Mark Scheifele has had himself an interesting offseason - and that may be the understatement of the summer here in Manitoba.
His year-end comments created quite a storm cloud over Winnipeg, before the team's first ever draft pick surfaced from the shadows and attempted to clear the air in mid-August.
Scheifele, as a matter of fact, was in town for a week to participate as a sponsor's exemption in the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open at Southwood Golf and Country Club as a part of the PGA Tour Canada.
It was actually Scheifele's second time taking part in the Tour, having previously donned the clubs back in 2018, where he shot an 86 and an 87 through two rounds of play at the Manitoba Open.
"I'm around 1.6," Scheifele said of his current handicap prior to his round. "I think I was a 10 handicap back then. I've definitely improved a lot since that day. I'm definitely still going to be nervous. I'm probably still going to black out on the first tee and spray one right. It'll be one of those really fun experiences I get to do again."
This time around, Scheifele fared much better, and has his improved game to thank.
He shot a six-over +78 in the opening round, before falling off track in day two, finishing a 12-over 84, missing the cut in his second-straight event. Scheifele's combined 162 was the worst of all golfers involved.
Mind you, the others participating do so for a living. Whereas he just shoots hockey pucks...
“To be honest I didn’t strike the ball well (on Day 1), but I chipped well, I putted well,” Scheifele said. “And then early on (Saturday), I just didn’t get those bounces. But I felt really good. I told Myles Creighton I wanted to break 80. So I was pretty happy with that. All in all, it was fun.”
Scheifele actually put together an impressive front-nine on Day 1, finishing off hole No. 9 with his second of two-straight birdies. He fell back down to earth with double bogies on hole 15 and 16 to finish six over on the day.
His second day of work saw two double bogies and a disastrous nine-stroke seventh hole - a par 4. Scheifele did manage another two birdies on the day, bringing his two day total to five birdies.
Finishing 18 over, Scheifele improved by 11 shots since his 2018 showing.
Former teammate and Winnipeg product Adam Brooks served as Schiefele's caddie of the event.
22-year-old Texas product Parker Coody won the four-day event, shooting an impeccable 27-under in an eight-stroke victory.
It was actually Scheifele's second time taking part in the Tour, having previously donned the clubs back in 2018, where he shot an 86 and an 87 through two rounds of play at the Manitoba Open.
"I'm around 1.6," Scheifele said of his current handicap prior to his round. "I think I was a 10 handicap back then. I've definitely improved a lot since that day. I'm definitely still going to be nervous. I'm probably still going to black out on the first tee and spray one right. It'll be one of those really fun experiences I get to do again."
This time around, Scheifele fared much better, and has his improved game to thank.
He shot a six-over +78 in the opening round, before falling off track in day two, finishing a 12-over 84, missing the cut in his second-straight event. Scheifele's combined 162 was the worst of all golfers involved.
Mind you, the others participating do so for a living. Whereas he just shoots hockey pucks...
“To be honest I didn’t strike the ball well (on Day 1), but I chipped well, I putted well,” Scheifele said. “And then early on (Saturday), I just didn’t get those bounces. But I felt really good. I told Myles Creighton I wanted to break 80. So I was pretty happy with that. All in all, it was fun.”
Scheifele actually put together an impressive front-nine on Day 1, finishing off hole No. 9 with his second of two-straight birdies. He fell back down to earth with double bogies on hole 15 and 16 to finish six over on the day.
His second day of work saw two double bogies and a disastrous nine-stroke seventh hole - a par 4. Scheifele did manage another two birdies on the day, bringing his two day total to five birdies.
Finishing 18 over, Scheifele improved by 11 shots since his 2018 showing.
Former teammate and Winnipeg product Adam Brooks served as Schiefele's caddie of the event.
22-year-old Texas product Parker Coody won the four-day event, shooting an impeccable 27-under in an eight-stroke victory.
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