Pine to Palm Spotlight - Vol 67 No 3

81st Pine to Palm

Sp tlight vol. 67 no. 3

detroit lakes, minnesota • SATURday, august 10, 2013

The 2013 Rutledge award was presented to Duane Halverson (middle) by pine to palm committee member Greg Potvin (left) and Gerri Rutledge.

Consistency in

Pine to palm 25-year awar ds went to david crothers and mike stirling.

Tradition

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2

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The road to P to P silver heats up Anderson hoping to follow in sister’s tourney path

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

bwierima@dlnewspapers.com

When one hears about an Anderson doing well in a golf tournament, the name of Amy Anderson will usually be the first person thought of.

But at the 81st Pine to Palm Golf Tournament, it’s her brother, Nathan, who is garnering the golfing attention.

After winning 2 and 1 over Zach Kappes Friday evening at the Detroit Country Club, Anderson is now one of the final 16 remaining in match play, which started with the field of 64.

During the tournament, the Anderson siblings have reversed roles, with Amy manning the bags for Nathan, instead of the usual vice versa.

In 2009, it was Nathan who was carrying Amy’s golf bag, as she became the first female not only to qualify for the Pine to Palm match play, but playing to the semifinals, where she lost to eventual champion and current pro golfer Tom Hoge.

Now it’s Nathan vying to put another Anderson in the final four.

“Amy is carrying my bag and is there for moral support,” Nathan said. “In 2009 when I was caddying for her, she did show me how it’s done here.”

The Anderson duo first started their Pine to Palm venture by playing the Ironman youth tournaments, which is held the same week as the Detroit Country Club tourney.

Amy won several titles, while Nathan won a couple.

“I didn’t win as many as people thought I did, because I couldn’t beat Tom Hoge, until I was about 11 or 12,” Nathan laughed.

Hoge and Amy Anderson are now both pursuing professional careers, after two very

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Sister and brother Amy and Nathan Anderson of Oxbow, N.D., walk to Nathan’s ball on the 10th fairway of Detroit Country Club during Friday’s Pine to Palm match play.

successful college careers.

Amy Anderson’s success in the Women’s National Amateur Tournament prevented the two to play in the Pine to Palm, since it was played on the same week.

But with both graduating

from NDSU – where Nathan also had a solid collegiate golf career - this was a good opportunity for the brother to give it another shot, while Amy starts her pro career.

Nathan Anderson will be a volunteer assistant coach

for the NDSU men’s golf team, while finishing up his Master’s degree in accounting.

This is only the third time Nathan Anderson has played in the Pine to Palm, with his first two efforts resulting in

missing the cut.

But after shooting even par 71-71-142, Anderson made his first Pine to Palm cut, which was proceeded by a 3 and 2 win over Sam Palmisano in the first round.

Friday, Anderson’s start was a little auspicious, but turned into a 2-up lead.

“I received some good breaks on the first two holes, after I went into the trees off the tee on both, but made birdie twice,” Anderson said.

“Looked like I was on my way to a bad start, but instead was 2-up.”

Anderson held a 1-up lead at the turn, which held with three holes to go. He finished Kappes off by winning two of the final three.

“I made a couple good putts and scrambled well,” Anderson said. “I did what I needed to do. The last two matches, I played just well enough to win.”

Anderson will face Colorado State University’s Dominic Kieffer, who downed Marc Vincelli 1-up in 19 holes.

Pine to Palm medalist and University of Minnesota senior Jon Trasamar handled Teddy Cox 4 and 3, while Ohio State University’s Max Rosenthal, who is rolling with a 3 and 1 win over Coy Papachek.

Three of the four former Pine to Palm champions advanced to the field of 16, with two-time champ Rick Kuhn beating Marc Redman 2 and 1, while Greg Melhus had a good day with a 4 and 3 win over Trenton Olson and Chad Skarperud survived Fargo’s Bryant Buckellew 1-up in 20 holes.

The lone local golfer also advanced, with Detroit Lakes’ native Robert Wagner beating Championship to page 8 ➤

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Max Rosenthal, left, rolls a putt on the 7th green during his match against Coy Papachek Friday afternoon. Nathan Anderson, above, of Oxbow, N.D., watches his drive on the par four 10th hole during Friday Pine to Palm match play in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Saturday, August 10, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

3

Pine to Palm

History

Title Results

FIle PHOTO

Tom Hoge, at the Pine to Palm Tournament in 2010, watches his approach shot to the par four 11th hole. Hoge is one of many former Pine to Palmers to turn pro.

P to P 2009 champ knocking on PGA door

BY JEFF KOLPACK Forum News Service

Tom Hoge is in Boise, Idaho, this week for another golf tournament on the Web.com Tour, which has been a geographic challenge this summer. The understudy to the PGA Tour isn’t making it easy on the players.

In the last month, golfers have been to Kansas, North Carolina, Indiana, Utah and back to Kansas.

“It would be nice if they could group them together so you could drive to them,” Hoge said.

But the road has been pretty good to the Fargo South graduate, who is 35th on the money list. The top 25 players will be awarded a PGA Tour card for next year, which would be the preferred way for Hoge to make the big time.

