Devon Schade is the Nott Autocorp Provincial Men's Amateur Golf champion for the second year in a row.

The 21-year-old Beausejour native, who plays out of Elmhurst, fired a final round three-under par 69 Thursday at the Minnewasta golf course in Morden and recorded a 72-hole total of six-under 282.

That was three shots better than clubmate Zack Sackett.

“It feels just like last year,” said Schade who captured the 2015 championship at the Bridges golf course near Starbuck. “It really feels amazing. I felt like I did a lot of preparation this year. This is the one that I really wanted to win again the most and I felt like I prepared very well for this tournament and I executed my game plan very well.”

Schade ran away from the field last year at Bridges thanks to an 11-under par 61 in round two.

This year he trailed Sackett by seven shots at the midway point.

The turning point came in round three.

Schade carded a four-under par 68 while Sackett, who had the low round of the week with a 65 on Tuesday, could only muster a two-over par 74 on Wednesday.

It was a six stroke swing and that put Schade right back in the hunt.

“I made a few putts that didn't go in the first two days so that was pretty big,” Schade said. “I knew if I posted a good number yesterday, that I would have a good chance to win it today.”

Schade is just the sixth golfer to win consecutive Manitoba Men's Amateur Championships since 1977.

“There's only been a handful of guys that have ever done that before,” said Schade. “I feel honoured to be in the same sentence as some of those guys.”

Schade joins the likes of Bill Parker (1978 & 79), Todd Fanning (1990, 91 & 92), Rob McMillan (1995 & 96), Jordan Krantz (2004 & 05) and Brad Kirton (2007 & 08).

 

Zach Wytinck's 68 was the low round of the day Thursday

 

Zach Wytinck of Glenboro finished in fourth place.

The reigning junior men's champion had the low round of the day with a sparkling four-under par 68 and finished at minus one.

“It was a pretty fun four days,” said Wytinck. “It was nice to finish it under par. That was kind of a goal of mine and to achieve it was pretty nice.”

“I like the greens and I think the layout fits me pretty well,” explained Wytinck when asked about his success at Minnewasta this week. “There are some holes that are tighter but I think the way that they dogleg kind of fits my shot shape and what I like to hit so it makes everything easier.”

Travis Fifi owns bragging rights as the low Shilo Country Club member at the 2016 Manitoba Men's Amateur Championship.

Fifi was 76 Thursday and finished in 18th place at plus six.

David Glenn was 71 and finished at plus 17.

Ross Sheard was 78 and had a plus 18 total.

Brad Pardy was 79 and finished at plus 19.

Austin Dubrescu was 80 and had a plus 26 total.