Pine to Palm Spotlight Vol. 69 No. 3

83RD PINE TO PALM

Sp tlight VOL. 69 NO. 3

DETROIT LAKES, MINNESOTA • SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 2015

E L L E W S T E S P U CZEH Will Czeh of Roseau chips up to the 7th green during his championship match against defending champion Ben Welle. Czeh knocked off Welle 2 up to advance to Saturday match play.

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Friday, August 14, 2015 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

“It’s the biggest match I’d ever played in...”

– Will Czeh

Czeh knocks off Pine to Palm top seed

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Roseau graduate and Bemidji State University freshman Will Czeh pulled off the biggest win of his career and an improbable upset to stun the crowd of the 2015 Pine to Palm golf tournament at Detroit Country Club in Detroit Lakes Friday afternoon.

Czeh defeated the defending champion and top seed by a score of 2-up and the pair shook hands on the 18th green with an intrigued gallery looking on.

“I started coming on right at the end with a couple birdies,” Czeh said. “You have to make birdies when you’re playing Ben Welle. You have to do it.”

Welle was tearing up the course and appeared unbeatable heading into the Friday’s round of 32. Czeh was well aware and had his own expectations to deal with and Welle.

“I came in today with high hopes and low expectations,” Czeh said. “I actually haven’t played that well, kind of snuck by to get here. I told myself I’m just going to go out, make good swings and attack every putt.”

Birdies on 15 and 16 set Czeh up for another unreal feeling as the pair stepped to the 17th tee box.

“I’m sitting on 17 thinking I actually don’t want to play 18,” he said. “I hate 18.”

Sealing the victory on 18 put away a monumental win for Czeh and his thoughts on Saturday’s round of 16 and the remainder of the tournament are sky high.

“It’s the biggest match I’d ever played in,” he said. “I made it to 16 and I was 1-up. If you would have told me I would have been up in the last three holes, I’d have told you you’re a liar.”

Czeh’s win certainly changes other players perspectives on his play and also opens the door for medalist and 2014 runner-up Grady Meyer.

“Stuff happens like that,” Meyer said. “Guys are going to get beat and people are going to beat people. That’s how Pine to Palm works.”

Meyer continued to impress winning with ease after catching fire on the back nine.

“I played really well once I made the turn,” said Meyer.

Meyer birdied four of the first five holes on the back nine to put the match away en route to a 6&4 victory over Robbie Foster.

Czeh was quick to get away from Detroit Country Club to prepare for what was unexpected this morning, another championship match tomorrow.

“I’m going to relax, leave the golf course right now and push everything out of my mind and come back fresh tomorrow morning. It’s going to be a long haul.”

Czeh will face Ryan Steinert.

Steinert defeated Robert Wagner 2-up.

Meyer will play against Frazee’s Beau Hanson, the 2012 champion.

Hanson defeated Jacob Dehne 2&1.

Nick Myhre defeated Ryan Vincelli 6&5 only to face another Vincelli in the next round.

Tony Vincelli advanced with a 1-up victory over Justin Doeden.

Alexander Kline will also face a Vincelli in the likes of Marc Vincelli who advanced with a 2&1 win over Teddy Cox. Kline defeated Michael

CHAMPIONSHIP to page 9 ➤ BRIAN BASHAM

Will Czeh of Roseau, Minn., rolls a birdie putt across the 7th green of the Detroit Country Club in Detroit Lakes, Minn., Friday during his Pine to Palm match against defending champion Ben Welle.

Czeh beat Welle 2 up to advance to Satuday’s match play.

Ben Mallow, above, watches his tee shot on the 5th hole Friday. He defeated Matt Rachey 1 up to advance to Saturday’s match play. Charlie Duensing, left, watches his drive on the 5th hole during his Friday match against former Pine to Palm champion Rick Kuhn. Duensing won the match 4 and 2.

Saturday, August 15, 2015 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

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Schaefer shines, capping title with 19-hole Birchmont comeback victory

BY PAT MILLER

Forum News Service

On Monday and Tuesday, Nick Schaefer of Grand Forks set the pace in the Birchmont Men’s Championship Division by earning medalist honors.

On Saturday, Schaefer completed his Birchmont run by claiming the title with a 1-up in 19 holes victory over Seth Heppner of Crookston.

But unlike some of his 2015 Birchmont matches which saw Schaefer win with relative ease, Saturday’s final was a true test of his mental toughness.

Heppner won No. 3 with a par and quickly upped his advantage to three holes with a birdie on No. 4 and par on No. 7.

Schaefer eventually evened the match but, on the strength of lengthy winning putts by Heppner on No. 11 and No. 12, Schaefer trailed by one going into the 18th hole.

A wayward tee shot by Heppner resulted in a bogey and set the table for Schaefer’s winning par. That forced extra holes, and the 11-year Birchmont veteran continued his run with a matchwinning birdie putt on the first extra hole.

“It was a grind out there,” Schaefer said. “I never had a lead until the extra playoff hole.