The other way involves three tournaments called “The Finals,” which consists of the top 75 Web.com money leaders and the top 75 PGA Tour players who do not qualify for the FedExCup playoffs – which would be players Nos. 126 through 200.

The top 25 Web.com money leaders would be a part of that tournament even though they would already earn their PGA cards. Each of the three tournaments carries a $1 million purse.

“You have to be ready for the playoffs,” Hoge said.

Hoge has earned $82,687 and has his season goal of $150,000 in site. He figures that’s what it will take to finish in the top 25.

“I know it will take a few good weeks to get to that number,” he said. “I think every player thinks about that a little bit.”

In a few key statistical categories, he’s 28th in average birdies, 31st in putts per round and 34th in driving distance – all close to his money list standing.

One stat that could use improvement is greens in regula-

tion, where he’s 65th.

His weekly schedule has improved this year compared to last. He’s qualified for more Wednesday pro-ams – a one-day tourney with amateurs the day before a Web.com first round.

It’s important for two reasons. One, playing a course on a Wednesday gives players a better feel for the tournament conditions as opposed to having a main practice day on a Monday or Tuesday. Plus, Hoge can now use Mondays as a travel or rest day.

Usually, the top 50 players on the money list get invited to the pro-am events.

“I like it because it gets my focus more in a practice round,” he said. “Playing Wednesday is good because a course can change a lot from Monday to Thursday.”

Specifically, greens tend to be groomed faster as the week wears on.

“You go out Monday and they just watered the greens,” Hoge said. “Then all of a sudden on Thursday afternoon you’re shocked to see how the ball bounces on the greens.”

The Albertsons Boise Open Presented by Kraft carries a purse of $775,000. Hoge got off to a hot start Thursday with seven birdies in his first 14 holes, which put him just two shots off the lead. But a triple bogey on his 17th hole dropped him back to a 3-under 68.

The Web.com Tour heads across country to suburban Pittsburgh next weekend.

There are 10 tournaments remaining with the next nine on consecutive weekends. Hoge said he may sit out a tournament in Tennessee in the middle of August.

“I’ll see how my body is doing,” he said. “It’s a little bit of a long run here. You have to be ready for the last four events.”

1931— Pat Sawyer, Mpls., over Edgar Bolstad, Minneapolis, 5 and 4 1932— Pat Sawyer, Minneapolis, over Dick Sawyer, Minneapolis, 1-up 1933— Virgil Roby, Minneapolis, over Paul Cook, Bismarck, ND, 3 and 2 1934— Gust Novotny, Mpls., over Fritz Carman, Detroit Lakes, 2 and 1 1935— Virgil Roby, Minneapolis, over Wally Taft, Minneapolis, 3 and 2 1936— Donald Carman, Pasadena, over William Kostelecky, Dickinson, ND, 2 and 1 1937— Bob Gammon, St. Paul, over Wally Taft, Minneapolis, 3 and 2 1938— Maurice Cain, Wahpeton, over Neil Croonquist, Mpls., 2 and 1 1939— Neil Croonquist, Mpls., over Palmer Kize, Redwood Falls, 2 and 1 1940— Bob Gammon, St. Paul, over Vic Erickson, Aitkin, 3 and 2 1941— Ed Ebel, Mpls., over Dr. Paul Cook, Valley City, ND, 2 and 1 1942—No tournament (World War II) 1943—No tournament (World War II) 1944— Dr. William Kostelecky, Fargo, over Phil Olson, Grand Forks, 1-up 1945— Virgil Roby, Mpls., over Dr. William Kostelecky, Fargo, 3 and 2 1946— Jim Nordine, Karlstad, over Ernotte Hiller, Crookston, 1-up in 19 holes 1947— Jerry Burns, Minneapolis, over Jim Nordine, Karlstad, 3 and 2 1948— Jerry Burns, Minneapolis, over Paul O’Leary, Bismarck, 1-up 1949— Gerald Pepper, Kansas City, Mo., over Jack Webb, Spirit Lake, IA, 1-up 1950— Tommy Sullivan, Chicago, over Don Peddie, Minneapolis, 4 and 2 1951— John Olsen, Duluth, over Don Olson, Mankato, 3 and 1 1952— Ted Vickerman, Mpls., over Jimmy Clark, St. Paul, 3 and 1 1953— Jack Penrose, Miami Shores, Florida, over Gene Christensen, Mpls., 3 and 2 1954— Jack Webb, Spirit Lake, over Mayo Beske, Mpls., 1-up in 20 holes 1955— Jim Moeller, Holdenville, Ok., over Bob Teyro, Huntington, W.V., 1-up 1956— Bob Goetz, Arlington, Tx., over Jack Webb, Spirit Lake, 5 and 3 1957— Parley Hyde, Omaha, Neb., over Tom Hadley, Minneapolis, 2-up 1958— Jack Rule, Waterloo, over Bob Astleford, Lincoln, Neb., 1-up 1959— Jack Rule, Waterloo, over Dr. W.R. Lauer, Bismarck, 2 and 1 1960— Jack Rule, Waterloo, over Harold Erickson, Chicago, 2 and 1 1961— Dayton Olson, Mpls., over Jack Rule, Waterloo, 3 and 1 1962— Bob Finseth, Kenyon over Pat Shanesy, Robbinsdale, 3 and 2 1963— Dick Blooston, Mpls., over Al Krueger, Redwood Falls, 2 and 1 1964— Dave Hanten, Huron, SD, over Norm Kragseth, Hopkins, 1-up 1965— Ken Pinns, Las Vegas, Nev., over Dave Hanten, Huron, SD, 2-up 1966— Greg Rose, Fresno, Calif., over Galen Skramstad, Marshall, 1-up 1967— Leonard Fiocca, Palatine, Ill., over Bill Homeyer, Mpls., 4 and 3 1968— George Lee, Humboldt, Iowa, over Bruce Aamoth, Kansas City, 3 and 1 1969— Bill Homeyer, Minneapolis, over Leonard Fiocca, Palatine, Ill., 1-up 1970— Jim Ihnot, Minneapolis, over Bob Finseth, Kenyon, 4 and 3 1971— John Lieser, Freeport, over Bill Waryan, Minneapolis, 1-up 1972— John Harris, Roseau, over Randy Kawczynski, Mpls., 4 and 2

