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Tyler Zaba won his first Men's Lobstick after 16 years of trying. (Jeff D'Andrea/paNOW Staff)
Lobstick Champion

Regina’s Zaba crowned Men’s Lobstick champion after chasing the cup for 16 years

Sep 25, 2020 | 3:47 PM

It’s customary at the Waskesiu Golf Course for the winners of its Lobstick tournaments to take a photo with the trophy, before setting it down to deliver a thank you speech.

But after Regina’s Tyler Zaba won the 2020 Men’s Lobstick, he tucked that large cup under his arm and didn’t let it out of his grasp. Zaba has been waiting for the better part of 16 years to get his hands on the title, he wasn’t about to let it go after all that time chasing it.

Zaba was as close as a player could be to winning the championship back in 2013. He lost to Prince Albert’s Danny Klughart after 22 grueling and heartbreaking holes. Zaba said he still thinks about that defeat, and wasn’t sure if he would ever get that close to winning the title ever again.

But on Friday at the Waskesiu Golf Course, Zaba defeated Saskatoon’s Brad Phelps in the final.

After Phelps had narrowly missed his birdie putt and settled for par on Hole 16, Zaba stepped up to his eight-foot putt knowing that he would win if he made it. Zaba drained the putt to go up three with two holes remaining, giving him the victory.

“It means a lot. My kids have been coming up here since they were babies and my parents have always been coming up here,” an emotional Zaba said. “It’s really special. It means a lot.

“It’s good to finally get the trophy.”

Saskatoon’s Brad Phelps (left) shares a laugh with Tyler Zaba during the 2020 Men’s Lobstick Finals at the Waskesiu Golf Course. (Jeff D’Andrea/paNOW Staff)

The man he beat, Brad Phelps, picked up his second Lobstick runner-up honours this month. He finished second to Warren Gnam at the 2020 Senior Men’s Lobstick on Sept. 3.

“Over September here, I started to play some good golf,” Phelps said. “I turned 55 this year, so it was my first senior one. I was looking forward to playing in June [the original dates for the Lobsticks], but I’m sure glad we got to play in September.”

Here are all the results from the Men’s Lobstick finals.

Championship Flight

Tyler Zaba defeats Brad Phelps

Championship Flight Consolation

Warren Gnam defeats Chris Reid

First Flight

Andrew Zaba defeats Jeff Whitfield

First Flight Consolation

Tanner Olsen defeats Ken Gordon

Second Flight

Darryl Czuy defeats Doug Braaten

Second Flight Consolation

Martin Ring defeats Derek Chantler

Third Flight

John Foster defeats Brian Topp

Third Flight Consolation

Brad Griffin defeats Max Coben

Fourth Flight

Ian Harnett defeats C.J. Gavlas

Fourth Flight Consolation

Ryan Timmerman defeats Luke Strueby

Fifth Flight

Ron Harris defeats Bentley Coben

Fifth Flight Consolation

Tanner Schultz defeats Ben Leier

Sixth Flight

Ron Berezowski defeats John Ross

Sixth Flight Consolation

Regan Emmons defeats Pat Boehm

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW