Pine to Palm Traditions

Pine toPalm AUGUST 8-14, 2011

TRADITION 1931-2011 • VOLUME 12

2010 Champion Todd Hillier

COMPLIMENTS OF DETROIT LAKES NEWSPAPERS

August 8-14, 2011

Pine To Palm CommiTTee Club PresidenT Bob Bekkerus General Chairman Bob Gorden assisTanT Chairman Jim Bruflodt TroPhies Bob & Diane Gorden TiminG, PairinG & sCorinG David Johnston, Karrin hawkins, Dave Woodward, and Becky DePree

PubliCiTY

Mark larson and Andy lia

reGisTraTion Diane Gorden

ball sPoTTers Steve Sundby

sCoreboard Jayne Thielen

lonG drive CoordinaTor Mark larson

Phone & inFormaTion

Mike & Taunia Suckert sCorers, marshalls and ranGers Members of DCC Women’s and Men’s Golf Associations, and Volunteers

head sTarTer Bruce Woodland

PlaYoFF umPire Jim Bruflodt

head ranGer Jeff Skogmo

rules

Jim Bruflodt, Greg Potvin, Mark holm, Bob Gorden, Mike Metelak and linda Moses

Club Pro Mark holm

Grounds suPerinTendenT Darwin lindsey

ruTledGe aWard Greg Potvin

25 Year dinner Greg Potvin

lakevieW TourneY CoordinaTor Bruce Woodland

Web siTe direCTor

Dave Johnson and Rob nielsen

The Pine to Palm Tradition

Welcome players, families and friends to the

7 9 Th AnnuAl

Pine to Palm “We feel this tournament is the BEST the Midwest has to offer, and we’re proud to be your host for the week.”

The 79th Pine to Palm Committee

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

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Hillier returns to defend his 2010 title Mid-Am, Seniors and Super-Seniors champs also return

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

All four champions will be returning to defend their 2010 Pine to Palm division crowns, starting Monday, Aug. 8, at the Detroit Country Club.

That includes Todd Hillier of Hoople, N.D., who became the 79th Pine to Palm champion last summer, after beating 2009 champ Tom Hoge in the title match.

Hillier’s run through match play was a bit unique, since he was the eldest of his opponents and became the oldest golfer to win the championship at the age of 51 years old.

George Lee was the oldest previously, after winning the tournament in 1968 at the age of 48 years.

It shouldn’t have been much of a surprise, though, since Hillier has been a longtime member at the Detroit Country Club and a usual qualifier, who has gone deep on regular occasion at the Pine to Palm.

But once again, this year’s field will have a young look to it, with a big field of college golfers, as well as a good shot of high school prodigies, who have been making a name for themselves the past couple of seasons.

Still, it isn’t always the young guns who come away with Pine to Palm silver, as Hillier proved last year.

“We have a good mix of young players, college players and some vets who are very good golfers,” said Pine to Palm committee chairman Bob Gorden. “Todd winning it last year shows that anyone can win the tournament.”

The Pine to Palm also unveiled its fourth division, resulting in another success, as the Super Senior Division had a solid turnout.

“We experimented with the Super Seniors last year and it worked out well,” Gorden said.

The match-play bracket will be expanded from eight to 16 players

Defending Pine to Palm Champion Todd Hillier rolls a putt during last year’s championship round. this year, with that being the only significant change to the division.

The first Super Senior champion was Paul Krueger of Detroit Lakes, who defeated Chuck Renner of Arizona in the title match. Krueger is set to return to defend his title, as well.

The Mid-Amateur Division picked up more steam in its second year of existence, as Fargo’s Chad Niles downed 2009 champion Jay Olafson for first place.

Gorden knew after the first year of the Mid-Am, that the division would be a popular one eventually.

“Some golfers stayed away from it the first year and just wanted to see how things went and the second year, there were more entries for it,” Gorden said. “We picked up a few more in the Mid-Am, so it was a

good move to add it.”

The tradition of competitive play continued in the Senior’s Division, as well, with Fargo’s Tim Rubis taking top honors. Rubis was a longtime competitive Championship flighter and made the successful move to the Seniors in 2010.

Gorden said the entry numbers are steady and is comparable to last year’s number, which was 441.

In the past decade, the tournament has been won by a college player. Since 2000, six champions were at the time playing Division I golf.

With Hillier obviously breaking that trend, don’t be shocked if the pendulum swings back the other way a bit more, as a couple of high school golfers have made some noise during match play.

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August 8-14, 2011

Tim Rubis of Fargo made good in his first Senior division play, winning the division in 2010.

Of the final 16 golfers in last year’s tournament, four were in high school.

Detroit Lakes recent graduate Tanner Lane, fresh off of helping his DLHS Lakers team win the Class 2A state championship, is back for another shot after he played to the elite eight, before losing to Hillier 4-up.

Frazee’s Beau Hanson, who will be a senior this upcoming school year, also has played well in match play and looks to be a tough out this tournament, as well.

“Most of our players from the state championship team will be playing in the tournament,” Gorden said. “I also have some of the top players who played in our two-day (Northwest Classic) tournament coming in to play.

“The state of Minnesota is getting a lot of top players and there are some local kids who have played well in the Pine to Palm.”

The Pine to Palm committee will also be using the official USGA computer program, which will set

the pairings for match play in each division.

That means now there is a chance to be playing with future opponents in their foursome sometime through bracket play.

“That should help us speed things up a lot,” Gorden added. “So now, you could be playing with a future opponent.”

One face who will be missing in this year’s tournament is 2009 champion Tom Hoge, who turned pro this past year.

The usual outcome has happened for Hoge, as well, on the pro circuit, as he won his second-ever event after taking top honors in the Canadian Tour Players Cup on Sunday, July 17, at Pine Ridge Golf Course.

The win earns him his tour card and a two-year exemption.

“Tom was one of many good golfers who have played in the Pine to Palm and have turned pro,” Gorden said. “Another golfer who has played a lot in the Pine to Palm is Cameron White, who also turned

pro.”

But, as usual, the field will be top heavy with college golfers, as seven University of Minnesota Gophers and three future recruits are signed up to play, as well as a load of other top players.

The veterans will also have a say in who advances, with more than several past champions playing, which include Hillier, Greg Melhus (2003), Rick Kuhn (2005 and 1991) and Russ Newman (1992 and 1994), among others.

The tournament will also be played on a pristine course at the DCC. “It’s never been better,” said DCC golf pro Mark Holm.

The tournament kicks off Monday, Aug. 8, with qualifying running through Wednesday.

Match play for all four divisions, as well as name flights and numbered flights, will proceed Thursday through Saturday.

All championship matches will be played Sunday, Aug. 14, at the DCC.

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The Pine to Palm Tradition

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Pine to Palm Tournament Chairmen

Herb Anderson — 1931-1941

John Pearson — 1944-1955

Howard Myhre — 1956-1962

Wally Kershner — 1963-1967

Paul Bruflodt — 1968-1973

Leo Eilertson — 1974-1979

Chuck Merry — 1980-1993

Gordy Grabow — 1993 - 2003

Bob Gorden — 2003-current

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Todd Hillier and caddie Brady Eilertson with the Pine to Palm trophy following Hillier’s 2010 championship victory.

Hillier becomes the 79th P-P champ

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

The Pine to Palm Golf Tournament has been a very fortunate week for Todd Hillier.

Eight years ago, the 51-yearold Hillier, who is a potato farmer Hoople, N.D., met his eventual wife Jeannie at the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament.

Sunday, Hillier added another memorable moment during his Pine to Palm experience, by becoming the oldest player to ever win the 78-year-old tournament after posting the upset over defending champion Tom Hoge.

George Lee was previously the oldest golfer to win the tournament at the age of 48 in 1968.

“It’s overwhelming,” Hillier said of winning the Pine to Palm championship. “Tom is a spectacular golfer and it’s special beating someone of that caliber.”

Hillier stayed true to what got him to the championship match, by

not making mistakes, hitting fairways and sinking his putts.

With the winds whipping up a fury at the Detroit Country Club, Hillier was able to play fairway golf, while Hoge struggled keeping his ball in play.

A birdie on hole 15 was the final dagger in Hoge’s chances, as Hillier went 3-up. He finished with a par putt on 17 to halve the hole, after Hoge won 16 with a par.

“Like I’ve been saying all week, my plan was to try and keep it in the fairways and make my putts,” Hillier said. “On 15, I had a great drive and had a good shot with my eight iron. I really needed that one because you need a 3-up lead against a golfer like Tom.” Hillier started building his lead on hole six, where Hoge went out of bounds with an errant drive, which landed in the No. 7 tee box.

Although Hillier’s drive was short and he ended up in the leftside bunker short of the green on his second shot, Hoge struggled

Todd Hillier raises his arm in victory.

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

making it up to the green and lost with a double bogey.

“I probably had a tough time gauging the wind and had a couple of bad shots,” Hoge said. “But Todd putted well on the back nine and he’s a great player.

“He definitely deserved to win today.”

Hoge had more than several shots from behind the green, but was able to save par on the majority of them with solid chips, to put him close to the hole.

Hillier also missed on several opportunities on missed birdie putts on the front nine to put separation between him and Hoge, but was still able to take a 2-up lead on hole nine with a five-foot birdie putt.

But Hillier’s putter was strong on the back nine, after Hoge’s approach shot on 11 rolled over the green and the Hoople golfer’s was on the green in regulation.

He sunk a six-foot par putt, while Hoge finished with bogey.

The defending champion and two-time State Am champ sliced the deficit to 2-up after he drove his ball to pin high, just off the green on hole 13, before Hillier basically sealed his championship on 15 with birdie.

“My putter was steady and I didn’t find a lot of trouble,” Hillier said.

Hillier also was only the third Detroit County Club member to win the Pine to Palm.

Hoge was basically steamrolling through bracket play, after he shot a nine-under par 65-66 — 133 during his practice rounds in qualifying (he received the automatic No. 1 seed in match play).

He downed Philip Haug 6 and 5 in the opening round, then ended Troy Klongerbo’s run in round two 3 and 2.

Thomas Strandemo lost to Hoge 5 and 3, before Ben Welle gave the TCU golfer a good match, before losing 1-up.

Hoge made the finals over the University of New Mexico’s Travis Ross — who will join Hoge at the U.S. Amateur, which is coming up.

Hillier was steady, starting with a qualifying score of two-over par 144.

His path included wins over Tanner Jones (7 and 6), John Young (4 and 3), Logan Palmer (1-up, 20

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Tom Hoge watches an approach shot during last year’s championship round against Todd Hillier. holes), Detroit Lakes’ Tanner Lane (4-up) and downed co-medalist Wade Walters in the semifinals.

With a field full of college and high school golfers, Hillier proved

age doesn’t discriminate in the game of golf.

What Hillier proved is good things come to good golfers during the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament.

— Pine to Palm notes — n Mother Nature made her presence felt throughout the week of Pine to Palm.

Thursday, Senior and Mid-Am first round matches were cut short due to two rain delays.

Then Saturday, another rain delay was had after another deluge of rain pelted golfers.

In Sunday’s championship matches, the wind was a factor, as well. n DL’s 18-year-old Tanner Lane made some headlines after he upset former Pine to Palm champion Ben Freeman in the second round 1-up.

Lane, who will be starting up with the USHL’s Fargo Force soon, was also celebrating his birthday that day. He eventually fell to Hillier 4-up in the round of the final eight. n It looks as if both Freeman — who was co-medalist with Walters with a six-under par 136 — and Hoge will not be back in next year’s Pine to Palm, after both will graduate from college and turn pro.

Freeman plays for the Drake University men’s golf team and Hoge the Texas Christian University squad. n The 2011 and 79th Pine to Palm Tournament will be held Aug. 8-14.

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Pine to Palm STATISTICs

Title Results 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

17 YEARS OLD Don Carman.................. 1936 Chris Perry..................... 1979 18 YEARS OLD Pat Sawyer.................... 1931 Dave Hanten.................. 1964 19 YEARS OLD Pat Sawyer.................... 1932 Jack Rule....................... 1958 Greg Rose..................... 1966 Jim Ihnot....................... 1970 Bill Israelson.................. 1976 James McLean............... 1998 Andy Doeden................. 1999 David Schultz................. 2002 20 YEARS OLD Jack Rule....................... 1959 Dick Blooston................ 1963 Bill Homeyer.................. 1969 John Harris.................... 1972 Bill Israelson.................. 1977 Cory Blenkush................ 2007 Tom Hoge...................... 2009 21 YEARS OLD Maurice Cain................. 1938 Neil Croonquist.............. 1939 Ted Vickerman............... 1952 Jack Rule....................... 1960

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.

WINNERS’ AGES Mark Knutson................ 1978 Mark Halverson.............. 1995 Bill Thompson................ 1997 Andy Doeden................. 2001 Ben Freeman................. 2008

22 YEARS OLD Ed Ebel.......................... 1941 John Olsen.................... 1951 Pat Herzog..................... 1984 Jim Sorenson................. 1985 Rick Kuhn...................... 1991 Laine Brantner............... 1996 23 YEARS OLD Tommy Sullivan.............. 1950 Bob Goetz...................... 1956 Bill Israelson.................. 1980 Mark Norman................. 1981 Jon Christian.................. 1988 24 YEARS OLD Gerald Pepper................ 1949 Len Fiocca..................... 1967 Kane Hanson................. 2006 25 YEARS OLD Michael Larson.............. 1986 26 YEARS OLD Bill Von Wald................. 1973

27 YEARS OLD Jim Nordine................... 1946 John Lieser.................... 1971 Bill Von Wald................. 1974 Greg Melhus.................. 2003 Chris Braaten................. 2004

28 YEARS OLD Jim Moeller.................... 1955 Bill Von Wald................. 1975 Mike Podolak................. 1982 Jim Strandemo............... 1983 Chad Skarperud............. 2000 29 YEARS OLD Gary Johnson................. 1990 30 YEARS OLD Dr. William Kostelecky.... 1944 Jack Webb..................... 1954 31 YEARS OLD Jerry Burns.................... 1947 32 YEARS OLD Virgil Roby..................... 1933 Jerry Burns.................... 1948 Jim Strandemo............... 1987 33 YEARS OLD Dayton Olson................. 1961 34 YEARS OLD Gus Novotny.................. 1934 Virgil Roby..................... 1935 Jim Strandemo............... 1989

35 YEARS OLD Rick Kuhn...................... 2005 36 YEARS OLD Russ Newman................ 1992 38 YEARS OLD Bob Gammon................. 1937 Jack Penrose................. 1953 Russ Newman................ 1994 39 YEARS OLD Mike Podolak................. 1993 41 YEARS OLD Bob Gammon................. 1940 Bob Finseth................... 1962 43 YEARS OLD Ken Pinns...................... 1965 44 YEARS OLD Virgil Roby..................... 1945 47 YEARS OLD Parley Hyde.................... 1957 48 YEARS OLD George Lee.................... 1968 51 YEARS OLD Todd Hillier.................... 2010

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Fast start keys Rubis’ Seniors gold

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

It was a start champions are made up of.