1973— Bill Von Wald, N. St. Paul, over Dick Davies, Albert Lea, 4 and 3 1974— Bill Von Wald, Maplewood, over Terry Moores, St. Paul, 1-up 1975— Bill Von Wald, Maplewood, over Mark Haugejorde, New London, 2-up 1976— Bill Israelson, Bemidji, over Mark Rohde, Marshalltown, 2-up 1977— Bill Israelson, Bemidji, over Dan Croonquist, St. Paul, 4 and 2 1978— Mark Knutson, Albert Lea, over Jerry Rose, Fresno, 6 and 5 1979— Chris Perry, Edina, over Mike Fermoyle, Minneapolis, 1-up 1980— Bill Israelson, Bemidji, over Mark Norman, Edina, 5 and 4 1981— Mark Norman, Edina, over Mark O’Brien, Faribault, 2 and 1 1982— Mike Podolak, Fargo, over Jim Strandemo, Mahnomen, 5 and 4 1983— Jim Strandemo, Mahnomen, over Tim Tingelstad, Detroit Lakes, 3 and 2 1984— Pat Herzog, Alexandria, over Al Thompson, Jr., Grand Forks, 3 and 2 1985— Jim Sorenson, Bloomington, over Gordy Skaar, Bemidji, 3 and 2 1986— Michael E. Larson, Arlington, Tx., over Pat Herzog, Alexandria, 1-up in 19 holes 1987— Jim Strandemo, Mahnomen, over Don Schweim, Mankato, 2 and 1 1988— Jon Christian, Albert Lea, over Bob Cavanagh, Perham, 4 and 3 1989— Jim Strandemo, Mahnomen, over Mike Podolak, Oxbow, ND, 5 and 4 1990— Gary Johnson, Fargo, over Mike Podolak, Oxbow, ND, 1-up 1991— Rick Kuhn, Bloomington, over Mark Hanson, Cedar Rapids, Ia., 1-up in 19 holes 1992— Russ Newman, Fargo, over Charlie Casci, North St. Paul, 2 and 1 1993— Mike Podolak, Oxbow, N.D., over Russ Newman, Fargo, 2 and 1 1994— Russ Newman, Fargo, over Aaron Barber, New London, 1-up 1995— Mark Halverson, Fargo, over Colin Bork, Missoula, Mont., 6 and 5 1996— Laine Brantner, Fargo, over Tony Vincelli, Burnsville, 2 and 1 1997— Bill Thompson, St. Paul, over Pat Vincelli, Burnsville, 1-up in 19 holes 1998— James McLean, Wahgunjah, Victoria, Australia, over Mike Podolak, Oxbow, N.D., 3 & 2 1999— Andy Doeden, Fargo, over Bob Brink, Bemidji, 2 and 1 2000— Chad Skarperud, Detroit Lakes, over Tony Vincelli, Edina, 2-up 2001— Andy Doeden, Fargo, over Greg Melhus, Bismarck, N.D., 1-up in 19 holes 2002— David Schultz, Fargo, over Jeff Lamp, Fargo, 3 and 2 2003— Greg Melhus, Fargo, over Scott Gustafson, Eden Prairie, 2 and 1 2004— Chris Braaten, Detroit Lakes, over David Schultz, Fargo, 5 and 4 2005— Rick Kuhn, Bismarck, N.D., over Bronson LaCassie, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1-up 2006— Kane Hanson, Detroit Lakes, over Johnny Larson, Springfield, 2 and 1 2007— Cory Blenkush, Maple Grove, over Jason Rudquist, Peyton, Colo., 1-up in 19 holes 2008— Ben Freeman, Fargo, over Brandon Hartzell, Sioux Falls, S.D., 4 & 2 2009— Tom Hoge, Fargo, over Thomas Campbell, Dunedin, New Zealand, 3 & 1 2010—Todd Hillier, Hoople, N.D., over Tom Hoge, Fargo, 2 and 1 2011— Connor Holland, West Fargo, N.D., over Alex Robb, Chanhassen, 3 & 2 2012— Beau Hanson, Frazee, over David Haley Jr., Hilliard, Ohio, 4 and 3.

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Saturday, August 10, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

Due to a printing error, the Mid-Am coverage was omitted from the Friday Spotlight.

