opportunity to reach the par 5s so that’s a plus at this course,” Panagiotou said.
“If I can hit the ball well down the middle, try to get a little bit of distance to throw (Wyborn) off his swing or his game, I know he’s a real good competitor when it comes to his short game so I got to keep the pressure on him.”
The final takes place early Saturday afternoon.
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