Longtime Pine to Palm competitor Fargo’s Tim Rubis roared out of the gates in his Seniors championship match against Clint Nelson by winning the first three holes to set the tone in his 5 and 4 victory Sunday at the Detroit Country Club.

Rubis made birdie, par and par on his first three holes under some heavy winds, as Nelson struggled to start the match.

“It’s pretty easy to make bogey in a wind like this,” Rubis said. “It was a great advantage taking a lead like that, because your opponent starts pressing and they start making some mistakes.”

The lead was expanded to 6-up after Rubis won holes five through seven and from there, he was able to play conservative and ride the lead out.

“When you get that big of a lead, it becomes a waiting game and your opponent runs out of holes,” Rubis said. “Then you just need to shoot for par.”

Rubis also can thank his son Jon, who was caddying for him during the title match.

Patience isn’t strength of Tim’s, so his son was able to tether him in on some holes.

“Jon took some clubs away from me when I was thinking of going for the pin,” Tim Rubis said. “You need to stay in front of the green, because if you go behind it, that’s when bogeys start to happen.

“You need to keep your emotions out of the game and I’m impatient by nature.”

With a 6-up advantage at the turn, Nelson kept plugging away, winning holes 11 and 12 to cut the deficit to 4-up.

“I saw Clint perk up a little after winning those two holes,” Rubis said. “But on 13, he hit it over the green and I was going to go for it with a nine iron, but (Jon) gave me the pitching wedge and I ended up making par to take a 5-up lead.”

That was more than enough to quell any Nelson comeback, as Rubis collected his first Pine to Palm championship.

Tim Rubis defeated Clint Nelson 5 and 4 to take the 2010 Pine to Palm Senior Championship.

Each of Rubis’ sons, Jon and Matt, play in the Championship play, while Tim was a longtime Championship flighter, but has competed in the Seniors the last few years.

He realizes how hard it is to land a Pine to Palm title, as well, throughout those years.

“It’s very gratifying because the competition in Seniors is very good,” Rubis said. “When I shot a 77 in my qualifying round, I thought I didn’t have a chance to make the cut. After I did make, I felt I was more than capable of shooting better.”

Rubis made up for his qualifying score by downing John Schwankl in the first round 5 and 4, then continued his run with another 5 and 4 win over Mike Stirling in the quarterfinals.

The semifinals were much more difficult against Larry Olin and it took a 20-foot birdie putt on hole 18 to advance to the finals.

“That was one of my most ex-

citing matches,” Rubis said of his semifinal tilt against Olin. “And Clint (Nelson) is one of the best Senior players in North Dakota and an excellent player. So it was a good win.”

The Seniors were also affected by rain delays, especially in the first round Thursday.

With two rain delays already called, the Senior’s first round matches were ended prematurely, with about three to four holes remaining.

First-time Pine to Palmer John Stromstad of Bismarck, N.D., did make his mark, as well, after he broke the qualifying record when he carded a six-under par 65, thus eclipsing Robert Wernick’s 68 he shot in 1999.

Each of Stromstad and defending champion T.L. Solien lost in the rain-shortened first round.

Ron Burnside of DL downed Solien 1-up and Burke Kiger beat Stromstad 1-up.

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Pine to Palm Senior Champions 1967— Royce Herndon, Omaha, Nebr., over Ed Printz, Omaha, Nebr.

1968— Ed Printz, Omaha, Nebr., over Royce Herndon, Omaha, Nebr.

1969—Ed Printz, Omaha, Nebr., over E.E. Kaiser, Fargo 1970—Ed Printz, Omaha, Nebr., over Bill Goodman, Minneapolis 1971—W.E. Osborn, Edina, over Ed Printz, Omaha, Nebr.

1972— Al Erickson, Minneapolis, over Charles Blankenship, Omaha, Nebr.

1973—Ed Printz, Omaha, Nebr., over Bob Brothen, Bemidji 1974—Leo Flaming, West Fargo, over Ed Printz, Omaha, Nebr.

1975—Don Sarenpa, Minneapolis, over E.E. Kaiser, Fargo 1976—Don Sarenpa, Minneapolis, over Dave Mollison, Fargo 1977—Gene O’Brien, Faribault, over Don Brown, Fargo 1978— Harold Erickson, Norridge, Ill., over Gene O’Brien, Faribault 1979—Harold Erickson, Norridge, Ill., over Joe Rak, Minneapolis 1980—Al Jensen, Bagley, over Ken Fladager, So. St. Paul 1981—Richard M. Brown, Wayzata, over Gene O’Brien, Faribault 1982— Phil Hesli, St. Paul, over James McDonald, Fallbrook, Calif., 3 and 2 1983— Ron Wagner, Detroit Lakes, over Gene O’Brien, Faribault, 2-up 1984— Gene O’Brien, Faribault, over Don Anderson, Fergus Falls, 4 and 2 1985— Al Jensen, Bagley, over Mark Erickson Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1-up 1986— Ron Wagner, Detroit Lakes, over L.A. (Alan) Wagner, Seattle, Wash., 3 and 2 1987— Bill Swanston, Fargo, over Don Anderson, Fergus Falls, 3 and 2 1988— Rodney Adolph, Red Wing, over Gene O’Brien, Faribault, 2 and 1 1989— Rodney Adolph, Red Wing, over Ray Bode, Underwood, 1-up in 20 holes

1990—Gene O’Brien, Faribault, over Doug Larsen, Fargo, 2-up 1991—Bill Swanston, Fargo, over Lloyd Freden, Edina, 3 and 2 1992—Bill Swanston, Fargo, over Jim Linnerooth, Fargo, 4 and 3 1993— George Oftelie, Chaska, over Gregg Ericksen, Wayzata, 6 and 4 1994—Joe Mayer, Fargo, over Trueman Tryhus, Fargo, 3 and 2 1995—Joe Mayer, Fargo, over Jim Gailfus, Rolla, N.D., 2 and 1 1996— Robert Wernick, Rancho Mirage, Calif., over Larry Stewart, Phoenix, AZ, 7 and 5 1997— Robert Wernick, Rancho Mirage, Calif., over Joe Mayer, Fargo, 4 and 3 1998— Gerry Douglas, Bemidji, over John Roudebush, Wayzata, 2 & 1 1999— Gerry Douglas, Bemidji, over William Blake, Detroit Lakes, 1-up 2000— Robert Wernick, Rancho Mirage, Calif., over Gerry Douglas, Hernando, Fla., 1-up 2001— Robert Wernick, Rancho Mirage, Calif., over Pat Vincelli, Burnsville, 4 and 3 2002—Pat Vincelli, Burnsville, over James Wolff, Crete, Ill. 7 and 6 2003— Scott Hiller, Marshall, over James “Lank” Larson, Fargo, 4 and 3 2004 — Lank Larson, Fargo, over Doug Gillam, Eden Prairie 4 and 3 2005 — Dr. Rick Render, Bloomington, over Ted Hatlen, Detroit Lakes 4 and 3 2006 — Pat Vincelli, Boca Raton, Fla., over Bob Theriault, Eden Prairie, 2 and 1 2007 — Jim Bergeson, Barnesville, over T.L. Solien, Madison, Wisc., 3 and 2 2008 — J oe Sauer, Sauk Rapids, over Pat Vincelli, Stuart, Florida, 1 up, 19 holes 2009 — T.L. Solien, Madison, Wisc., over Bill Blake, Detroit Lakes, 2 & 1 2010 — Tim Rubis, Fargo, over Clint Nelson, Fargo 5 and 4.

2010 Pine to Palm Mid-Am Flight Medalist: Duane Siverson, Fargo, ND (71-69-140) Champion: Chad Niles, Moorhead, MN Runner-up: Jay Olafson, Fargo, ND

Consolation Champ: Kent Fronk, Fargo, ND Consolation runner-up: George Strand, Moorhead, MN

2010 Pine to Palm Senior Awards Presentation Senior Senior Senior Senior Senior

Medalist: John Stromstad, Bismarck, ND Champion: Tim Rubis, Fargo, ND Champion Runner up: Clint Nelson, Fargo, ND Consolation Champion: John Stromstad, Bismarck, ND Consolation runner up: Dan Elton

2010 named FLIGHTS AWARDS PRESENTATION

CHAMPION Lida Bruce Carlisle Maud Mark Ericksen Jr. Lizzie Ronald Vincelli Eunice Steve Bates Pelican Leroy Seim

RUNNER-UP Willliam Blake John Runsvold Bob Theriault Pat Christensen Randy Burnside

CONSolation CHAMP Bob Jamison Russell Jahnke Jim Hinson John Bartley Rick Kallhoff

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

Welcome Pine To Palm f Fans!

A pArt okes...

A tL

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The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Hillier finds plenty of Pine to Palm fortunes Defending champ met wife at P-P Tournament

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

Since 1999, the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament has been a consistent part of Todd Hillier’s life and it’s been a very successful endeavor for the potato farmer from Hoople, N.D. The annual golf tournament has produced some very prosperous fortunes for Hillier, who has only missed the cut in the tournament twice in the last 12 years.

He broke through last year, busting the competitive field of 64 by landing the 2010 Pine to Palm Championship to become the oldest champ in the tourney’s history at the age of 51.

“It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year,” Hillier said. “To see my name on the (Champions) board on the clubhouse, along with the other great champions, it’s a pretty neat club to be a part of.”

But Hillier’s success on the Detroit Country Club’s links hasn’t been the only good fortune he has experienced during the week of the Pine to Palm.

In 2002, he met his eventual wife, Jeannie, during the tournament, which incidentally was her introduction to one of the area’s best amateur golf tourneys.

“We met at the Hotel Shoreham and that was my introduction to Todd and the Pine to Palm Tournament,” Jeannie Hillier said. “Now I’m committed to both.”

The couple were married and eventually bought a cabin on Lake Melissa, near the Pine to Palm Golf Course, where Jeannie spends most of the summers.

“I just love the atmosphere during the tournament,” she added. “It is run so well. I don’t even golf, but I enjoy the tournament a lot.”

Last year, Jeannie had the opportunity to watch history firsthand, as Hillier played his way through the bracket, on his way to the championship round, where he

Defending Pine to Palm Champion Todd Hillier has only missed the championship cut twice in the last 12 years. defeated defending champion Tom Hoge 2 and 1.

Hoge has moved on to play professional, where he has already won a Canadian Tour event his second time out.

But it was Hillier’s putter which was his most dangerous club and it helped pave the way to eventual

Pine to Palm gold.

“I was putting extremely well that week,” Hillier added. “In my quarterfinal match against (Detroit Lakes’) Tanner Lane, I had seven one putts.

“I just shook my head at him and he looked at me shaking his head.”

Hillier also survived a 20-hole

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

match against Logan Palmer in the third round, which keyed his momentum push through the rest of the tourney.

“I knew if I could get through that match, I could get through the rest of them,” Hillier said. “That really got the ball rolling.”

Hoge played well in the title match, but three mistakes eventually cost him, as Hillier stayed out of trouble and kept dropping his putts.

Hillier will take advantage of not having have to qualify for match play, with each division champion getting an exemption through the qualifying rounds.

“It will be different not having to have to play Tuesday and Wednesday for qualifying, but there are positives and negatives to that, too,” the 2010 champion said. “First, you don’t want to get lackadaisical heading into (match play), but you don’t have to go through the grind of qualifying.

“I won’t be complacent.”

Hillier isn’t a stranger to playing deep into match play, after golfing to the semifinals in 2006, before losing to eventual champion Kane Hanson, as well as more than several trips to the final 16 and the quarterfinals.

But last year, Hillier was sensing that this could be a special tournament.

“He was in a different mindset last year,” Jeannie said. “He didn’t talk too much, which I just let him be and play.”

As far as this year’s tournament, Hillier sees it being just as competitive as any other year.

“There will be 63 other golfers who are pretty talented,” he included. “The seed doesn’t mean a thing, either. I was No. 24 last year. But I’m just looking forward to another great week of golf. This is a special place for us and as long as I feel I can compete, I will keep playing (in the Championship Flight).”

The 80th Pine to Palm Golf Tournament will get underway Monday, with all divisions — including Championship, Mid-Am, Seniors and Super-Seniors — all qualifying through Wednesday.

Match play begins Thursday morning and will run through Sunday, when all the championship matches will take place.

11

The Pine to Palm Gallery watches Todd Hillier hit a shot during last year’s Pine to Palm championship round.

What happened in 2010?

The Champions

Todd Hillier of Hoople, ND defeated Tom Hoge of Fargo, ND 2 & 1. Hillier’s victory over the defending Pine to Palm Champion also was very sweet as he became the oldest champion in Pine to Palm history to win at age 51. George Lee of Humboldt, Iowa was the previous eldest gentleman to win in 1968 at the age of 48.

Tim Rubis of Fargo won the Senior Championship with a 5 & 4 victory over Clint Nelson also of Fargo.

In the second year of the Mid Amateur (ages 40-55), Chad Niles of Fargo edged defending champ Jay Olafson of Fargo 2 & 1.

In the first ever Super Seniors (ages 65 & over) Championship, Paul Krueger of Detroit Lakes won the title with a 2 & 1 win over Chuck Renner of Phoenix, AZ.

The Final Four

Tom Hoge defeated Travis Ross of Crookston, MN 2 & 1. Todd Hillier overcame Co-Medalist Wade Walters of St. Paul 4 & 3.

The Medalist

Wade Walters (66-70) and 2008 Champion, Ben Freeman of Fargo (71-65) shared medalist honors as both recorded six under par 136.

Senior medalist was John Stromstad of Bismarck, ND playing in his first Pine to Palm fired a six under par 65 to set the record held by Bob Wernick of Rancho Mirage, CA who had a 68 to be

medalist in 1999. Mid-Amateur medalist was Duane Siverson of Moorhead, MN had rounds of (7169-140) to finish two under par. In the Super Seniors first tournament, Chuck Renner of Phoenix, AZ shot a two over par 73. Flight medalist was Cory Krueger of Coon Rapids, MN who carded an even par 71.

Meet the Champ

Todd Hillier, a 51 year old potato farmer from Hoople, ND playing in his 12th straight Pine to Palm won the 78th championship. Hillier qualified for the final 64 with a 71-73-144 (2 over par). His road to the finals came with wins over Tanner Jones, John Young, Logan Palmer, Tanner Lane, Wade Walters and Tom Hoge in the Championship 2 & 1.

Tournament Highlights

n There were 441 golfers who entered the 2010 tourney up 12 players from 2009 n Heavy rain, wind and lightning hit Detroit Country Club was the story of the week. Play was suspended four times during the tourney with the worst weather on Thursday and Saturday. The finals were played under cool and windy conditions n The 2010 tournament featured two holes in one. Perry Piatz aced #14 on Monday qualifying and Michael Bologna card his ace on #8 in the semi-final match of the flights on Saturday

12

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Chad Niles of Fargo defeated Jay Olafson to win the second Pine to Palm Mid-Am Championship in 2010.