We apologize for any inconvenience that was caused.

Mid-Am will be a scramble to the finish

Greff overcomes slow start to advance

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

bwierima@dlnewspapers.com

For A.J. Greff, his defense of his Pine to Palm Mid-Am championship was almost short lived, until back-to-back birdie holes saved his 2013 tournament.

First-round challenger Eric Lundmark pulled out to a 2-up advantage on Greff after the first three holes of the opening round of the Mid-Am match-play tournament, but by the time the duo made the turn, the 2012 champion was back in control 1-up.

Birdies on holes six and seven snapped Greff’s sluggish play, as he moved on to win 2 and 1 over Lundmark.

“I got on a roll after making those birdies on six and seven,” Greff said.

“I lost 10, but chipped in from the sand on 11 and then made a couple of 20-foot birdie putts.”

Lundmark played tough, though, trailing only by one at hole 16, but Greff took 17 to end the match.

The key for Greff to repeat is to stay out of trouble, the Fargo golfer said.

“On this course, it’s important to stay on the fairways and greens and making par consistently is big,” Greff said. “I’m feeling pretty good right now, my game is coming around.”

Greff will face Perry Piatz, who downed former Mid-Am medalist Kent Fronk 3 and 2.

This year’s medalist is Fargo’s Kent Spriggs, who is also rolling at the right

time.

He defeated Brian Benson 6 and 5 to advance to the second round, where he will face Detroit Lakes’ Aaron Burnside, who beat Kevin Swenson 2 and 1.

As was the case during his qualifying rounds, Spriggs’ driver was a lethal weapon for him.

“I was using my driver everywhere and it was working again,” Spriggs said.

“I am still hitting the ball well and making a lot of putts.”

Spriggs made five birdies, with three of them winning holes and he never lost a hole.

He made birdie on two for the win, then took holes 12 and 13 with birdies.

Spriggs maintained a commanding 4-up lead at the turn.

A motivation which still churns Spriggs is losing the Mid-Am finals last year to Greff and it pushed him through the summer to improve his game.

“I just want to keep playing well and so far, so good,” Spriggs added.

In the next bracket, Perham’s Bob Cavanagh rolled through Mitch Buboltz 5 and 3, while Joe McGinnis was a 1-up winner over Paul Uithoven.

Former champion Jay Olafson had a bye after Dave Collins withdrew, while Concordia College men’s golf head coach and former Mid-Am medalist Duane Siverson beat Jon Anas 3 and 2.

2013 MID-AM

Championship A.J. Greff

A.J. Greff, 2 & 1

Eric Lundmark Perry piatz kent fronk bob cavanagh

Perry piatz, 3 & 2

bob cavanagh, 4 & 3

mitch buboltz joe mcginnis PAUL UITHOVEN Kent Spriggs

joe mcginnis 1 Up

Kent Spriggs, 6 & 5

2013 Champion

BRIAN W BENSON kevin swenson aaron burnside

aaron burnside, 2 & 1

Jay olafson Dave collins

Jay olafson, WD

duane siverson jon anas

duane siverson, 3 & 2

— BIRCHMONT MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL —

Carlson outlasts Oster

Fargo golfer tops future BSU player 2-up in windy final BEMIDJI -- By the time he won the 2013 Birchmont Men’s Championship final, Bill Carlson was exhausted.

The Fargo native and North Dakota State junior golfer defeated Andover resident and future Bemidji State golfer A.J. Oster 1-up to claim his first-ever Birchmont title Saturday afternoon at Bemidji Town and Country Club.

“I felt like I was under stress for 10 hours today,” Carlson said. “It will be nice to sit down.”

Carlson couldn’t do that until the dramatic final hole.

With Carlson 1-up, Oster hit the green on his second shot just 12 inches from the pin while Carlson overshot the green and had to settle for par.

“I hit my driver really good on that first shot then hit two really bad ones,” Carlson said.

“The last putt I made was a lot better.”

It ended up being the championship-winner, but not be-

fore Oster missed the putt that would have sent the match to overtime.

The strong winds coming off Lake Bemidji made putting difficult all day, but No. 18 -- right along the lake -- was particularly troublesome.

“Yeah, that was rough,” Oster said. “I just couldn’t make a putt today. I didn’t putt well all week, really.”

The two needed to win intense semifinal rounds to reach the final.

Oster defeated Jeff Peltier of Bemidji 3 and 1 earlier Saturday morning to reach the final.

Carlson needed 19 holes in a sudden-death overtime semifinal round, besting Zach Israelson of Staples 1-up.

So during the final round that afternoon, it was understandable that both golfers had some trouble sinking their putts to put the match away.

“They sped up the greens and made them a lot quicker,” Carlson said. “The wind made

a lot of difference on those downhill putts, so it was hard to keep them below the hole.”

Oster agreed.

“I think we both had trouble reading putts today,” Oster said. “Their greens didn’t come back all the way so the grass was moving in a different directions. It’s hard to judge downhillers because they’re fast. They look like they move but they don’t.

“Its a mental game,” he continued. “You have to get yourself to hit them straight but you can’t.”

The two golfers were even for most of the way. Neither led by more than a hole.

