Barrett Jarosch wins Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship in dramatic playoff over Ryan Werre
Alberta Golf (Windermere) – Glorious sunny day for the final round of the 2023 Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, and the golf and drama lived up to the final round hype. Starting the final round, the leader was Barrett Jarosch, competing on his home course at Windermere Golf and Country Club. Sitting one shot back was Ryan Werre from Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat, after his sparkling 7-under par 64 in the 2nd round.
The front nine belonged to Werre, with birdies on 2, 4 and 6 and an amazing up and down from the back bunker on 8 to turn in 33, while Jarosch had bogeys on 7 and 8 to turn in 36. Ryan Werre started the back nine with a 2 shot lead. That lead was extended to 3 shots after a bogey by Jarosch on the par 3 15th hole after his tee shot went long and under a tree. Ryan Werre opened the door with a short approach on 16 and a pushed tee shot on 17, both leading to bogeys while Jarosch stepped up hitting to 3 feet on the 17th green and tapping in for birdie and we had co-leaders at 5-under par with one hole to play.
On the 18th hole both Jarosch and Werre had long putts for birdie and both secured par, a hug by the flag after a great battle and they headed back to the 18th hole for a playoff. Werre’s tee shot was on the right side of the tough 18th hole fairway and hit a very solid approach inside 30 feet but Jarosch had piped a drive giving him a shorter iron in and knocked it inside 15 feet for a closer birdie attempt. After Werre’s birdie putt was just short Jarosch stepped up, navigated the break perfectly and drained the winning putt with friends and family cheering on around the green and on the clubhouse deck. It was a memorable duel and both would have been worthy champions but on this day the home course competitor, Barrett Jarosch, got the job done and claimed the trophy.
Barrett Jarosch. 2023 Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion
WATCH INTERVIEW WITH CHAMPION BARRETT JAROSCH
Neil Thomas from the Edmonton Country Club, the 2023 Alberta Men’s Amateur runner-up 2 weeks ago in Innisfail, shot a final round 2-under 69 to finish 3rd and make the Alberta Inter-Provincial Team. Ryan Denbraber from the Glendale Golf and Country Club shot a 3-under 68, the low round of the final day and will be an alternate for the Inter-Provincial team.
Neil Thomas, Barrett Jarosch and Ryan Werre
A big thank you to Brice MacDermott, Michael Thompson, all the staff, members and volunteers at Windermere Golf and Country Club for a memorable week.