Niles claims Mid-Am championship

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

A repeat run was not in the cards for defending Pine to Palm champion Jay Olafson, as Fargo’s Chad Niles clinched the second Pine to Palm Mid-Am championship Sunday at the Detroit Country Club.

The pendulum of victory swung Niles’ way with a victory on hole 14 with a par to expand to a 2-up advantage on Olafson.

It was too deep of a hole for the defending champion, as the duo halved the final three holes to give Niles the championship.

Niles, who was competing in his first Pine to Palm, was more than impressed with the Mid-Am field, which attracted 34 golfers vying for the championship during the week-long tournament.

“It’s a very competitive field and just a great group of guys,” Niles said. “Physically and mentally, it’s

a tough week. But my goal the entire week was to get my name up on the board, be it either as a medalist or winning it all.

“After I didn’t win medalist (honors), my goal was to make it to the finals.”

The only time Niles trailed in the championship match came on hole two, when he bogeyed and Olafson made par.

On holes three and four, though, Nile started building some momentum by making a 15-foot par to halve the hole and proceeded to his a 40-foot birdie putt for the win and even the match up.

“That’s when things started going for me,” Niles said.

Niles took his first lead on hole nine with a par and went 2-up after Olafson three-putted on 10.

The hole streak went to three with a birdie putt on 11, but Olafson struck back with wins on holes 12 and 13 to cut Niles’ margin to 1-up,

before the decisive hole 14 win.

“Jay played well, he only bogeyed on holes nine and 10,” Niles said.

Niles decided to play in the Pine to Palm after his 25-year-old son, James, was signed up to play in the Championship Flight.

James qualified for match play, before losing in the first round to Caleb Ketterling.

“The Mid-Am Division is certainly a hit here,” Niles added.

Niles started his championship journey with a 2-up win over last year’s Mid-Am runner-up Kent Fronk.

He defeated the No. 2 seed and medalist Duane Siverson in the quarterfinals and cooled off a hotcharging Mike Seelye of Detroit Lakes in the semifinals 4 and 3.

The Fargo golfer will now earn a free spot in this year’s Pine to Palm, along with an automatic bid into match play.

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

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The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

PHOTO BY mark larson

The Rutledge Award was presented to Jim Sinclair Thursday evening. Celebrating the award were Jim’s wife Sharon, Jim Sinclair, Gerri Rutledge and Rutledge Award Committee chairman Greg Potvin.

Sinclair a valuable contributor for 30 years at P-P

BY MARK LARSON Spotlight

For three decades, Jim Sinclair has been a mainstay at the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament.

During that time, Sinclair has experienced almost every aspect of the long-standing tournament, from playing to answering telephones to making important decisions on the rules committee.

Sinclair’s influence and contributions to the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament didn’t go unnoticed, since he was named the 27th Rutledge Award recipient Thursday,

during the Dr. John B. Rutledge Memorial Award banquet.

“It was a thrill to receive the Rutledge Award, I got tears in my eyes when it was announced,” Sinclair said of his honor.

Sinclair retired at the end of last year’s tournament, ending a great 30-year run in the Pine to Palm.

“Jim is a library of knowledge of rules and just knowledge of the entire tournament,” said Pine to Palm Committee chairman Bob Gorden.

Sinclair’s introduction to the tournament came as a player in 1976.

“I took two weeks off before the

tournament to prepare for it and I developed a shank,” Sinclair said.

His run ended at the qualifying cut, but his good friend, Ron Smet, offered a Ranger job to him.

That’s when Sinclair’s real contribution started in the tournament.

For 15 years, Sinclair and his wife, Sharon, answered telephones during the week of the Pine to Palm.

“The phone was more critical back then for information because there were no computers,” Sinclair said.

His time as a Ranger was from

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

1976-79, while being elevated to Chief Ranger from 1980-1997.

“I really enjoyed being the Chief Ranger, because I was able to see more of the golfers and their shots,” Sinclair added.

Sinclair, who earned his law degree from William and Mitchell Law College in Minneapolis, joined the Rules Committee.

He also selected all the trophies players won, from 1980-2009.

Sinclair took his job on the Rules Committee seriously, quickly becoming an encyclopedia of golf rul-

ing knowledge.

“I did a lot of studying and took many MGA Rules classes with Greg Potvin,” Sinclair added.

His most unique decision came in 2001, when defending champion Chad Skarperud’s shot was imbedded in the tee-marker, which happened to be a flowerpot on the sixth tee box.

The ruling given by Sinclair was a drop.

The next day, the flowerpots were gone.

“We never, as a Rules Committee, made an decision without

15

much thought and planning,” Sinclair said.

Potvin — who is the head of the Rutledge Award Committee — and Sinclair have been best of friends throughout their time as Pine to Palm Committee members, and it was an easy decision of the committee’s to pick Sinclair as the Rutledge Award winner.

“Jim was a very valuable member to the committee,” Potvin said.

“He knows all the aspects of the game and was very dedicated to the tournament.”

Dr. John B. Rutledge Memorial Award Recipients 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990

— Howard Myhre — Tuffy Nelson — Jim Adelson — Frank Winsor — Ralph Anderson — Gene O’Brien — Bill Swanston

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

— — — — — — —

Bill Reid Bob Dahm Nancy Rutledge Mary Lou Norby Baldy Waldahl Jim Linnerooth Leo Eilertson

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

— Andy Lia — Mark Ericksen — Jack & Blanche Waryan — Jerry Hall — Jim Strandemo — Willard “Red” Jacobson — Pat Vincelli

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

— Chuck and Karen Merry — Bob Fiechtner.

— Tom Hanson — Steve Sundby — Dick McConn — Jim Sinclair.

Golfers who have played for 25 years Paul Krueger, Jeff Tweeton and Rob Harris.

16

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

2010 CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT AWARDS Co-Medalist: Wade Walters 66-60 (136) Co-Medalist: Ben Freeman 71-65 (136) Champion: Todd Hillier, Hoople, N.D. Runner-Up: Tom Hoge, Fargo, N.D. Consolation Champion: Andrew Steinhofer Consolation Runner-Up: Mike Holm Championship Semi-Finalist Upper: Travis Ross, Tom Hoge Championship Quarter-Finalist Upper: Ben Welle, Thomas Strandemo Championship Semi-Finalist Lower: Wade Walters, Todd Hillier Championship Quarter-Finalist Lower: Kenny Rucker, Tanner Lane

2010 CHAMPIONSHIP named FLIGHTS Pine Champion: Kent Spriggs

Sallie Champion: Matt Parker

Pine Runner-Up: Brandon Hallquist

Sallie Runner-Up: Charlie Ryan

Palm Champion: Mark Giorgi

Melissa 1 Champion: Ben Braaten

Palm Runner-Up: Michael May

Melissa 1 Runner-Up: Ward Prine

2010 FLIGHT AWARDS FLIGHT 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th

CHAMPION Cory Krueger Dakota Clark Chuck Kroshus Tony Ness Dan Lysaker Marty McDonald Chad Kosin Steve Germundson Jon Stirling Daniel Freeman Addison Kranz David Thune Alex Erickson Ted Cihak Steve Huber Tim Czichotzki Mark Erickson Sr.

RUNNER-UP Steve Klongerbo Charles Stowman Brad Lucke Tyler Baukol Marty Fiala Grant Erickson Sean Kruschke Ethan Bjerke Kevin Ruud Todd Carlson Ralph Hooper Tom Hartwell Michael Hartwell Kevin Tabery Jason Karch Jake Rishel Todd Monge

CONS. CHAMP Mike Simonich Jacob Witham Griff Davenport Rick Hutchinson Connor Perkins Doug Sayles Winston Bedford Eric Dahl Ron Rischel Doug Larson Thomas Reynolds Matt Gilbertson Chad Zimmerman Michael Amundson Jim Groettum Jeff Thune Michael Bologna

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

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The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

2010 Pine to Palm Mid-Am Championship #1 Jay Olafson Jay Olafson, 6 & 5 #16 Brad Solheim Jay Olafson, 3 & 2 #8 George Strand

AJ Greff, 2-Up

#9 AJ Greff

Jay Olafson, 4 & 3

#4 Bob Cavanagh Craig Stein, 1-up #13 Craig Stein #5 Scott Linnerooth

Wade King, 2 & 1 Wade King, 3-up

Chad Niles, 2-up

#12 Wade King

2010 Mid-Am Champion

#2 Duane Siverson Duane Siverson, 2-up #15 Miles Schacher

Chad Niles, 2-Up

#7 Chad Niles Chad Niles, 2-up #10 Kent Fronk Chad Niles, 4 & 3

#3 Mike Seelye Mike Seelye, 3-up

Chad Niles and Jay Olafson shake hands following Niles’ 2-up Mid-Am win last year.

#14 Otis Hesteness Mike Seelye, 1-up

#6 Perry Piatz Perry Piatz, 1-up #11 Keith Aasen

Future Pine to Palmers wrap up Junior League

another year was wrapped up for the Lakeview Junior Golf League, as once again, solid numbers were posted in participants and volunteers.

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

19

Looking back with Ralph: From the 1991 Pine to Palm Spotlight Champ’s game ‘solid’ heading into tourney As he prepares to defend his championship in the Pine to Palm Tournament at the Detroit County Club (DCC), Gary Johnson says his game is “about as solid as it has ever been.”

Johnson, 30, won his first-ever Pine to Palm title last August with a clutch 1-up victory over Mike Podolak of Oxbow, N.D., the 1982 Pine-Palm champion, who thus finished runner-up in the tourney for a second straight year after losing to Jim Strandemo in the 1989 final.

“My tee balls have been a little erratic, but my iron play and short game have been real solid,” Johnson went on as he analyzed his game with the 59th tournament at hand.

An employee of Newman Outdoor Advertising at West Fargo, Johnson says he is looking forward to returning as the defending champion and will “hopefully have my driver straightened around” as he prepares for the title defense. “I also have a 2-wood and may throw it in my bag for the tournament, although the driver comes in handy on some holes (like 1-2-10-11), but it is not necessary,” Johnson continued.

Normally, he continued, he carries a driver and a 3-wood for tournament play.

As for the amount of time he devotes to the game, Johnson said he “tries to get out three nights a week” and usually gets to start between 6 and 6:30 p.m.

The 1990 Pine to Palm champion is a member of the Oxbow Country Club, the Fargo Country Club and carries a registered handicap at the Mahnomen Country Club. (He is a 1979 graduate of Mahnomen High School).

Concerning the Pine to Palm, he considers the tourney “numero uno” as far as importance goes and is much like fellow Mahnomen High School graduate Jim Strandemo in that respect. Strandemo is a three-time Pine to Palm winner (1983-87-89).

Strandemo, Johnson went on,

Standing by in sports

By RALPH ANDERSON

will be a big factor in the 1991 tourney.

“Jimmy always steps up his game to a higher level at Pine to Palm time” Johnson stated. “He practices a lot before the tournament, hits a lot of balls and he’ll be in there — he always is…”

1990 final was brilliant When they met for the 58th Pine to Palm championship on Sunday, Aug. 19, 1990, fellow Oxbow County Club members Gary Johnson and Mike Podolak staged one of the tournaments’s all-time classic title matches.

Johnson fired five birdies en route to a four-under-par 67, while Podolak shot a three-under 68 and the match went right to the final green where Podolak’s bid for a birdie three came up just short of the cup and got him a halve when Johnson made par four.

Podolak, who was 2-down after both golfers made par on the 16th hole, dropped a clutch 25-foot putt for a birdie deuce to win the 17th hole.

That birdie on the 17th was just one of many by the two golfers on a sun splashed afternoon. It all started on the 1st hole, where Johnson curled in a 40-footer for a birdie and a 1-up advantage.

Podolak evened the match with a birdie on the 401-yard 4th hole and then watched his birdie putt hit the side of the cup and stay out on the 5th hole to leave the combatants all even.

Perhaps the key point of the match came on holes 6-7-8, where Johnson went birdie-birdie-par and built a 3-up cushion and a lead he never relinquished.

Podolak shaved Johnson’s lead to 1-up after 14 before a Johnson birdie at the 15th hole left him 2-up.

A gallery estimated at between 500 and 1,000 watched the title match and Johnson called it “as

big a gallery as I’ve ever played before.” While he said the size of the gallery did not bother him, Johnson added that he “didn’t start feeling comfortable” until the 5th hole.

He called the title win “a dream come true.”

Johnson, who qualified for the 1990 championship flight by shooting 71-71-142, slipped past Craig Palmer 3 and 1 in the semi-final round Sunday morning before stopping Podolak for the title.

In earlier rounds, Johnson was victorious over Tim Solien (4 and 3), Jason Lamp (5 and 4), Russ Newman (2 and 1), and Matt Mayer (3 and 2).

Tourney record is 18-7 After winning six straight matches in the 1990 tournament, Gary Johnson has an overall 18-7 record while playing in the tournament eight times.

His Pine to Palm appearances, listed chronologically, are as follows: 1981 — Qualified with 74-74— 148 and lost in the opening round to Jim Dolan Jr. (3 and 1).

1983 — Qualified with 72-70— 142, defeated Joe Mayer (2-up) in the opening round and then lost to Tom Adelson (1-up).

1984 — Qualified with 71-74— 145, defeated Tal Anderson (5 and 3), defeated Jim Dolan Jr. (1-up) and lost to Al Thompson (4 and 2).

1986 — Qualified with 79-73— 152, defeated David Knutson (2 and 1), defeated Rick Render (2 and 1) and lost to Stu Oftelie (5 and 4).

1987 — Qualified with 74-75— 149, defeated Skip Madsen (4 and 3) and lost to Mike Podolak (1-up in 19 holes).

1988 — Qualified with 74-76— 150, defeated Craig Palmer (1-up), defeated Gary Jacobson (5 and 4), defeated Jim Strandemo (2 and 1), defeated Pete Loyd (2 and 1) and lost to Bob Cavanagh (4 and 3).

1989 — Qaulified with 74-74— 148, defeated Steve Gillam (4 and 3), defeated Cory Schultz (4 and 3) and lost to Jason Lamp (1-up).

20

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Siverson keys medalist honors with pars Shoots a Mid-Am 2-under par 140

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

Concordia College men’s and women’s golf coach Duane Siverson is practicing what he preaches.

Siverson did what he always does when out on the links during his two qualifying rounds for the Mid-Amateur Division in the Pine to Palm Tournament, Monday and Tuesday at the Detroit Country Club — he made pars.

Siverson — who also was Concordia’s men’s basketball coach for 17 years — played for par, and it was more than good enough to earn Mid-Am medalist honors with a final two-under par 140, after shooting an even 71 Monday and two-under 69 Tuesday.

“When I play, I’m a grinder, par is my goal,” said Siverson, who bested Detroit Lakes’ Mike Seelye by two strokes for medalist laurels.

“I’ve had rounds with 18 pars. They call me a conservative player, but I just want to stay away from trouble.”

Siverson didn’t find much trouble during Tuesday’s two-under par round — and when he did find it, he got out of it.

Two sand shots saved a pair of pars on holes eight and 17, while he added a string of three consecutive birdies on five through seven.