Oster went 1-up on hole No. 2 but Carlson evened the score on No. 5. The two went back and forth until No. 11 when Oster pulled even.

The score stayed that way until No. 15, when Oster hit a ball into the reeds on his second shot while Carlson placed the ball close to the pin and

birdied the par-5 hole.

“That hurt me,” Oster said.

“I knew he was going to twoputt so I had to get up and down.”

“There were reeds right behind ball, so I couldn’t get good contact with it. I had to give it a whirl but it was going to be tough.”

Oster ended up bogeying the hole and giving Carlson the 1-up lead with three holes to play.

“I thought I played well on 16, 17 and 18,” Oster said. “I just didn’t make a putt. That was rough.”

On 16 and 17 both golfers shot par, which set up the dramatic finish.

Carlson, who won the Junior Championship in 2008, was glad to get it over with and finally taste victory in the Men’s Championship division.

“I haven’t really done that much (in the men’s division),” he said. “This is the first year I’ve played well.

“There was a lot of pressure on me this time around.

It’s the championship match so you put a lot of pressure on yourself. There’s a lot of people watching. So I was nervous. but I was able to keep myself calm enough to win.”

Carlson said he plans on returning next year to defend his title.

Oster will also likely return next year for the Birchmont.

But he’ll also be a mainstay at the Bemidji Town and Country Club -- he’ll be joining the Bemidji State golf team this fall.

“It was great to have all these BSU people around here,” he said. “They were all cheering me on in the finals, that was nice. It was a lot of fun.

“I love this course, too. It suits well for my game. I just have to figure out the greens a little more and I should be able to score real well.”

Saturday, August 10, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

5

Mid-Am Final Four

Spriggs has full momentum for semi’s

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

bwierima@dlnewspapers.com

There’s a full head of steam heading into the Pine to Palm Mid-Am semifinals and it’s coming in the form of Fargo’s Kent Spriggs.

After winning the medalist laurels with a five-under par 137, Spriggs has continued his onslaught in match play, the latest being a 6 and 4 win over Detroit Lakes Aaron Burnside in the quarterfinals Friday.

Spriggs included a chip-in shot on hole four and a 50-yard chip shot which found the bottom of the cup on hole 10 to add to his collection of five birdies on the day.

“Those types of shots are unexpected, but are kind of demoralizing to the opponent,” Spriggs said. “I was just steady again today.”

As has been the case all week, Spriggs’ driver has been his calling card to victory.

But Burnside was able to strike early in the match, winning hole one to

put Spriggs down for the first time all tournament.

But a par on three evened the match and his chip in on four put Spriggs up.

Birdies on five and seven extended the lead to 3-up, which were followed by birdies on 10 and 12.

Obviously, what isn’t broke, will not be fixed in Spriggs’ semifinal match against two-time Mid-Am champion Jay Olafson.

“I am not going to change anything,” Spriggs said. “I am going to hit my drive like I have been. I know Jay is going to be tough, so I just need to take it one shot at a time.”

Olafson earned his way into semifinal play after he beat Concordia College head men’s golf coach Duane Siverson 2 and 1.

In the upper bracket, defending champion A.J. Greff fell to Oxbow’s (N.D.) Perry Piatz 1-up in a close match.

Piatz will play Perham’s Bob Cavanagh, who defeated Joe McGinnis 5 and 4.

2013 MID-AM

BRIAN WIERIMA/SPOTLIGHT

Championship

Bob Cavanagh of Perham watches his drive on the par four 6th hole during Friday Mid-Am match play.

A.J. Greff

A.J. Greff, 2 & 1

Eric Lundmark

Perry piatz, 1 Up

Perry piatz kent fronk bob cavanagh

Perry piatz, 3 & 2

bob cavanagh, 4 & 3

mitch buboltz joe mcginnis PAUL UITHOVEN Kent Spriggs

bob cavanagh, 5 & 4

joe mcginnis 1 Up

2013 Champion

Kent Spriggs, 6 & 5

BRIAN W BENSON

Kent Spriggs, 6 & 4

kevin swenson aaron burnside

aaron burnside, 2 & 1

Jay olafson Dave collins duane siverson BRIAN WIERIMA/SPOTLIGHT

Jay Olafson watches his drive on the first hole during his Friday match against Duane Siverson.

jon anas

Jay olafson, WD

Jay olafson, 2 & 1 duane siverson, 3 & 2

“They call it golf because all the other four letter words were taken.” — Ray Floyd

6

Saturday, August 10, 2013

2013 Pine

Champion jon trasamar austin rusness

jon trasamar, 3 & 2

teddy cox michael melhus

teddy cox, 1-up 20 hOLES

hunter thorsen ryan vincelli

ryan vincelli, 1 uP

tyler lowenstein nathanial varty max rosenthal sarah storandt coy papachek matt rachey matt rubis lukas davidson taylor cavanagh nick olsgaard rick kuhn nick myhre alex kline marc redman michael greenberg jack holmgren nick schaefer tanner lane dominic kieffer kyle scanlon robbie foster marc vincelli zach kappes matthew berntson

tyler lowenstein, 3&1

tyler lowenstein, 4 & 2 max rosenthal, 8 & 6 max rosenthal, 3 & 1 coy papachek, 3 & 2 lukas davidson, 1-up 19 HOLES

taylor cavanagh, 2&1

taylor cavanagh, 1 uP rick kuhn, 1 UP rick kuhn, 2 & 1 marc redman, 1 UP jack holmgren, 4 & 3

jack holmgren, 1-up 19 Holes

nick schaefer, 3 & 2 dominic kieffer, 7 & 6

dominic kieffer, 1-up 19 Holes

marc vincelli, 1 UP zach kappes, 3 & 2 nathan anderson, 2 & 1 nathan anderson, 3 & 2

