Matt Dumontelle did not see this coming.

Always in the conversation among the city's better golfers through much of his youth and into early adulthood, Dumontelle was red-hot back in July, helping to lead the Timberwolf Golf Club to a team championship at the Ryder Cup.

Last weekend, the multi-sport talent (also an accomplished curler) captured his second club championship at Timberwolf, this time with an impressive nine-stroke victory (over two rounds), with Taylor Couillard in second (147) and Joey Kremer another stroke back (148).

Rounds of 67 and 71 as he inches closer to his 40th birthday were not necessarily what Dumontelle might have predicted a decade or two ago - though he attributes the current stage of his game to a few different factors.

"I think that's the first time that I can ever say that my putter was the best club in my bag," said Dumontelle. "I'm not usually known for my putting but one of my buddies gave me a tip that I was pulling them, just a smidge, so I moved my hands a touch forward and it paid dividends."

In terms of his overall play in 2024, however, conjecture takes the 2022 Timberwolf club champion who lost last year in a playoff to Laurentian University team member Ben Fowke elsewhere.

"We don't get to bang balls for hours every single day, like when we were kids, and you would think that would hurt you," stated Dumontelle. "As you get older, the body doesn't like as many swings, so I kind of toned things down on my swing and made it a little more simple."

"I don't hit the ball quite as far as I used to, but still long enough," continued Dumontelle. "I've worked on my accuracy more than anything, especially with my irons. It's crazy when you sart playing some of your better golf later in life when you don't even practice."

And on a course that is known for its length, Dumontelle has tapped into the increased precision of his shotmaking to still earn the coveted parking spot that comes with a club championship triumph.

"With my swing being more accurate, I can take on flags a little bit more knowing my misses are not going to be so great," he said. "Before I would miss in the freskiw at Timberwolf, just off the green or just off the fairway and then you're in a lot of trouble."

Rounding out the top five in championship flight were Carter Baron (who also captured the junior club crown at 149) and Jay Jewitt (155), with the remaining group champions rounded out by the quartet of Joshua Kohtakangas (first flight - men's), Fitri Battah (Ladies champion) and Brent Hatton (Senior and Super Senior Division).