“After I made birdie on holes five through seven, I saw two guys in the group in front of us push their tee shots out of bounds on eight,” Siverson said. “So I held onto my shot and hit the bunker, but I was able to lay it 12-feet below the hole and save par.

“I felt after that, I could make the rest of my shots.”

Siverson made birdie on 16 to go back to two-under par, then saved par on 17 after landing in the bunker and putting his sand shot six feet from within the cup.

“I was driving the ball well and kept the ball in play all day,” Siverson added.

The Concordia golf coach re-

Duane Siverson eyes his drive on the par four ninth hole during last year’s Pine to Palm match play. turns to the Pine to Palm after about a 15-year layoff. He competed in Championship play and was a regular making the cut for match play, but never advanced past the third round.

“Now, I’m just going to keep my wits and stay focused (in Mid-Am match play),” said Siverson, who will carry the No. 2 seed, with defending champion Jay Olafson gaining the automatic No. 1 seed.

“Like I tell my college kids when they ask how to play match-play — just go out and make par.”

Siverson claims the second-ever Mid-Am medalist laurels in the Pine to Palm, after Otis Hesteness of Mission, Texas, won the inaugural Mid-Am honors last year.

Hesteness made the cut of 16 for match play after shooting a 10-over 150.

Seelye just missed earning medalist honors after shooting a oneunder par 70 Tuesday, after his one-over 72 Monday.

“I am very happy shooting oneunder (Tuesday),” Seelye said.

“I’ve been playing well lately. The Mid-Am is wonderful for our age of guys, too. We still can play with the

young golfers, but it’s hard to stay consistent against them all week.”

Perry Piatz was the only other golfer to shoot a two-under 69 during Mid-Am qualifying, carding his Monday.

Piatz shot for a hole in one on hole 14 to key his two-under score.

He finished with a five-over par 76 Tuesday and will carry the sixth seed into match play.

Mid-Am scores

Final 2-round qualifying scores (top 16 qualify for match play): Jay Olafson (def. champ), Duane Siverson 71-69-140; Mike Seelye 72-70-142; Bob Cavanagh 72-71-143; Scott Linnerooth 70-73-143; Perry Piatz 69-76145; Chad Niles 72-75-147; George Strand 71-76-147; AJ Greff 75-74-149; Kent Fronk 70-79-149; Keith Aasen 77-72-149; Wade King 77-72-149; Craig Stein 73-77-150; Otis Hesteness 76-74-150; Miles Schacher 78-73151; Brad Solheim 79-75-154…Missed cut: Thomas Solien 79-75-154; Paul Uithoven 7679-155; Thomas Liudahl 79-76-155; Tim Carlson 75-81-156; Bill Schommer 81-75-156; Eric King 78-79-157; Aaron Burnside 82-76158; Jay Peterson 78-80-158.

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

1

2

Par 5

511 Yards

Handicap-5 The first and longest hole on the course...tee shots should climb a long hill and begin left toward the green...trees will come into play on left side... bunker and out-of-bounds on left of green.

Par 4

371 Yards

Handicap-11 Straight away hole...out-ofbounds on left of fairway... bunkers on either side of green will come into play.

21

22

The Pine to Palm Tradition

3

4 Par 4

417 Yards

Handicap-1 Number 1 handicap hole offers a very narrow driving area, first 200 yards of this hole is lined with trees on both sides. Narrow tee box... gradual rise to the green with a bunker on right side of green.

Par 3

222 Yards

Handicap-15 Long and difficult Par 3, narrow fairway lined with trees. Out of bounds on left... elevated tee and green, bunker 10 yards in front of green on left side.

Tough Par 3.

August 8-14, 2011

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

5

23

6 Par 4

282 Yards

Handicap-13 Narrow fairway requires accurate tee shots, many golfers will use an iron off the tee to keep the ball in play. Out of bounds on the right and behind the green. Green is protected by two large trees, pin placement will make a big difference on this hole.

Par 5

507 Yards Handicap-7

Fairway goes uphill then downhill to green. Driving area has a severe slant to the left which makes it difficult to hold drives in the fairway.

Bunker 200 yards out plus green is protected by bunkers.

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The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

7 9 Par 4

Par 4

Handicap-9

Handicap-3

286 Yards Out-of-bounds on either side of fairway...rolling hole, with hills and gullies...shots have to be well-placed as three bunkers circle green.

8

419 Yards

Number 3 handicap hole, one of the longer Par 4’s on the course. Bunkers on 3 sides of the green with out-of-bounds behind the green.

Par 3

174 Yards

Handicap-17 The first in a series of 3 holes that will make or break your score. 174 yard, Par 3, 3 bunkers protect the green, slanting green with out-of-bounds on left side.

August 8-14, 2011

10

The Pine to Palm Tradition

25

11

Par 4

390 Yards

Par 4

Number 2 handicap hole.

Sloping fairway could cause problems with rolling tee shot.

Narrow opening to the green, accurate approach shot is essential. Bunkers on the left, right and behind the green, also, green is tough to hold.

Handicap-10

Handicap-4

366 Yards

Water hazard on left side of fairway...about 175 yards out...bunkers left and right side of green.

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The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

13

12 Par 5

Par 4

487 Yards Handicap-2

Water both sides of fairway 225 yards out...gutsy player will shoot for beyond water and leave himself a iron to the green...good birdie hole... bunkers right front, left side with trees behind.

338 Yards

Handicap-12 Dogleg left...water present, but shouldn’t enter into play with true shots...bunker on right front of green...hitting it over puts ball on 14 tee box.

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August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

14

15

27

Par 4 Par 3

156 Yards

Handicap-16 Difficult pot hole bunker located in front of the green, and bunker on the left. Sloping green will make for some interesting putts.

16

357 Yards Handicap-8

Narrow fairway...out-ofbounds on left...trees at 175 yard mark make fairway even narrower, although strong tee shot could climb over...bunkers on left side, right front and right side.

Par 4

288 Yards

Handicap-14 Many matches are won or lost on this hole.

Green is reachable with a drive over the trees on right, conservative players will use an iron off the tee. Bunkers surround the green, out-of-bounds left of green.

28

The Pine to Palm Tradition

17

18

Par 3

175 Yards

Handicap-18 Par 3...POSSIBLE out-of-bounds on left...bunkers left and right side of green

Par 4

360 Yards Handicap-6

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August 8-14, 2011

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August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

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30

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Co-medalists for the 17th time Freeman and Walters share medalist honors

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

For the 17th time in the 78 years of the Pine to Palm Tournament, the two-day qualifier ended with multiple medalists at the Detroit Country Club.

After St. Paul’s Wade Walters shot a 66 Tuesday, thus winning lowman honors after the first day of qualifying, he shot one-under par 70 for a final score of 136.

Fargo’s Ben Freeman played the opposite, after he carded an evenpar 71 the first day, he then came with his best game Wednesday with a six-under par 65 to earn comedalist laurels with Walters.

For Walters, his third try in the Pine to Palm, inking his name in the tournament’s storied history is an honor.

“I’m very satisfied with getting medalist honors,” Walters said.

“I came into it looking at it as two tournaments, one stroke play and the other as match play.

“It’s very rewarding getting my name up on the medalist board on the clubhouse. That was my one goal when I came here, getting my name up on one of those boards, be it either for winning medalist or winning it all.”

Freeman already knows the feeling of seeing his name on the Pine to Palm boards, after he won the championship in 2008 when he beat Brandon Hartzell 4 and 2.

“It feels good finishing on top of qualifying, but that’s done now, it doesn’t matter much for match play,” Freeman said. “I’d love to win it again, I know I have to just keep plugging away.”

Ironically, one of the main reasons the 27-year-old Walters is playing in the Pine to Palm is his cousin, who happens to be the player Freeman beat for his championship in 2008 — Hartzell, who also

Wade Walters and Ben Freeman shared the 2010 championship medalist honors, each shooting a two-day score of 136. qualified for match play with a 146.

“Brandon told me I have more game here at the Pine to Palm than he had when he made the championship in 2008,” Walters said.

That showed at least in the qualifying rounds, as Walters shot for a field-low 66 Tuesday and basically had only one bad hole Wednesday.

Walters had the opportunity to play with defending champion Tom Hoge, who shot a rousing 6566 for a terrific 10-under par 131 in his practice rounds.

“His resume’ speaks for itself,” Walters said of Hoge. “It was fun playing in the same group with him and it was a chance to see him play for the first time, just in case we have to play each other in match play.”

Walters was even par after nine, after he rebounded from a bad shot

in the rough behind a tree on hole nine.

He was able to loft a shot over the tree and complete the birdie bid with a 20-foot putt.

Walters was sitting at threeunder par by the 14th hole, but a double bogey on 15 set him back a bit.

“I also missed a short birdie putt on 16, but was able to finish out with two pars on 17 and 18,” Walters said. “I thought I could come close to shooting another 66, especially after being three-under par after 14.”

Freeman made birdie on two of the three par five holes, while making eagle on 16 to key his 65 Wednesday.

But for the most part, Freeman’s game was steady, as he sunk the majority of his putts.

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

“It was good to go out and have a good round and get a good feel for the course,” Freeman said. “Now, I just have to take it one hole at a time and never count out an opponent, because I’ve learned in match play, you’re never out of it.”

Travis Ross, who is a junior on the New Mexico State men’s golf team and hails from Crookston, came in with a 139 after he carded a three-under par 69 Wednesday.

He tied with former University of Minnesota golfer and two-time Pine to Palm champion (1991 and 2005) Rick Kuhn, who shot a consistent 69-70.

Needless to say, all the other 63 golfers are well aware of No. 1 seed Hoge, who has been playing lights out as of late.

Some of his conquests this summer included winning his second consecutive State Amateur championship and qualifying for the U.S. Amateur a couple of weeks ago.

His 131 stroke play score in his practice rounds shows that Hoge hasn’t slowed down at all.

“I’ve been hitting the ball well the last three to four weeks,” Hoge said. “I just hope to keep it going through six matches this week.”

Hoge hit 16 greens in regulation Wednesday during his second practice round, which he said he will need with another tough field at the Pine to Palm.

“The field is great and probably as strong as it has been since I’ve been playing,” Hoge said. “The

course is in great condition, too.”

Overall, a total of six former Pine to Palm champions qualified for championship match play, including Hoge, Freeman, Kuhn, Corey Blenkush (2007), Greg Melhus (2003) and Russ Newman (1992 and 1994).

Detroit Lakes will also be well represented, as five former Lakers made the cut, which was 148.

Ben Bergquist shot a 69 Tuesday and a 74 Wednesday for a final 143, while Ryan Kuehne fired a final 145, Tanner Lane a 146, Nic Wagner a 147 and Adam McArthur a 148.

McArthur survived a 14-man playoff for the last 11 spots, which took place after the Championship qualifying round.

For Kuehne, his goal is to make it past the first round after making the cut the last three years in a row.

“The last couple of years, I had some tough draws in Russ Newman and Jim Strandemo (two-time Pine to Palm champion),” Kuehne said. “But I’m hoping to take that first step now and make it out of the first round.”

Lane will be using his Pine to Palm Tournament experience as his last gusto of summer, before he reports to the Junior League USHL hockey team Fargo Force in a couple of weeks.

The high school senior shot a 74-72 for a 146 to qualify for match play.

“I’m not looking to do anything

31

Wade Walters of St. Paul chips up to a green during last year’s Pine to Palm. stupid and just shoot for pars,” Lane said of his outlook for match play. “I don’t want to get down early and try to put the pressure on my opponent.”

Big playoff fills final 11 spots

There were 14 golfers with a score of 148 fighting for the final 11 spots Wednesday evening.

The 11 golfers who survived the playoff included Coy Papachek, Jon Stecher, Jon Miller, Connor Holland, Phillip Haug, Adam McArthur, Jeff Lamp, Nick Gillam, Newman and Mitch Buboltz.

Pine to Palm medalists 1931—Paul Cook, Bismarck, 69 1932—Paul Cook, Bismarck, 72-72—145 1933—Pat Sawyer, Minneapolis, 66-70—136 1934—Fritz Carman, Detroit Lakes, 71-70—141 1935—Virgil Roby, Minneapolis, 67-72—139 1936— Al Rindy, Grand Forks, and Ernotte Hiller, Crookston, 148 1937—Bobby Campbell, Duluth, 69 1938—Johnny Buck, Detroit Lakes, 69 1939—Palmer Kize, Redwood Falls, 67 1940—Don Peddie, Minneapolis, 71 1941—Al Rindy, Grand Forks, 69 1942-43—No tournament 1944—Ed Cox, Bismarck, 72 1945—Chuck Betcher, Red Wing, 70 1946—Ben Dablow, St. Paul, 67 1947—Gordy Soderberg, Minneapolis, 70 1948—Paul O’Leary, Bismarck, 68 1949—Dr. O.C. Nord, Grand Forks, 70 1950—Bob Leonard, Fargo, 140 1951— R. J. Atkinson, Kansas City and Dick Spangler, Lincoln, NE, 142 1952—Neil Croonquist, Minneapolis, 137 1953—Jack Webb, Spirit Lake, IA, 137 1954—Jack Webb, Spirit Lake, IA, and John Olsen, Duluth, 136 1955—Jerry Burns, Hastings, 140

1956— Jim Moeller, Holdenville, OK, and Eddie Langert, Mpls., 139 1957—George Lee, Humboldt, IA, 143 1958— Jack Rule, Waterloo, IA, 132 1959— George Lee, Humboldt, IA, and Chuck Courtney, LaJolla, CA, 140 1960—Frank James, Grinnell, IA, 138 1961— George Cram, Jr., Bismarck, Frank James, Grinnell, IA, Gene Dahlbender, Atlanta, GA, and Bud Chapman, Minneaplis, 137 1962—George Cram Jr., Minot, ND, 137 1963—Richard Killian, Houston, TX, 136 1964—Bob Jerhoff, Billings, MT, 143 1965—Bob Dahm, Fargo, 139 1966—Mike Morley, Minot, ND, 138 1967—Robert Davis, Cedar Falls, IA, 141 1968—Al Ostberg, Faribault, 141 1969— John Maroni, Minneapolis, and Doug Gillam, Fargo, 141 1970—Al Ostberg, Faribault, 141 1971—Mike Fermoyle, Minneapolis, 140 1972—Bill Waryan, Minneapolis, 138 1973—Jim Ihnot, Minneapolis, 135 1974—Terry Moores, St. Paul, 139 1975— Tom Hoffman, Mankato, Dr. Rick Render, Bloomington and Craig Stein, Moorhead, 141 1976—Terry Moores, St. Paul, 139

1977—Rick Benshoof, Detroit Lakes, 137 1978—R.J. Smiley, Garrison, 72-68—140 1979—Scott Harris, Roseau, 67-68—135 1980—Tom Lehman, Alexandria, 69-66—135 1981—Kirk Snider, Hastings, 67-69—136 1982—Bob Dahm, Fargo, 138 1983— Pat Herzog, Alexandria; Gary Johnson, Mahnomen; Jim Lehman Jr., Alexandria, 142 1984—Pat Herzog, Alexandria, 134 1985—Jim Sorenson, Bloomington, 138 1986— Pat Herzog, Alexandria, and Mike Podolak, Fargo, 134 1987—Mike Podolak, Fargo, 138 1988— Jon Christian, Albert Lea, and Mike Podolak, Fargo, 137 1989—Terry O’Loughlin, White Bear Lake, 138 1990—Pat Herzog, Fergus Falls, 137 1991–– Todd Hallett, Eden Prairie, 134; Mike Podolak, Fargo, 134 1992— Mike Podolak, Fargo, 135; Dave Morberg, Kalispell, Mont., 135 1993— Mike Podolak, Oxbow, 136 1994—Rob Harris, Eden Prairie, 136 1995—Tim Graves, Oklahoma City, 138 1996—Adam Dooley, Albany, 137

1997— Martin LeMusurier, Minneapolis, 68-67—135 1998—Andrew Hoff, Portland, Ore., 69-68—137 1999— Mike Podolak, Oxbow, N.D., John Carlson, Bagley, and Tim Rubis, Fargo, all with 67 (Championship qualifying llimited to 18 holes due to inclement weather conditions.)