LOWER BRACKET

nathan anderson sam palmisano

jon trasamar, 4 & 3

FINAL • SUNDAY,

Saturday, August 10, 2013

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bill carlson, 3 & 2 pat deitz, 2 & 1 pat deitz, 5 & 3

jacob montplaisir pat deitz

greg melhus, 2 uP

greg melhus brock ellingson

trenton olson, 7 & 5

trenton olson alexander Mcelhaney

alex gaugert, 5 & 4

alex gaugert mason kennedy

todd hillier, 3 & 2

todd hillier michael kosiek

jon dutoit, 4 & 3

jon dutoit jake miller

larry montplaisir, 4 & 3

grady meyer larry montplaisir

robert f wagner, 1 UP

robert f wagner caleb ketterling

chris swenson, 5 & 4

chris swenson will holmgren

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thomas strandemo charlie braniff

bobby reuter, 1 UP

lucas gervais bobby reuter

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chad skarperud connor holland

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adam gronaas trevor swangler

jim lehman, 1 UP

jim lehman philip haug

greg melhus, 4 & 3

alex gaugert, 5 & 3

larry montplaisir, 4 & 3

robert f wagner, 2 & 1

bobby reuter, 1 UP

chad skarperud, 1-up 20 Holes

adam gronaas, 2 & 1

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Lake MeLissa Cottage North Shore near Detroit Country Club

714 Lake Avenue • Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 218.847.1028 • www.gundersonrealestateco.com

Saturday, August 10, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

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F ield of 32

Who’s surviving?

Jack Holmgren pumps his fist after sinking a long birdie putt on the par four 13th hole during Friday’s match play.

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Larry Montplaisir of Gilbert, Ariz., rolls a putt on the par three 8th green during Friday match play. ➤ Championship from page 2 Chris Swenson 2 and 1 and will face Bobby Reuter.

In other matchups, Trasamar will face Tyler Lowenstein; Rosenthal will play Perham’s Taylor Cavanagh; Kuhn goes up against Jack Holmgren; the U of M’s Alex Gaugert will play Larry Montplaisir and Skarperud will play Adam Gronaas.

There are two Championship rounds scheduled for Saturday, with the first tee times from 7:16 to 7:46 a.m. and the elite eight tee times at 2:09 and 2:19 p.m.

Taylor Cavanagh sinks an eagle putt on the par four 7th green during his Friday match against Lucas Davison.

Cavanagh won the match 2 and 1.

BRIAN BASHAM SPOTLIGHT

“I know I am getting better at golf because I’m hitting fewer spectators.” — Gerald Ford

Former Pine to Palm champion Chad Skarperud of Fargo, N.D., watches his drive to the par four 6th hole during Friday’s championship match play at the Detroit Country Club in Detroit Lakes, Skarperud beat Bryant Buckellew 1 up in 20 holes Friday.

Pine to Palm medalist Jon Trasamar of Blue Earth, chips up to the 5th green during his Friday championship match against Teddy Cox of Hawley, Trasamar won the match 4 and 3.

Saturday, August 10, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

9

Pine to Palm Seniors competitive balance shows

Harris looking for Senior title No. 2

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

bwierima@dlnewspapers.com

After shooting his best round at the Detroit Country Club during qualifying, with a four-under par 67, Eden Prairie’s Rob Harris is continuing his hot streak into Senior’s match play.

After topping Rick Crawford 7 and 6 Thursday, Harris advanced to the semifinals with a 3 and 2 win over Mark Doyle.

Harris is very familiar with his path through Senior’s play, after he completed the journey for Pine to Palm silver in 2011 with his first championship in the Detroit Country Club tournament.

“My putting has been good, so far, and I’ve been grabbing my driver and it’s been going straight,” Harris said. “It’s a good feeling seeing your ball in the fairway.”

The match didn’t see its first hole tied until the seventh one and by then Harris held a 2-up lead.

Doyle was able to cut the lead to nil, before Harris took back the lead 1-up heading

Brian Wierim/SPOTLIGHT

Rob Harris watches a drive during his Friday Senior match.

into the pivotal 12th hole.

Both golfers hit the drink off the 12th tee, but Harris was

able to salvage a par and go 2-up.

Doyle birdied 15, but

2013 SENIOR Championship Scott linnerooth

P ine to Palm F lights

Zerface takes the pitcher

Scott linnerooth, 4 & 3

Rick JOHHNSON

Harris broke the match wide open with a 40-foot birdie putt on 16, forcing his opponent to

sink a 12-footer, in which he didn’t.

Harris’ good fortune started in qualifying, when he shot a 31 on the front nine.

