Maunula caps breakout golf season with provincial high school championship

“It feels awesome,” Maunula said. “Played solid and showed what I’m capable of. So it always feels good.”

Maunula said his game was steady from tee to green, hitting plenty of fairways and greens while giving himself opportunities with his approach shots.

His putter took care of much of the rest.

“I made a lot within 15 feet, so that helped me whether it was for par or birdie,” he said.

But his round did not come without a late test. Maunula said a pair of bogeys threatened to send him sliding down the stretch before one shot changed the momentum.

“But then on 16, I ended up chipping in for an eagle, which kind of got the momentum back,” he said.

“And it was a really big turning point because if that hadn’t have happened, it might have, my round could have been completely different, but that kind of helped me finish off the round as strong as I did.”

The victory also settled some unfinished business for Maunula. He had competed at the high school provincials in each of the previous two years without getting the result he wanted.

The title continues a run of success for Maunula that stretched through the summer. With those results has come something else – expectations.

“As you start to win more, the more you feel like others will expect you to keep winning,” Maunula said. “So definitely, there is a little bit of pressure, but if you put in the work and keep improving, then the wins will come.”

The provincial championship also gave him another lesson in handling that pressure.

Maunula said playing too cautiously while holding a strong position can get in the way of making his best swings. His focus going forward is on staying out of his own head and approaching those moments as though he is still chasing the lead.

“Just trying to swing just like you’re behind by one, definitely help hit it a little bit better in situations where you’re feeling pressure,” he said.

The championship is expected to be Maunula’s final tournament of the year.

His John Paul II teammates also competed at provincials. His sister Natalie Maunula finished ninth and Finn Silver placed 17th. Battle West’s boys team finished fifth, while the girls team placed sixth.

SHSAA Provincial Golf Championships competitors (front row, left to right) Hayden Solomko, Shae Maunula, Finn Silver, Henry Silver, Natalie Maunula, Elena Roa-Pena and Katie Bohun represented John Paul II Collegiate and Battle West at the SHSAA Provincial Golf Championships. (Image Credit: John Paul II Collegiate)

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

Maunula caps breakout golf season with provincial high school championship

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