2000—Patrick Beste, Sauk Centre, 64-70—134 2001—Andy Doeden, Fargo, 69-63—132 2002—Josh Persons, Fargo, 65-71—136 2003—Jeff Lamp, Fargo, 63-67—130 (Record) 2004 — David Schultz, Fargo, 69-66 — 135 2005 — Kane Hanson, Detroit Lakes, 70-63 — 133 2006 — Clayton Rask, Otsego, 69-63 — 132 2007 — Cameron White, Plymouth, 65-65 — 130 (ties record).

2008 — Tim Fiechtner, Fargo, 68-68 — 136 & Mark Robinson, Cardington, Ohio, 67-69 — 136 2009 — Tom Hoge, Fargo, 62-70 —132; Clinton Boutelle, Cody, Wyo., 67-65 — 132 2010 — Wade Walters, St. Paul, 66-70 — 136; Ben Freeman, Fargo, 71-65 — 136.

32

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

PHOTO BY MARK LARSON

Kavin Dvorak with his R7 Taylor made driver.

Dvorak Dominates P-P Long Drive Contest

By Mark Larson The Spotlight

Kavin Dvorak of Bismarck, N.D., won the 18th Annual Pine to Palm Long Drive Contest Wednesday night with a drive of 320 yards using a R-7 Taylor Made driver.

Dvorak also earned third place honors with a drive of 313 yards.

The contest was postponed from Tuesday night because of the heavy rain that hit D.C.C. around 5:30.

Jeff Olson of Fargo finished second with a drive of 316 yards.

Dean Goodwin of Rosemount finished fourth with a poke of 312 yards and Collin Schifferman of Seattle, Wash., rounded out the top five with a drive of 310 yards.

Each golfer was allowed to hit up to six balls in the event. A total of 26 golfers competed in the long drive contest. Pine to Palm committee members included Bruce Woodland and Mark Larson, long drive coordinator. Jenna Schulte who works in the D.C.C. Pro Shop measured the drives.

17 YEAR HISTORY OF LONG DRIVE CONTEST WINNERS 1993.........Conrad Ray, Austin, Mn. 1994.........Brian Benson, Jamestown, N.D. 1995.........Lee Kinney, Red Wing 1996.........Adam Dooley, Albany, Mn. 1997.........Ben Strauman, Wayzata 1998.........Mitch Buboltz, Detroit Lakes 1999.........Ryan Vincelli, Spirit Lake, IA. 2000.........Patrick Beste, Sauk Centre 2001.........Jim Davidson, Calabassas, CA.

316 yds 315 yds 313 yds 286 yds 303 yds 320 yds 324 yds 298 yds 324 yds

2002........Carl Hunt, Crookston, RECORD 336 yds 2003.........Todd Schaefer, Grand Forks,N.D. 326 yds 2004.........Todd Schaefer, Grand Forks,N.D. 304 yds 2005.........Adam McArthur, Detroit Lakes 323 yds 2006.........Josh Persons, Fargo, N.D. 335 yds 2007.........Jay Bartley, Oxbow, N.D. 331 yds 2008.........Aaron Clausen, Spirit Lake, Iowa 321 yds 2009......... Chad Cota, Moorhead, Mn. 335 yds 2010.........Kavin Dvorak, Bismarck, N.D. 320 yds

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition • www.counselordl.com •

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34

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Looking back with Ralph: From the 1992 Pine to Palm Spotlight New champion certain as Kuhn turns pro As late as mid-March, Rick Kuhn had every intention of returning to Detroit Lakes this week in an effort to seek a second successive Pine to Palm Golf Tournament championship.

Kuhn, who finished his final year of eligibility with the University of Minnesota golf team this spring, wrote to Chuck Merry, the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament chairman, that it would be “an honor and privilege” to come back to Detroit Lakes and seek to defend the title he won in 1991 with a 19-hole victory over Mark Hanson.

“I had a great time during my stay in Detroit Lakes and I eagerly look forward to seeing you all again in August,” Kuhn continued in the letter to Merry.

Those plans, however, changed in July when Kuhn declared that he would turn professional.

The actual date of his start as a golf professional was Monday, July 29, a day after he had lost in the semi-final round of the North Dakota Match Play Amateur Tournament at the Bois de Sioux Golf Club in Breckenridge-Wahpeton.

Russ Newman of Fargo, a Pine to Palm regular, downed Kuhn in the North Dakota Match Play semi-final round and then went on to beat another Pine to Palm regular — Craig Palmer, also of Fargo — in the title match.

Kuhn’s first venture as a professional was in the National Car Open played at the Bunker Hills Golf Club at Coon Rapids from July 24-26 and he earned $525 with a 540 hole score of 218 on rounds of 71-71-76. Kuhn and Bump Werness finished in a tie at 218, which was 10 strokes off the winning pace of 208 set by Don Berry of Edinburgh USA, who had rounds of 68-68-72-208 and won first prize of $7,000.

Initial start was disappointing Rick Kuhn’s score of 218 in the National Car Open was labeled as “disappointing” by Kuhn the week after the tournament was concluded.

“I guess you could call it a learning experience,” he told Standing

Standing by in sports

By RALPH ANDERSON

By. Kuhn was particularly disappointed by the final round 76, since three straight 71s would have earned him close to another $2,000 more than he did receive.

The 1991 Pine to Palm champion, however, pointed out that the wind was a major factor on the final day of the tourney when 30 players in the field had higher scores on Sunday than they did on Saturday.

Kuhn also said that the money factor was a major reason for his turning professional at this time.

“Playing in tournaments I would like to play in as an amateur (i.e., Western Amateur, Porter Cup, etc.) would have been quite expensive and I was able to find some sponsors for a professional career,” Kuhn went on. “I just felt that it (the decision to turn pro) was better for myself and my golf game and I was eventually going to turn professional, anyway.”

In winning the Pine to Palm championship in 1991, Kuhn did so the first time he had ever entered the tournament and the first time he had ever played the Detroit Country Club.

“The decision (to turn pro) was a tough one for me, since I really wanted to come back to Detroit Lakes and try to win for a second straight year,” Kuhn went on.

Will play Dakota Tour Now that he has some sponsorship, Kuhn said he will work on securing more for next year and he also said he plans to play some of the tournaments in the Dakota Tour this fall.

His plans right now concerning the Dakota Tour are to play the events at Bismarck, Minot and Fargo in North Dakota and the events at Yankton and Watertown in South Dakota.

While he has completed his golf eligibility at the University of Minnesota, Kuhn is a quarter short of

earning his degree and he intends to take care of that matter during the fall quarter of 1992. He will receive a degree in finance.

Once he has earned his degree, he intends to head west and participate in the Golden State Tour in California staring in January, 1993.

“The Golden State Tour is sort of a mini-Hogan Tour and is much like the Dakota Tour, only there are more one-day events,” Kuhn went on.

He plans to live in Palm Springs andsaidmostoftheeventshewillplay are around the Palm Springs area.

“San Diego is about the farthest I will have to go for a (Golden State Tour) tourney,” he pointed out.

Kuhn plans to be in California for about the first six months of next year and then return to this area.

He intends to play the Dakota Tour again in the fall of 1993 and then will seek his Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) Tour Card during qualifying a year from now.

The PGA Tour qualifying is held in October and is conducted over three stages.

“You have to be really consistent in order to get a PGA Tour Card,” Kuhn stated.

Unhappy with play as ‘U’ senior In his final year as a member of the University of Minnesota golf team, Rick Kuhn ranked 10th individually in the big Ten’s stroke average, yet he said he was “not satisfied” with his game as a senior.

“Really, it wasn’t a whole lot of fun for me,” he admitted, although Kuhn did point out that he “did a lot of work on my swing” during the winter months of 1991-92 when he worked primarily with professional Peter Krause of Bunker Hills.

“I didn’t play badly (as a senior), but I didn’t play real good either, “Kuhn went on. “Just like everyone else, I’m trying to hit it farther and straighter.”

He went on to say that — before the work over the winter — “I felt with the swing I had before that I couldn’t improve to get to the point where I want to be.”

Concerning his first professional start in the National Car Open, Kuhn said he found it “a lot of fun”

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

to watch Don Berry, who won the tournament.

“One of the things that Berry has realized is that those guys (on the PGA Tour) don’t play any differently than a lot of others,” Kuhn noted. “They’re not that much better, but they know how to do it and they have been through it — you just have to put in the time.”

Means calls Kuhn ‘steady’ Head Coach John Means of the University of Minnesota men’s golf team, who was influential in bringing Kuhn to the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament last year, refers to the 1991 Pine to Palm champion as a player “who is a very steady performer.”

Rick has all the tools to be a fine player and all he lacks is the experience to play with those guys who shoot 66s all the time,” said Means, who has played in the Pine to Palm tournament many times himself.

Means went on to say that Kuhn “just doesn’t quite trust in himself quite yet.”

“He’s a great player and all of us (at the University) know it,” Means added. “He can hit every type of golf shot, he has great ability around the greens and all he lacks is the ability to know that he had it all —once he learns that, he will be awesome!”

Decision not precedent-setting Rick Kuhn’s decision to turn professional and not to return to Detroit Lakes to seek defense of his Pine to Palm championship is not a precedent-setting one.

He is the fourth champion since 1980, in fact, to abandon the amateur ranks to become a professional and not come back to the Detroit Lakes tournament.

Bill Israelson won the 1980 Pine to Palm championship and then turned pro shortly after. In his first tourney as a professional, Israelson captured the North Dakota Open championship which was played at Fargo.

Other Pine to Palm champions who turned professional less than a year after winning the tourney over the past decade include Jim Sorenson, who won in 1985, and Jon Christian, who claimed the title in 1988.

Chris Perry, the 1979 Pine to Palm champion, did not come back in 1980 to seek a second straight championship, but he did retain his

amateur status before eventually turning pro. Perry had a successful college career at Ohio State, he won the Minnesota Golf Association’s Amateur Championship when it was played at Detroit Lakes in 1983 and he was a runner-up in the National Amateur Championship before deciding to go pro.

Pine to Palm runners-up of the past decade who have since joined the professional ranks include Al Thompson Jr., who lost in the final match to Pat Herzog in 1984, and Gordy Skaar, who lost to Sorenson in the 1985 title match.

From the 1991 Pine to Palm Spotlight Transition going smoothly for Mark Holm Mark Holm, the seventh head professional at the Detroit Lakes Country Club (DCC), says the transition from one position to another “has gone real well” for him this year.

The 36-year-old Holm was appointed as professional at the DCC last December to succeed Jack Waryan, who retired following the 1990 season. Before coming to Detroit Lakes, Holm had served as professional at the Bois de Sioux Golf Club at Breckenridge-Wahpeton since 1983.

“I’m starting to get used to the heavy traffic and great amount of play here at Detroit Lakes,” Holm said last week as he prepared to serve as professional at a Pine to Palm Tournament for the first time.

“It’s been a fun transition and the work goes with the territory.”

Holm said that there is a greater amount of play at Detroit Lakes than at Bois De Sioux and notes that is in part due to the fact that the DCC is a public course and the BreckenridgeWahpeton layout is semi-private “I enjoy being around a lot of people and it works out well for the business,” Holm went on. “It also keeps my job fresh being in a resort area like Detroit Lakes.”

He said that he and his family — wife Pamela and children Jace and Lindsay — are “happy with the decision” to move. The Holm family is living at Pelican Lake south of the golf course.

Turned pro in 1980 Mark Holm joined the professional golf ranks in 1980 after an amateur career during which he played in the Pine to Palm Golf

35

Tournament championship flight three times.

His initial Pine-Palm appearance was in 1975 when he shot 73-77—150 in qualifying and lost to Mike Brummer of Fargo (3 and 2) in the opening round of match play.

A 69-74—143 qualifying score earned Holm a berth in the Pine to Palm title flight for the second time in 1978 and that score was only three shots off the qualifying medal score of 140 posted by R.J. Smiley. In the match play portion of the tourney, Holm posted a 5 and 4 victory over Bruce Aamoth of Edina and then defeated John Berger of Minneapolis 1-up on the 19th hole. A six-foot par putt on the 18th hole by Holm sent the match into overtime. Hugh Welsh of Valley City, the 1978 North Dakota State Amateur Golf Tournament champion, fell victim to Holm in the third round by a score of 3 and 1 and Holm then lost to Jerry Rose of Provo, Utah, 4 and 3 on Saturday afternoon.

Playing in the Pine to Palm for the last time in 1979, Holm qualified for the title flight by shooting 75-75—150, toppled Bob Cavanagh of Perham (1-up) in the opening round and then lost on the 20th hole to Mike Fermoyle, who went on to finish runner-up to Chris Perry.

A native of Moorhead and a 1973 graduate of Moorhead High School, Holm earned a degree in business management at Moorhead State University and then worked two years for General Foods until turning professional and serving as assistant to Larry Murphy at the Moorhead Country Club before moving to the Bois de Sioux professional job.

Holm’s wife is the former Pamela Smith of Fargo and they have two children —a daughter Lindsay, and a son, Jace.

When Jack Waryan retired after the 1990 golf season, the Detroit Country Club’s board of directors advertised for a replacement and received 42 applications. Eight of those 42 were called in for interviews.

Leo Eilertson, president of the DCC board, said after Holm was hired that they felt the new Detroit Lakes professional would “fit into the system here very well.”

He went on to say that Holm showed “the skills and experience” required for the position

36

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Former Pine to Palmers on the PGA & Champions Tour

as of August 1, 2011

Compiled By MARK LARSON

1980 Pine to Palm Medalist (69-66-135)

PGA 2011 earnings $165,493.30 Champions Tour 2011 Earnings $1,518,270 Career earnings $24,690,789

Tom Lehman, Alexandria, MN

1972 Pine to Palm Champion Champions Tour 2011 Earnings $21,297 Career earnings $3,070,961

john harris, Edina, MN

2006 Pine to Palm Medalist

1994 Pine to Palm Medalist

Nationwide Tour 2011 Earnings $4,118

2011 PGA Tour Earnings $0

Career earnings $21,298

Career earnings $5,382,219

(69-63-132)

clayton rask, Elk River, MN.