After nailing a 30-foot birdie putt on the ninth green to go four-under, Harris rode the wave of momentum all the way back to the Senior’s final four.

But the competitive level of the Seniors has even changed from his 2011 run, Harris said.

“It’s a very competitive field, it’s tough,” Harris said.

“But I’m still gaining experience in my game, even at the age of 59.”

Craig Stein will be Harris’ opponent, after he stunned Detroit Lakes’ Michael Seelye with a long putt on 18 to take the victory.

Stein won 1-up, while defending Senior’s champion Scott Linnerooth was upended by another former champion in Tim Rubis, who also won 1-up.

Rubis will meet Steve Herzog in the semifinals, after he beat three-time Pine to Palm champion Jim Strandemo 4 and 3.

tim rubis, 1 Up

jim brothers tim rubis steve herzog

tim rubis, 5 & 4 steve herzog, 4 & 2

ron burnside

steve herzog, 4&3

jim strandemo dan elton rob harris

jim strandemo, 4 & 3

2013 Champion

rob harris, 7 & 6

CRAWFORD

rob harris, 3 & 2

mark doyle george strand

mark doyle 3 & 2

Craig Stein TBD Michael Seelye Ron Vincelli

Craig Stein, 2 & 1 Craig Stein, 1 Up Michael Seelye, 2 & 1

Nate Zerface was the Pine to Palm Flight medalist after shot a one-over par 72.

Brian Wierima SPOTLIGHT

“If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.”

— Bob Hope

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Saturday, August 10, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

44th Annual Ironman Classic Ironman Golf Course • August 8 & 9, 2013 Start with the weather, PERFECT. Some of the golf, close to PERFECT. Golf Course condition, almost PERFECT. If you are between the ages of 7 and 14, the PERFECT way to spend the past two days was playing golf at Ironman Golf Course.

Every boy between the ages of 10 and 12 looks to be in the Championship flight come Friday morning. It is 18 holes of great golf and great competition. This year Scott Boehning held a five shot lead going into Friday morning with his qualifying medalist score of 31, but saw it dissolve after nine holes when Ian Simonich shot a smooth 31 on the first nine holes. Scott buckled down to play the best nine holes of the tournament, shooting 30 on his remaining nine holes. Scott ended up winning by 8 shots over second place Parker Bartels.

In the two flights of the Boys 8 to 9 division, three strokes separated 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Jack Randall, age 7, won the Championship flight with 85, while Joe Skinner won the First flight with 102.

In the Girls 8 to 12 division, first timer Tonya Berg held off Emily Larson to shoot 88 for the three shot victory.

In the 13-18 year old Open Division of match play, Willy Tickel upset defending champ Ben Unruh to claim the championship while Co McConn won the consolation bracket.

The quick nine hole matches created great shot making, up and ins, and clutch putting that made it a great two days for the participants.

The 44th Annual Ironman classic was no different from the past 43. Learning how to play competitive golf starts at a young age. We are so proud of all the kids who got their start at Ironman and have progressed throughout the ranks. Playing competitive golf is exciting! Playing golf for a lifetime is the best.

​Championship Flight Boys 10-12​ 1st Scott Boehning, Fargo, ND, 2nd Parker Bartells, Oxbow, ND, 3rd Ty Satter, Fargo, ND

Championship Flight Boys 8 & 9 1st Jack Randall, Lawrence, KS, 2nd Max McQuillan, Oxbow, ND, 3rd Nolan Witham, Roseville

First Flight Boys 10-12 - 1st Sam Henke, Oxbow, ND, 2nd Nicklaus Hess, Detroit Lakes, 3rd Luke Olson, Fargo, ND

2013 Ironman Classic THUR FRI

TOTAL GIRLS 8-12

1st 2nd 3rd

47 47 53 52 60 61 61

41 44 45 58 56 57 67

88 91 98 110 116 118 128

1st 2nd 3rd

74 73 70 80 81 86 85 90

63 67 76 75 79 80 83 90

137 140 146 155 160 166 168 180

1st 2nd 3rd

43 41 47 46 43 47 48

42 45 40 43 47 45 46

85 86 87 89 90 92 94

1st 2nd 3rd

49 54 55 53 49 61 60 59

53 49 49 53 59 56 59 70

102 103 104 106 108 117 119 129

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Berg Larson Mallow DeBoer Crothers Tibbs Quern GIRLS 8-12

Tonya Emily McKenna Falyn Riley Meghan Lilly

BOYS 8 & 9

Skinner Thomas Hanson Tobkin Mohr Lunde Olson Vincelli

Fargo Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Bismarck Cincinatti Fargo

ND MN MN MN ND OH ND

Shianne Abby Alexis Madison Annika Shaylee Gigi Della

9 9 9 9 11 9 11 8

Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes

MN MN MN MN MN MN MN MN

7 9 7 8 7 8 9

Lawrence Oxbow Roseville Moorhead Hawley Paynesville Detroit Lakes

KS ND MN MN MN MN MN

9 8 8 7 9 8 8 6

Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes Fargo Brandon

MN MN MN MN MN MN ND SD

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Randall McQuillan Witham Simonich Justesen Eckman Rogstad BOYS 8 & 9