2002 Pine to Palm Medalist

(65-71-136) 2011 Gateway Tour earnings $4,087.50 Career earnings $89,243

Josh persons, Fargo, N.D.

Runner-Up

(69-70-139)

NOTAH BEGAY III, Albuquerque, N.M.

2009 Pine to Palm Champion

2011 Canadian tour earnings $32,000 Career earnings $32,000

tom hoge, Fargo, N.D.

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

37

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38

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Stromstad sets Seniors record Fires a 6-under par 65 for medalist honors

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

The Pine to Palm has a new Senior’s medalist record after Bismarck’s John Stromstad shattered the old mark with his six-under par 65.

And he credits his strong play to the shiny part of his golf ball.

Stromstad’s 65 eclipsed Robert Wernick’s 68, which he set in 1999, and it’s all due to a little tip former University of Minnesota golfer and instructor Perry Andrisen gave him this summer.

“This July 1, Perry gave me the best tip I ever received in my 50 years of playing golf,” Stromstad said. “He told me to see the shiny part of the golf ball and keep my eye on it. It sounds easy, but it has helped me keep my eye on the ball and really helps me keep my focus.”

In Stromstad’s case, proof is in the pudding.

After taking Andrisen’s tip to heart, Stromstad went on to win the All-State Tournament in Bismarck and the North Dakota Seniors Championship.

So after his recent success, Stromstad decided to take his game on the road to a tournament he has admired since his younger years.

“I played in the Pine to Palm in 1969 and always wanted to come back,” the Senior’s medalist said.

“This is the best golf I have played in my entire life.”

Obviously, it was the best Senior’s golf round the Pine to Palm has ever seen.

Stromstad’s round started golden, with an up-and-down game on his opening hole 10. He kept rolling right along by making birdie on holes 11 and 12.

He recovered from a bogey on 13 with par putts on holes 14-17, and then took birdie on 18 to go 2-under at the turn.

John Stromstad took the 2010 senior medalist honors shooting a round of 65.

A birdie on two, after just coming up short on his 15-foot eagle putt, continued his hot streak.

He capped his history-making round with birdies on eight and nine.

“I was counting the numbers before I started playing and figured a 77 would be close to making the cut,” Stromstad said. “I just wanted to avoid the big numbers, but I have never hit the ball better and further than I have been lately.”

Even after a long absence from the Pine to Palm, Stromstad came back with a fury and now will see his name on the medalist list board on the Detroit Country Club clubhouse.

“It’s awesome,” Stromstad said.

“It was a good day.”

The closest anyone came to Stromstad’s 65 was Fargo’s Clint Nelson’s two-over par 73.

John Schwankl and Mike Stirling each finished with a 74 to tie for third.

The Senior’s field of 16 had a clean cut of a seven-over par 78, with three tying for the bottom three positions in Rick Crawford, Burke Kiger and Ron Burnside.

Defending champion T.L. Solien will hold the No. 1 seed and Stromstad will carry the No. 2 seed.

The 16 championship qualifiers include: Solien, Stromstad, Nelson, Schwankl, Stirling, Spencer Clark, Conrad Lopes, Larry Olin, John Hagge, Ron Galuska, Rob Harris, Dan Elton, Tim Rubis, Crawford, Kiger and Burnside.

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

39

Pine to Palm Senior Medalists 1967—Ed Printz, Omaha, and E.E. Kaiser, Fargo—75 1968— Nick P. Soteroplos, Minneapolis, and E.E. Kaiser, Fargo—78 1969—Ed Printz, Omaha—74 1970—Ed Printz, Omaha—71 1971—Ed Printz, Omaha—70 1972— E.E. Kaiser, Fargo; Al Erickson, Minneapolis; Leo Flaming, West Fargo; Cliff Hanson, Minneapolis; and Ed Printz, Omaha—80 1973—B.J. Porter, Minneapolis—76 1974—George Stone, Edina—73 1975—George Stone, Edina—75 1976— George Stone, Edina, and Charles Blankenship, Omaha—77 1977—Gene O’Brien, Faribault—76 1978—John R. Goff, Fargo—73 1979— Gene O’Brien, Faribault, and Dick Davies, Albert Lea—77 1980—Al Jensen, Bagley—74 1981—Howard Barr, Bloomington—73 1982—George Stone, Edina—76 1983— Gene O’Brien, Faribault, and Barney Gervais, Fergus Falls—74 1984—Howard Barr, Bloomington—73 1985—Rodney Adolph, Red Wing—73 1986—Gene O’Brien, Faribault—73 1987—Gene O’Brien, Faribault—72 1988—Al Jensen, Bagley—75 1989— Ray Bode, Underwood, and William Swanston, Fargo—74 1990—William Swanston, Fargo—74 1991––Jim Hendrick, Vidor, Tex.–73 1992— Rodney Adolph, Red Wing, and Brendan Donnelly, Fargo—77 1993—Chuck Schumacher, Perham—71 1994—Jim Hendrick, Beaumont, Texas—73 1995— Jim Smith, Fargo—76, and Gene Quast, Knoxville—76 1996—Robert Wernick, Rancho Mirage, Calif.— 69 1997—Gerry Douglas, Bemidji — 72 1997 and Harvey Borseth, Corcoran — 72 1998—Vern Steinmetz, River Falls, Wis.—72 1999—Robert Wernick, Rancho Mirage, Calif.—68 2000—Ted Hatlen, Detroit Lakes—70 2001— James “Lank” Larson, Fargo; Clint Nelson, Fargo; Gerry Douglas, Hernando, Fla.; Joe Mayer, Bemidji—72 2002—Pat Vincelli, Burnsville—71 2003—Tom Hanson, Detroit Lakes—70 2004—James “Lank” Larson, Fargo—69 2005—Doug Gillam, Eden Prairie,—70 2006— Dan Elton, Moorhead and Tim Rubis, Fargo— 69 2007 — Dr. Rick Render, Bloomington — 70.

2008 — Clint Nelson, Fargo, and Pat Vincelli, Stuart, Florida — 71 2009 — Bill Blake, Detroit Lakes — 72 2010 — John Stromstad, Bismarck, N.D. — 65 (Record).

PHOTOS BY BRIAN BASHAM

Tim Rubis, above, watches a drive during his Saturday senior championship match against Larry Olin. Clint Nelson, right, rolls a putt Saturday during his senior championship match against Conrad Lopes.

2010 Pine to Palm Senior Championship #1 TL Solien ron burnside, 1-Up #16 ron burnside larry olin, 5 & 4 #8 larry olin

larry olin, 1-up

#9 john hagge

Tim rubis, 1-up

#4 john schwankl Tim rubis, 5 & 4 #13 Tim rubis #5 mike stirling

Tim rubis, 5 & 4 mike stirling, 2-up

Tim Rubis

burke kiger, 1-up

2010 Senior Champion

#12 dan w elton #2 john stromstad #15 burke kiger

conrad lopes, 4 & 3

#7 conrad lopes conrad lopes, 6 & 5 #10 ron galuska CLINT NELSON, 3 & 2

#3 clinT nelson clinT nelson, 3-up #14 rick crawford clinT nelson, 1-up

#6 spencer clark rob harris, 6 & 5 #11 rob harris

40

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Sawyer known as ‘Boy Wonder’

BY MARK LARSON

Pine to Palm Tradition

Pat Sawyer, the first Pine to Palm champion in 1931 was tabbed the “Boy Wonder” of state golf in the early 1930’s by winning eight championships before he was 20 years old.

Sawyer was born on St. Patrick’s Day in 1912. He was Christened Charles Martius Sawyer but everyone called him “Pat” except his father.

An Edina, Mn. resident who joined the Minnesota Golf Association at the age of nine. His eight championships were the following: Four state amateur titles (1930,1932, 1946 & 1948).

He won the Minnesota State High School golf tournament in 1931 by firing rounds of 77-72. Sawyer captured two state junior championships in 1929 and 1930.

His final championship came at the Resorter’s Tourney in Alexandria in 1930 at the age of 17.

His back to back Pine to Palm titles in the inaugural Pine to Palm in 1931 at the age of 19 and won again in 1932.

Sawyer, a member of Golden Valley C.C. defeated Ed Bolstad of the Armour Club in Minneapolis and won by an easy margin of 5 & 4 in the 36 hole finals.

In the semi’s Sawyer breezed past Paul Schroder of Detroit Lakes 7 & 6, while Bolstad turned back Bill Boutell of Minneapolis 3 & 2.

After winning in 1931, Pat Sawyer repeated as P to P champ by defeating his brother, Dick, 1 up in an 18 hole match. In the semi’s, Sawyer took an early lead and edged Cy Anderson, a member of the University of Minnesota Golf Team 3 & 2.

Dick Sawyer edged Fritz Carmen of Detroit Lakes 1-up in 19 holes for the right to face his brother in the finals. He defeated his brother, Dick, of Minneapolis, 1-up.

Pat Sawyer came back in 1933 and captured medalist honors with a 66-80-136 but lost in the quarterfinals of match play.

Sawyer went to win 5 straight Resorters titles in Alexandria from 1947-1951. He also was the youngest Minnesota State Amateur

Pat sawyer was one of the best amateur golfers in Minnesota during his time.

Champion at the age of 17 and won the amateur again in 1932, 1946 and 1948.

He also won the first Minnesota State Open as an amateur at Minikahda C.C. in 1935.

He won again in 1936 at Golden Valley Country Club and 20 years later took his third title also at Golden Valley C.C. He later became a long time Professional at Golden Valley and Minnesota Valley C.C. According to; Minnesota Golf-75 years of Tournament History Book,

“Sawyer was known for his exquisite putting and steady play.

“He had all the shots and could finesse the ball into the cup. The guy rarely beat himself probably because no one else was more relaxed on a golf course, it was all fun. His infectious smile was the clue” Sawyer was inducted into the PGA-MGA Hall of Fame in 1992 at the age of 80. He passed away on April 30, 2003 at the age of 91 from lung cancer. He was truly a great champion in Minnesota golf.

August 8-14, 2011

P-to-P Entry Totals 1931.......................... 102 1932.......................... 112 1933.......................... 133 1934.......................... 152 1935.......................... 202 1936.......................... 104 1937.......................... 140 1938.......................... 160 1939.......................... 195 1940.......................... 191 1941.......................... 217 1942.....No Tournament 1943.....No Tournament 1944.......................... 130 1945.......................... 240 1946.......................... 350 1947.......................... 264 1948.......................... 282 1949.......................... 269 1950.......................... 270 1951.......................... 322 1952.......................... 344 1953.......................... 341 1954.......................... 384 1955.......................... 333 1956.......................... 348 1957.......................... 351 1958.......................... 343 1959.......................... 358 1960.......................... 376 1961.......................... 440 1962.......................... 346 1963.......................... 368 1964.......................... 400 1965.......................... 403 1966.......................... 366 1967.......................... 408 1968.......................... 375 1969.......................... 358 1970.......................... 409 1971.......................... 429 1972.......................... 464 1973.......................... 432 1974.......................... 416 1975.......................... 440 1976.......................... 458 1977.......................... 448 1978.......................... 469 1979.......................... 416 1980.......................... 375 1981.......................... 355 1982.......................... 403 1983.......................... 417 1984.......................... 429 1985.......................... 349 1986.......................... 381 1987.......................... 424 1988.......................... 413 1989.......................... 383 1990.......................... 348 1991.......................... 428 1992.......................... 435 1993.......................... 442 1994.......................... 463 1995.......................... 458 1996.......................... 427 1997.......................... 454 1998.......................... 511 1999..........(Record) 540 2000.......................... 499 2001.......................... 518 2002.......................... 508 2003.......................... 503 2004.......................... 468 2005.......................... 491 2006.......................... 485 2007.......................... 451 2008.......................... 431 2009.......................... 429 2010.......................... 441

The Pine to Palm Tradition

41

All-time successive win streaks JERRY BURNS STRING 1947

BILL VON WALD STRING 1973

No. 1 - Defeated Alden Berg of Hawley, 4 and 3 No. 2 - Defeated M-Sgt. Charles Earle of Minneapolis (no score listed) No. 3 - Defeated Don Peddie of Minneapolis, 2 and 1 No. 4 - Defeated Defeated Gordy Soderquist of Minneapolis, 3 and 2

No. 1 - Defeated Skip Madsen of Fargo, 6 and 5 No. 2 - Defeated Paul Maeurer of West St. Paul, 6 and 5 No. 3 - Defeated Pete Lysaker of Sauk Centre, 4 and 3 No. 4 - Defeated Terry Moores of St. Paul, 1-up No. 5 - Defeated Mike Barge of Fargo, 1-up No. 6 - Defeated Dick Davies of Albert Lee, 4 and 3

No. 5 - Defeated Jim Nordine of Karlstad, 3 and 2 No. 6 - Defeated Hap Rose of Alexandria (no score listed) No. 7 - Defeated R. J. Atkinson of Kansas City, Mo. (no score listed) No. 8 - Defeated John Pryor of Detroit Lakes (no score listed) No. 9 - Defeated Jack Webb of Spirit Lake, Iowa (no score listed) No. 10 - Defeated Paul OíLeary of Bismarck, N.D., 1-up

No. 7 - Defeated Mike Rak of Minneapolis, 1-up in 20 holes No. 8 - Defeated Brad Schmierer of Fargo, 2 and 1 No. 9 - Defeated Marvin Schumacher of Morristown, 1-up in 21 holes No. 10 - Defeated Dick Davies of Albert Lea, 1-up in 19 holes No. 11 - Defeated Jim Bergeson of Fargo, 1-up in 21 holes No. 12 - Defeated Terry Moores of St. Paul, 1-up

1948

1949

No. 11 - Defeated Johny Buck of Detroit Lakes (no score listed) No. 12 - Defeated Gene Dahlstrom of Minneapolis (no score listed)

JACK RULE STRING 1958

No. 1 - Defeated Bob Teyro of Huntington, W. Va., and 6 No. 2 - Defeated Dr. Pete Oberhauser of Berlin, Wis., 3 and 2 No. 3 - Defeated Dayton Olson of Minneapolis, 5 and 4 No. 4 - Defeated Bob Holzer of Detroit, Mich., 1-up No. 5 - Defeated Bob Astleford of Omaha, Nebr., 1-up No. 6 - Defeated Bill Kozlak of Minneapolis, 4 and 2 No. 7 - Defeated Lyle Hornbacher of Moorhead, 4 and 3 No. 8 - Defeated Les Christofferson of Duluth, 4 and 2 No. 9 - Defeated Chuck Courtney of LaJolla, Calif., 1-up No. 10 - Defeated Dr. W. R. Lauer of Bismarck, N.D., 2 and 1 No. 11 - Defeated Earl Hanson of Belview, 3 and 2 No. 12 - Defeated Bill Hird of Dodge, Iowa, 3 and 2 No. 13 - Defeated Jack Adams of Minneapolis, 2-up in 21 holes No. 14 - Defeated Joel Goldstrand of Worthington, 3 and 2 No. 15 - Defeated Harold Erickson of Chicago, 2 and 1

1961

No. 16 - Defeated Louis Ujka Jr. of Wahpeton, N.D., 3 and 2 No. 17 - Defeated George Lee of Humboldt, Iowa, 2 and 1 No. 18 - Defeated Martin Stanovich of Niles, Ill., 1-up No. 19 - Defeated Joel Goldstrand of Worthington, 1-up

DAVE HANTEN STRING 1964

No. 1 - Defeated Gene OíBrien of Faribault, 3 and 1 No. 2 - Defeated R. J. Smiley of Hays, Kan., 3 and 2 No. 3 - Defeated Jim Larson of Fargo, 6 and 5 No. 4 - Defeated George Lee of Humboldt, Iowa, 3 and 2 No. 5 - Defeated Alan Cooke of Sioux Falls, S.D., 1-up in 19 holes No. 6 - Defeated Norm Kragseth of Hopkins, 1 up

1965

No. 7 - Defeated Jim McElhaney of Breckenridge, 1-up in 20 holes No. 8 - Defeated R. J. Smiley of Hays, Kan., 5 and 3 No. 9 - Defeated Mike Morley of Minot, N.D., 1-up in 21 holes No. 10 - Defeated Norm Vennerstrom of Fargo, 3 and 2 No. 11 - Defeated George Lee of Humboldt, Iowa, 1-up

1974

1975

No. 13 - Defeated Bob Dahm of Fargo, 2 and 1 No. 14 - Defeated Leif W. Carlson of Bloomington, 3 and 2 No. 15 - Defeated Mike Podolak of Oakes, N.D., 5 and 4 No. 16 - Defeated Brad Schmierer of Fargo, 1-up in 20 holes No. 17 - Defeated Tom Hoffman of Mankato, 2-up No. 18 - Defeated Mark Haugejorde of New London, 2-up

1976

No. 19 - Defeated George B. Chesley of Mankato, 6 and 4 No. 20 - Defeated Gary Douglas of Mineral Point, Wis., 6 and 5 No. 21 - Defeated Paul Hanson of Mahnomen, 4 and 3 No. 22 - Defeated Mark O’Brien of Faribault, 1-up

BILL ISRAELSON STRING 1976

No. 1 - Defeated Joe Dargay of Minneapolis, 2-up No. 2 - Defeated Dan Croonquist of St. Paul, 6 and 5 No. 3 - Defeated Bob Cahill of Moorhead, 3 and 2 No. 4 - Defeated Russ Nelson of Fargo, 1-up No. 5 - Defeated Gary Hamblet of Fargo, 2 and 1 No. 6 - Defeated Mark Rohde of Marshalltown, 2 Iowa, 2-up

1977

No. 7 - Defeated Paul Hanson of Mahnomen, 2 and 1 No. 8 - Defeated Ron Stelten of Young America, 4 and 3 No. 9 - Defeated Dave Morberg of Kalspell, Mont., 8 and 7 No. 10 - Defeated Steve Gillam of Fargo, 5 and 4 No. 11 - Defeated R. J. Smiley of Garrison, 2 and 1 No. 12 - Defeated Dan Croonquist of St. Paul, 4 and 2

RICK KUHN STRING 1991

No. 1 - Defeated Ken Fronk, Fargo 6 and 5 No. 2 - Defeated Guy Strandemo, Mahnomen, 2 and 1 No. 3 - Defeated Craig Palmer, Fargo, 4 and 2 No. 4 - Defeated Dave Carothers, Owatonna, 1 -up No. 5 - Defeated Jeff Cooley, LaCrosse, Wisc. 1-up No. 6 - Defeated Mark Hanson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1-up in 19 holes.

2005

No. 7 - Defeated Brandon Hartzell, White Bear Lake, 3 and 2 No. 8 - Defeated Tom Hoge, Fargo, 3 and 2 No. 9 - Defeated Viictor Almstrom, Vallingly, Sweden, 1-up No. 10 - Defeated Andy Paulson, White Bear Lake, 2 and 1 No. 11 - Defeated Clayton Rask, Otsego, 3 and 2 No. 12 - Defeated Bronson LaCassie, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1-up.

42

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Pine to Palm Double Eagles The First: Sunday, Aug. 13, 1939 — Neil Croonquist of Minneapolis, who used a driver from the tee and then hit a 2-iron into the cup on the 512-yard 14th hole in the championship match against Palmer Kise of Redwood Falls. Croonquist was down to Kise at the time and subsequently birdied the 15th hole, parred the 16th and birdied the 17th to post a 2 and 1 victory over Kise, who was the tournament medalist. (The 14th hole at the time is the present 1st hole at the Pine to Palm Course).

The Second: Friday, Aug. 13, 1948 — Jim McDonald, Moorhead, used a driver and 4-wood to score double eagle on the 459-yard 18th hole while playing in a fifth flight match. Earlier in the year, McDonald aced the 8th hole at Detroit Lakes and that was the first hole-in-one of the year at the Detroit Country Club. Ed Wippler of Minneapolis won the fifth flight championship in 1948 and Lou Barle of Sauk Centre was the consolation winner.

The Third: Thursday, Aug. 9, 1956 — Competing in the first flight, Pat Keeley of Grand Forks had a double eagle on the 459-yard 5th hole when he hit a driver and then a 4-iron. Keeley defeated Jack Thavis of Mankato in the match and then lost in the second round to John Mertzacker of Minneapolis.

The Fourth: Sunday, Aug. 15, 1965 — George Lee of Humboldt, Ia., hit 2-iron, 2-iron for a deuce on the 455-yard 12th hole in the Pine to Palm championship semifinal round against Dave Hanten of Huron, S.D. Hanten, who won the 1964 Pine to Palm Tournament championship, rebounded to

defeat Lee in the semi-final match and then lost in the title round to Kenny Pinns of Las Vegas, Nev. The Fifth: Friday, Aug. 16, 1985 — Marvin Schumacher of Lexington, Ky., hit a 4-iron from the tee and then hit a 5-iron into the cup from about 200 yards out on the 455yard 12th hole. Schumacher went on to defeat Mark Fretland of Edina in the secondround match and then lost the next day to Mike Bloomberg of Sioux Falls, S.D. The Sixth: Saturday, Aug. 15, 1987 — Pat Herzog of Tulsa, Okla., who hit metal driver, metal driver in scoring a deuce on the 512-yard 1st hole in the championship quarter-final round against Rick Johnson of Moorhead. Herzog, winner of the Pine to Palm Tournament championship in 1984 and medalist three times (1983-84-86), defeated Johnson (by a score of 4 and 3) and then lost in the semi-finals on Sunday morning to Don Schweim of Mankato.

The Seventh: Thursday, August 10, 1989 — Randy Burnside of Detroit Lakes, who hit a driver and a 2-iron in scoring a deuce on the 450-yard 12th hole in a first-round Pine Flight match. Burnside lost the match (1-down) to Rick Stitzer of Jamestown, N.D. Other witnesses to the double eagle included Jeff Jones of Eagan and Paul Haugen of Rochester.

The Eighth: Tuesday, August 8, 1995 — Mark Halverson of Fargo, who hit driver and an 8-iron for a deuce on the 459-yard 5th hole during first-round qualifying play in the championship flight.

The Ninth: Friday, August 13, 1999 — Bob Brink of Bemidji, a student at the Uni-

Eric Galt aces par 4 seventh hole in 2008. versity of Minnesota, hit driver, 4-iron and made deuce on the 459-yard 5th hole. He was playing a championship flight match against Don Neitzke of Wahpeton, ND, and won the match on the 19th hole. Also in the foursome were Andy Doeden and Richard Linnerooth, both of Fargo.

The Tenth: Sunday, August 17, 2003 — Tim Fiechtner of Peoria, AZ, hit driver, 3 wood and made deuce on the 511-yard first hole in the championship consolation semi-final match against Jason Rudquist, also of Peoria, AZ. Fiechtner lost one match 2 and 1. In the group was Matt Nelson, caddy of Fiechtner.

The Eleventh: Saturday, August 16, 2008 — Eric Galt made Pine to Palm history with his ace on the par 4, 286-yard seventh hole with a driver, which is also a double eagle.

63 golfers who have played in the Pine to Palm for over 25 years 50+ YearS Mark Ericksen Sr.-55 Frank Winsor-54 40-49 Years Bob Dahm-49 Bill Swanston-47 Jim Linnerooth-43 Gene O’Brien-42 Dick McConn-42 Jerry Hall-43 Bob Fiechtner-40 35-39 Years Duane Halverson - 38 Swede Ostrom - 37 Bill Arnold - 37 Tom Hanson - 36

Jim Strandemo - 37 Russ Newman -37 Mike Ericksen - 37 Mike Shaughnessy - 36 Jim Brothers - 36 31-34 Years Gregg Ericksen -34 Bruce Lindvig - 35 Dr, Rick Render - 35 Bill Hawkins - 35 Ken Riesberg - 35 Ron Vincelli - 34 Mark Ericksen Jr. - 33 Pat Vincelli - 32 Jim Albertson - 32 Vern Steinmetz - 33

Scott Peters - 33 Harold Erickson - 31 Dr. Lynn Marr - 32 Morrie Thompson - 32 31 Years Bob Cavanagh 31 29 Years Red Jacobson Ron Gorg Baldy Waldahl Brad Swanson

28-29 Years George Strand 29 Scott Linnerooth 29 Don Anderson Bob Klas Bob Iversen Matt Ericksen Pat Christensen Jim Winsor Owen Germundson Ron Smet 27 Years Gerry Douglas Rod Adolph Jeff Meyer John Bartley

26 Years Barney Gervais Larry Olin Rick Johnson Rob Harris 25 Years Gerald Fiechtner Mark O’Brien Trueman Tryhus Paul Haugen David Brown Mike Christensen Paul Krueger Jeff Tweeton

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

Pine to Palm holes in one 1. Friday, July 26, 1935—Tom Hellander, Fargo, on the 215yard 7th hole (club used not reported). He was playing Don Orman in a first flight consolation match and the ace was said to be “the first in several years” at the Detroit Country Club.

2. Wednesday, Aug. 14, 1946—Georgia Tainter Goff, Fargo, on the 161-yard 12th hole, using a 4-wood. The ace was made during qualifying and came in the final year the Pine to Palm Tournament had a women’s division.

3. Friday, Aug. 15, 1952—Bud Nolan, Minneapolis, on the 165-yard 16th hole, using a 5-iron. Nolan was playing in the Sallie Flight and won his match over Dick James, also of Minneapolis, in 20 holes. A member of the Meadowbrook Golf Course, it was the second hole-in-one of his career.

4. Wednesday, Aug. 6, 1958—Andy Lindvig, Fargo, on the 179-yard 8th hole, using a 4-iron. Witnesses to the shot were Bob McCart, Hank Langager and Bill Fillmore.

5. Tuesday, Aug. 7, 1962—Jack McCuistion, Lincoln, Nebr., on the 179-yard 8th hole, using a 6-iron. The hole-in-one came during a qualifying round.

6. Thursday, Aug. 9, 1962—George Cram, Bismarck, N.D., on the 179-yard 8th hole, using a 4-iron. Cram, the North Dakota State Amateur Golf Tournament champion in 1961 and 1962, went on to defeat Carl Liebovich of Rockford, Ill., during the match when he had the ace.

7. Friday, Aug. 10, 1962—Frank Winsor, St. Paul, on the 179-yard 8th hole, using a 3-wood. Winsor went on to defeat Gordon Christopherson of Richfield in the match when he had the hole-in-one.

8. Thursday, Aug. 14, 1969—David Tweeton, Moorhead, on the 223-yard 3rd hole, using a 3-iron. Tweeton, playing a Palm Flight match against Dick Thomas of St. Louis Park, eventually lost the match. Other witnesses to the shot were Dr. John Goff of Fargo and Roger Anderson of Windom.

9. Friday, Aug. 14, 1970—Richard P. Anderson, Bremerton, Wash., on the 151-yard 14th hole, using a 7-iron. A lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, Anderson went on to defeat Bruce Aamoth in the match when he had the ace.

10. Wednesday, Aug. 8, 1973—Stuart Trenda, Owatonna, on the 151-yard 14th hole, using a 7-iron. Witnesses to the shot were Chuck Hyslop, John Rasmussen and Steve Gillam.

11. Wednesday, Aug. 8, 1973—Tom Huber, Minneapolis, on the 174-yard 8th hole, using a 5-iron. Witnesses to the hole-inone were Bill Von Wald (who won the first of his three straight championships that year), Lyle Hornbacher and Jim Bergeson.

12. Friday, Aug. 12, 1977—Jay Paul Hornbacher, Walnut Creek, Calif., on the 174-yard 8th hole, using a 3-iron. He defeated Ken Crowell in the match, with other witnesses to the ace being Mark Farnam and Baldy Waldahl.

13. Monday, Aug. 7, 1978—John Wangberg, Moorhead, on the 151-yard 14th hole, using a 7-iron. The ace came during qualifying and was witnessed by Steve Bologna, Ted Hatlen and Thomas Ford.

14. Saturday, Aug. 11, 1979—Harold Haupt, Hopkins, on the 160-yard 17th hole, using a 4-iron. Haupt defeated Harold Swanson of St. Paul in a Lida Flight match when he got the ace.

15. Friday, Aug. 13, 1982—Bill Akins, Roseville, on the 223yard 3rd hole, using a 5-wood. Witnesses to the ace were Larry Wentz, Charles Stone and Bill Fercho.

16. Wednesday, Aug. 10, 1983—Jim Dolan Jr., South St. Paul, on the 151-yard 14th hole, using an 8-iron. Dolan shot a two-under-par 33 on the back nine as he qualified for championship flight play. Witnesses were Dave Olson, Dave Adams and Tom Coates.

17. Wednesday, Aug. 8, 1984—Curt Bradford, Hutchinson, on the 151-yard 14th hole, using a 5-iron. The ace enabled Bradford to qualify for the championship flight, since he had a 36-hole score of 152 in qualifying and there was a playoff at 153 for title flight contestants. Witnesses to the hole-in-one

43

were Greg Mattson, George Oftelie and Rob Polipnick.

18. Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1986—Trent Wilcox, Park Rapids, on the 223-yard 3rd hole, using a 2-iron. Witnesses were Gary Martinson, David Knutson and Steve Herron, along with ball spotter Tim Larson.

19. Friday, Aug. 15, 1986—Bruce Heysse, Wahpeton, N.D., on the 151-yard 14th hole, using an 8-iron. Witnesses included Don Neitzke, Steve Murdock and Joe Greenagel, along with ball spotter Tim Larson, who witnessed the Wilcox ace three days earlier.