10 12 9 10 10 10 9

FIRST FLIGHT

Motsenbacher Larson Gerdes Gerdes Hughes Hughes Ni Ni

Jack Max Nolan Joey Jack Nolan Carson

FIRST FLIGHT Joe Jacob Hunter Nicholas Nathan Aiden Logan Owen

Championship Flight Girls 8-12 1st Tonya Berg, Fargo ND, 2nd Emily Larson, Detroit Lakes, 3rd McKenna Mallow, Detroit Lakes

13-18 year old division L to R - Champion-Willy Tickel, Hawley, Runner-up- Ben Unruh, Detroit Lakes, Consolation Winner-Co McConn, Fargo

First Flight Boys 8 & 9 1st Joe Skinner, Detroit Lakes, 2nd Jacob Thomas, Detroit Lakes, 3rd Hunter Hanson, Detroit Lakes

First Flight Girls 8-12 1st Shianne Motsenbacher, Detroit Lakes, 2nd Abby Larson, Detroit Lakes, 3rd Alexis Gerdes, Detroit Lakes

Saturday, August 10, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

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Super Seniors’ field trimmed to four

Not everything needs to be pretty

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

bwierima@dlnewspapers.com

BRIAN WIERIMA/SPOTLIGHT

William hawkins watches his drive off of the first tee during the Pine to Palm Super Seniors quarterfinals match Friday.

With the play of golf resembling the overcast and chilly conditions, the Pine to Palm Super Seniors semifinals is set for Saturday at the Detroit Country Club.

“It wasn’t pretty,” said Super Senior quarterfinal winner Joe Sauer.

“This was ugly,” added one of the other semifinalists and Super Senior medalist Clint Nelson.

But good golf was still prevalent in all the matches, as Nelson will face fellow Fargo resident Chuck Sjostrom, while in the bottom bracket, Chuck Renner of Phoenix, Ariz., will play Sauk Rapids’ Sauer.

For Nelson, who had two very good rounds in qualifying with his medalist score of two-under par 69 and a 5 and 4 win in the first round, grinding through Friday’s windy and fall-like conditions still resulted in a 1-up win over Thomas Wood.

“It was typical Super Seniors’ play, where nothing was taken too drastic,” Nelson said. “It was a great time.”

Nelson shot out of the gates

by taking a 3-up advantage heading into hole seven, but Wood trimmed that margin to 1-up by the turn.

Nelson won holes 10 and 14, while Wood took hole 11, before Nelson went out of bounds on 15 to hold a 1-up advantage.

On the pivotal hole 16, Nelson skulled a shot through the green, but recovered with a huge 25-30 foot putt to drop it

didn’t have the makings of a pretty match, but he was able to scratch out a 2 and 1 win nonetheless.

Sauer took a 1-up lead at the turn, but Hawkins quickly tied it with a win on hole 10.

A 2-up lead was taken by Sauer with wins on five and six, with the two exchanging holes. The first tie between the two didn’t occur until the 10th hole of the match.

“It was just kind of an ugly match...”

- Joe Sauer on top of Wood’s birdie to hold a 1-up lead.

“That was big,” Nelson added.

The final two holes were halved as Nelson advanced to the final four.

“I had no rhythm today and I was lucky my putter was on,” Nelson said. “My first two days of playing here, I couldn’t miss.”

Sauer also said his match with longtime Pine to Palm veteran William Hawkins

“It was just kind of an ugly match, but we are both good friends and had a fun day,” Sauer said. “Now, I need to use some good decisions and have good motion on my clubs.

“I know Chuck (Renner) is a good, consistent golfer, so I will have to go one hole at a time.”

Sjostrom earned his semifinalist berth with a 4 and 3 win over William Blake, while Renner downed Detroit Lakes’ Tom Hanson 5 and 4.

2013 SUPER SENIOR Championship clint nelson

clint nelson, 5 & 4

John Gergen

clint nelson, 1 up

thomas wood richard mcconn william blake

thomas wood, 1 Up william blake, 3 & 2

gene hebl chuck sjostrom, 4 & 3

chuck sjostrom paul krueger chuck renner John Bartley

chuck sjostrom, 4 & 3

chuck renner, 6 & 5

2013 Champion chuck renner, 5 & 4

tom hanson steve sundby

tom hanson, 2 & 1

lance brown joe sauer james wolff william Hawkins

joe sauer, 2 & 1 joe sauer, 2 & 1 BRIAN WIERIMA/SPOTLIGHT

william Hawkins, 1 Up, 19 Holes

tom hanson sees his first drive hit the fairway during his Super Seniors’ quarterfinal match at the Detroit Country Club Friday.

“I have a tip that can take five strokes off anyone’s golf game: It’s called an eraser.” ­–­Arnold Palmer

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Saturday, August 10, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

An inside Pine to Palm view - Photos by Brian Wierima -

Alex Gaugert and Todd Hillier share a laugh while waiting to tee off on the 13th hole during their match Friday. Gaugert won the match 5 and 3. (Photo by Brian Basham).

Defending Mid-Am champion AJ Greff looks over his putt options on the fifth green.

Former Pine to Palm champion Greg Melhus watches his drive on the 11th hole during Friday’s match play. (Photo by Brian Basham.)

Defending Super Seniors champion Chuck Renner looks over a putt during Friday match play.