20. Saturday, Aug. 13, 1988—Rudy Edwardson, Detroit Lakes, on the 174-yard 8th hole, using a 5-wood. The ace came in a match when Edwardson defeated Al Leighton of St. Cloud, a former owner of KDLM Radio in Detroit Lakes.

21. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 1989—Jeff Wilber, Miller, S.D., on the 223-yard 3rd hole, using a 2-iron. Witnesses to the ace included Joe Bofferding, John Sauer and Mark O’Brien.

22. Saturday, August 12, 1989—Rick Render, Bloomington, on the 151-yard 14th hole, using a 6-iron. Witnesses were Doug Elliott, Ron Gorg and Sean Gorg.

23. Saturday, Aug. 12, 1989—Ken Riesberg, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, on the 151-yard 14th hole, using a 6-iron. Witnesses were Dan Conley, Todd Hendricksen and Jeff Reinholdz.

24. Tuesday, Aug. 13, 1991—Steven Franke, LaCrosse, Wis., on the 160-yard 17th hole, using a 6-iron. Witnesses to the ace, which was made in qualifying play, were John Boerboon, Jeff Cooley and Tim King.

25. Tuesday, Aug. 13, 1996—Dan Johnson, Spring Lake Park, on the 174-yard 8th hole, using a 9-iron. Witnesses were Gregg Sorensen, Rick Kallhoff and Bill LeDoux.

26. Wednesday, Aug. 14, 1996—Jason Cordes, Perth, Australia, on the 213-yard 3rd hole, using a 4-iron. Witnesses included Scott Linnerooth, Dave Conzemius Jr., Michael Bindas, Jennifer Volkerding and Matt Geeslin.

27. Sunday, Aug. 18, 1996—Myles Bosch, Fargo, on the 213-yard 3rd hole, using a 2-iron. Witnesses were Steve Houghton, Marty Gompf, Jeff Abrahams and David Olson.

28. Tuesday, Aug. 10, 1999—Tim Rubis, Fargo, on the 213yard 3rd hole, using a 3-iron.

29. Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000—Ben Greve, Annandale, on the 160-yard 17th hole, using a 7-iron. Witnesses were Mike Stirling, Mark Boyle and Jim Strandemo.

30. Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007 — Corey Schommer of Lakeville, Minnesota on hole #3, 222 yard shot using a 6 iron. Witnesses: Dustin Delmonico, Kevin Barr & Sean Ambrosie.

31. Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 — Terry Barnard of Moorhead, on hole 14, a 147-yard shot, using a 7 iron. Witnesses: Dick McConn, Ron Smedshammer, Mel Gauslow and Vivian Wenzel.

32. Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008 — Eric Galt, Fargo, on the par 4, seventh hole using a driver. Witnesses: Abby Strauss, Jeff Skogmo, Rob Schultz, Jeff Thiege and Will Blasczyk.

33. Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 — Bill Modrich, Fargo, hole No. 14, Par 3, 150-yards, using an eight iron. Witnesses: John Bergquist, Chad Kosin and Ken Astrup.

34. Monday, Aug. 9, 2010 — Perry Piatz, Fargo, on the par 3, Hole No. 14, a 155-yard shot, using an eight iron.

33. Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010 — Michael Bologna, Vadnais Heights, on the par 3, Hole No. 8, a 160-yard shot using an eight iron.

44

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Tim wins battle of the Skarperud’s Brothers battle for N.D. match play championship

BY BRAD SCHLOSSMAN

Fargo Communications

GRAND FORKS – The most difficult part about winning the North Dakota Golf Association match play title was not that Tim Skarperud had to maneuver through a field full of college and prep stars.

The toughest part was being the best golfer in his family.

It took 22 holes on a hot and muggy Sunday afternoon at the Grand Forks Country Club, but finally, Tim was able to edge his older brother, Chad, to win his first major individual title.

Tim sunk a birdie putt from about 25 feet on the fourth hole, then watched Chad’s birdie attempt go just wide, ending the long battle between the brothers who have already teamed for two NDGA twoman titles (best ball, scramble) this summer.

“It’s fun playing against your brother, but it isn’t great,” Tim said.

“You are used to cheering for your brother to win. But for the two of us to meet in the final, I think it was a great experience and something that we’ll always remember.”

Chad said: “Any time you are playing a family member, it’s a little more difficult. You set that aside and play as hard as you can. I think you could tell our competitive juices were flowing. There weren’t too many words said out there.”

This was the second time that Tim and Chad have gone head-tohead in a tournament. The first time it happened was five years ago in the NDGA match play tournament in Minot. Chad won that first-round match in 20 holes.

This one also went to extra holes.

It was close throughout. Chad took a one-hole lead after getting a birdie at No. 13 and chipping in for eagle at No. 14. Tim came back and won No. 15 to square the match.

Tim Skarperud struggles with tree branches during the 2009 North Dakota State Match Play Tournament. Photo by Dave Wallis/Forum Communications Co. On No. 18, Tim’s par attempt lipped out, giving Chad an opportunity to win the match with a putt from about six feet. He pushed it an inch wide, though.

Both golfers grabbed pars at No. 1 and No. 2 of extra holes. On the third hole, Tim got up-and-down from a greenside bunker to match Chad’s birdie. Tim finished off the match with a second consecutive birdie on No. 4.

“I’ve won all-city tournaments before, but never a tournament like this one,” said Tim, who also has a runner-up finish in the Birchmont.

Tim is unsure at this point whether he will go for a fourth NDGA title this year in the stroke play tournament at the end of August. But he is planning to play in the Birchmont next week – where he could run into Chad again.

“It’s kind of a family reunion,” Tim said, “a family reunion with a golf tournament.”

NDGA match play tournament at Grand Forks, N.D.

Championship flight Championship Tim Skarperud def. Chad Skarperud, 22 holes First flight Championship Trent Olson def. Shane Feist Second flight Championship Matt Hiller def. Wade Heibel Third flight Championship Tyler Holland def. Cody Ketterling Fourth flight Championship Scott Jorgenson def. Bob Cram.

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

45

NDSU golfer Amy Anderson led the U.S. Women’s Open when the tournament was delayed the first day.

Anderson finds U.S. Open to her liking

BY JEFF KOLPACK

Forum Communications Co.

The drive home was all night and took about 15 hours. The amateur golfer who spent time atop the leaderboard in U.S. Women’s Open slept most of the way.

When Amy Anderson woke up, it was not a dream.

And if there was a nightmare scenario for North Dakota State’s women’s golf team — that Anderson would turn professional — that was dispelled with enthusiasm on Monday afternoon.

“I can’t tell you how much advice I’ve gotten,” said Anderson, who will be a junior this fall. “I’ve had so many people say things like, ‘You should go south.’ What I’m doing now is working. I’m sticking around here for two more years.”

She finished 63rd with a 17-over 301 after four rain-delayed rounds at The Broadmoor golf course in

Colorado Springs, Colo. She led when the tournament was delayed the first day and she subsequently became a media hit with several national appearances.

Her performance ranks with the best all-time in NDSU women’s athletics history.

“Very much near the top,” said NDSU women’s athletic director Lynn Dorn. “She’s the real deal.”

Dorn said she was not concerned about Anderson turning professional, saying “Amy is real grounded in making her decision.”

Anderson said her performance in the Open does not “accelerate” any plans in turning professional.

“But it motivates me,” she said.

“Failure motivates me.”

Her fall on the leaderboard had more to do with her putting than anything else, she said. She felt her ball-striking ability was just as good as the professionals.

“With that, I did learn some-

thing,” she said.

Her plans the rest of the summer still have intensity. She’ll play in the Women’s Trans National in Sheridan Wyo., at the end of the month and the United States Women’s Amateur in Barrington, R.I., in the middle of August.

The memory of last weekend, however, will not be far away.

There’s nothing like walking down a fairway with 3,000 to 4,000 fans on one hole.

“People were chanting ‘Go Bison,’” she said. “I was surprised how many people from North Dakota and Bison alumni were there.”

And she did leave with a piece of advice that she said was worth keeping.

“The biggest one was to enjoy the moment and I feel like I did that,” she said. “I was loving that even when I wasn’t playing well.”

46

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

Krueger takes Super Seniors

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

It took 72 years for a golfer from the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament’s host town, Detroit Lakes, to win the prestigious championship, when DL native Chris Braaten won it in 2004.

But it took only one tournament for a DL golfer to win the newlyformed Super Seniors Division, when Paul Krueger toppled Chuck Renner of Phoenix, Ariz., 2 and 1 in the championship at the Detroit Country Club Sunday.

Krueger’s birdie-fest on the front nine laid the foundation for his championship run.

He birdied holes one, five and six to take a commanding 4-up lead at the turn.

“The putter was my partner,” Krueger said. “I was making everything.”

Renner took holes 15 and 16 with birdie for a late rally, by Krueger’s green game was far too much for the Arizona golfer.

The Super Seniors was a hit in its first year, with 34 golfers playing in it.

Renner won medalist honors after a one-round qualifying score of two-over par 73, with the bracket featuring the eight lowest scores.

Those who qualified for championship play included Krueger, Renner, DL’s Ted Hatlen, John Lieser (1971 Pine to Palm champion), William Ericksen, James Larson, Owen Germundson and DL’s Ron Smedshammer.

Krueger won a close semifinal match against Larson, winning 1-up, while defeating Smedshammer in the first round 8 and 6.

Torrential downpours affected Pine to Palm play throughout the week, with several delays had.

But the Super Seniors proved to be resilient and a popular division in its inaugural year.

“I’m really happy to be the first Super Senior champion and get my name up on the board at the starter shack,” Krueger added.

Paul Krueger topped Chuck Renner 2 and 1 to take the first-ever Pine to Palm Super Senior’s title in 2010.

2010 Pine to Palm Super Senior Championship #1 chuck renner chuck renner, 2-up #8 john lieser chuck renner, 5&4

#4 ted hatlen ted hatlen, 5-up #6 william ericksen

paul krueger

2010 Super Senior Champion

#2 james “lank” larson james “lank” larson, 5-up #7 owen germundson

paul krueger, 1-up #3 paul krueger paul krueger, 8 & 6 #5 ron smedshammer

August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

47

Chuck Renner became the first-ever Pine to Palm Super Senior medalist, shooting two-over par 73 qualifying score.

Renner shoots Super Senior low

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

A precarious start to Chuck Rennerís Super Senior qualifying round Wednesday, made him to think about Detroit Lakesí other big attraction ó fishing.

Three straight bogeys started Rennerís round, which led him to start thinking what type of bait he should use on the lake Thursday.

Luckily for Renner, instead he started trying to correct his swing and it worked to near perfection, as he recovered from his three-over par start to win the first-ever Super Seniorís medalist laurels with a two-over 73. ìThe start was pretty pathetic,î Renner said. ìI was kind of thinking of fishing already tomorrow since I didnít think I would be in match play. ìBut I just was able to correct my sloppy lower body (mechanics) and that set everything right.

Everything I was aiming at, I was hitting.î Renner made par putts on 16 and 17 on his front nine, and recovered for a nice birdie on 18 after driving into the trees.

ìI hit underneath a branch and it landed one foot from the cup for birdie,î Renner said of 18. ìThat at least helped me neutralize one of my bogeys.î Renner made par on his first two holes after the turn, made bogey on three and made a par putt on four.

He missed a long uphill eagle putt on five, finishing with birdie and sunk another one on seven on a putt about 10-feet above the hole.

Winning the first Super Seniorís medalist honor, was a nice recovery after last yearís first-round exit in Seniorís play after he lost to Dan Elton 1-up in 19 holes.

It was his first year he played in the Pine to Palm. ìIt was nice to come back to win medalist honors,î Renner said.

Renner will have the No. 1 seed and face John Lieser, who shot a qualifying score of 79. Lieser was the 1971 Pine to Palm champion.

Ted Hatlen (76) of Detroit Lakes will face William Ericksen (78).

In the bottom bracket, James ìLankî Larson (75) will take on Owen Germundson, while Paul Krueger of DL (75) will play Ron Smedshammer of DL (78).

The newly-created Super Senior

Chuck Renner chips up to the par 5 fifth hole during the Super Senior championship round against Paul Krueger of Detroit Lakes.

Division had 27 golfers competing in it.

Super Senior match play will start at 8:40 a.m. on tee 10 Thursday morning.

TOM HOGE 1-up WADE WALTERS 1-up (19)

KENNY RUCKER 3 & 2

WADE WALTERS 5 & 3

SEAN BARRETT 2 & 1

Jared Butler 2 & 1 taylor hendrickson 2-up

#63

#15

#34

#31

#48

RICK KUHN 3 & 2

TRAVIS ROSS 2 & 1

TODD HILLIER 4-up

TODD HILLIER

TODD HILLIER 1-up (20)

TANNER LANE 2 & 1

LUKE DAVISON 1-up

TANNER LANE 1-up

#39

#14

#35

#30

#62

#3

#42

#23

#55

#10

#60

#44

#21

#53

#12

#37

#28

greg melhus 4 & 3

spencer hilde 1-up (19)

adam gronaas 2 & 1

rick kuhn 4 & 3

SPENCER HILDE 2 & 1

RICK KUHN 6 & 5

FINAL • SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 • 2:45PM 2010 PINE TO PALM CHAMPION todd hillier

LOGAN PALMER 3 & 1

TODD HILLIER 4 & 3

LOGAN PALMER 2 & 1

nick gillam 2 & 1

todd hillier 7 & 6

john young 1-up

#43

#22

#54

#11

#38

#27

#59

#6

#46

The Pine to Palm Tradition

#5

#45

luke davison 4 & 3

Max hosking 2-up

tanner lane 1-up

ben freeman 1-up (19)

mason kennedy 6 & 5

kenny rucker 2 & 1

jordan dickey 2-up

#58 #26

#51

Mike balzer 1-up

TRAVIS ROSS 2 & 1

TOM HOGE

KENNY RUCKER 7 & 5

COREY BLENKUSH 3 & 2

#47 #7

#19

CALEB KETTERLING 1 -up (20 )

TRAVIS ROSS 4 & 3

ADAM MCARTHUR 3 & 2

BEN WELLE 1-up

corey blenkush 1-up

#20

Caleb ketterling 1-up

RYAN STEINERT 1-up

TRAVIS ROSS 2 & 1

JAMES FORD 1-up

adam mcarthur 2 & 1

ben welle 4 & 2

pat deitz 8 & 7

sean barrett 3 & 2

#52

#13

#36

#29

#61

#4

#41

#24

#56

#9

#40

#25

#57

#8

nate varty 3 & 2

#18

BEN WELLE 6 & 5

TOM HOGE 5 & 3

WADE WALTERS 5 & 3

#2

#50

THOMAS STRANDEMO 3 & 2

TOM HOGE 3 & 2

WADE WALTERS 5 & 3

#49

THOMAS STRANDEMO 2 & 1

TROY KLONGERBO 2 & 1

Tom hoge 6 & 5

LOWER BRACKET

#17

#16

#33

#32

#64

#1

UPPER BRACKET

Championship Field

2010 Pine To Palm

48 August 8-14, 2011

The Pine to Palm Tradition

August 8-14, 2011

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