I was hoping to get off to a better start but I found the trees early in the match and couldn’t work my way out of trouble.

“The wear and tear of playing in the Birchmont is way more mental than physical,” Schaefer continued. “All you want to do (with each shot) is put yourself JILLIAN GANDSEY/FORUM NEWS SERVICE in the right position but that can NICK SCHAEFER keeps his eye on the ball after he tees off from hole No. 1 on Saturday at the be tough to do.”

Bemidji Town and Country Club. Schaefer beat Seth Heppner in a thrilling match that went to Heppner, who was making his third Birchmont appeara playoff and ended in 19 holes.

ance, also discovered how difficult it can be to place the ball in the proper locations. For most of the match Heppner found the fairways but when he failed to drive into the short grass, he usually paid the price.

Among those wayward shots was his tee ball on No. 18, which missed the fairway to the right and settled among the trees.

From that position all Heppner could muster was a bogey, and that mistake proved costly.

“I was kind of fatigued at the end,” said Heppner, who began his Saturday with a 2 and 1 semifinal victory over Chad Skarperud of Fargo. “I played 36 holes on Saturday and that is a lot of holes.

“But I thought we both played well. It was a good match.”

Schaefer had a less strenuous day at the Bemidji Town and Country Club.

On Saturday morning he dominated Tyler Hill of Virginia in the semifinals, forging a commanding lead at the turn and seeing the match end early when Hill conceded after a tee shot on No. 10 found the timber.

Schaefer also chose to ride a cart during the final while Heppner walked his way through his 36-hole marathon day.

“It’s been a long week of golf,” Schaefer admitted. “I played well all week but it was a grind. I think being the medalist and the low guy in the field because there was no defending champion back, may put a target on your back but (wearing that target) was fun. My family and I come back each year for the Birchmont and this year will be a fun thing to remember.”

Heinen’s long drives give him Resorters’ Men’s title

BY AL EDENLOFF, ERIC MORKEN Forum News Service

Nick Heinen of Edmond, Oklahoma was crushing it off the tee Saturday in the Resorters’ Men’s Division final, driving it 320 yards or more hole after hole.

He was also deadly accurate most of the time, which gave him plenty of birdie chances.

He ended the day six-under par – just enough to defeat Justin Doeden of Prior Lake, 2-1, to notch his third Resorters’ title. Heinen was the Junior 13-15 Division champion in 2009 and 2011.

Heinen, 19, made it into the finals by edging 16-year-old

Ben Sigel of Deephaven, 2-1 early Saturday morning. He did it by carding four big wins on the back nine, highlighted by a birdie on No. 11 followed by an eagle on No. 12.

Doeden, meanwhile, coasted to a 5-4 win over Sam Peterson of Benson. He held a 3-up lead at the turn and added wins on Nos. 12 and 13.

Heinen, the Men’s Division runner-up for the last two years, broke ahead early against Doeden, striking for two birdies to open the match.

After halving the next two holes with par, Heinen added a par win on No. 5.

On the par-5 6th, Heinen followed up a massive drive that left him just 200 yards from the

green with an approach shot that rolled just a couple feet from the cup. It was a gimme eagle that put him 4-up.

Doeden won his first hole with a solid par on No. 7 after Heinen wound up in the trap.

After halving the next hole, Heinen’s drive on No. 9 landed just 70 yards from the green and he drained a birdie putt to go 4-up at the turn.

Doeden made a match of it by winning the next two holes with birdies, thanks to a nice chip on No. 10 to within five feet and a good birdie putt on No. 11.

Both golfers swapped birdies and pars on the next two holes. Heinen’s second shot on the par-5 14th wound up in

the bunker but he was able to get up and down for birdie to go 3-up.

After pars on the next hole, Doeden again mounted a comeback by sinking a birdie putt on No. 16 to draw within two.

On the par-3 No. 17, Doeden’s tee shot landed just 10 feet from the cup, but Heinen was also accurate, leaving it about 15 feet away.

Heinen missed his birdie try but so did Doeden, which ended the match 2-1.

At the awards ceremony, Heinen thanked his host family during the tournament, his aunt and uncle, and thanked his parents and brother for their support as well.

When asked by the Echo Press how the win compares to his Junior Division victories, Heinen said it was “a little more stressful.”

“He [Doeden] made a charge at the end,” Heinen said. “I was surprised when he didn’t make that birdie on 17.”

Heinen said his quick start, coupled with the eagle on No. 6, were pivotal points in the match.

This fall, Heinen will be attending Oklahoma State University as a redshirt freshman and he plans to be back to defend his Resorters’ title next summer. “It’s a fun tournament,” he said.

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Saturday, August 15, 2015 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

At 94-years strong, beloved Gordy Anderson inspires in a final Resorters run

BY WILL BENSON

Forum News Service

WILL BENSON/FORUM NEWS SERVICE

Henry Gordon “Gordy” Anderson practices on the putting green on Friday afternoon at the 94th annual Resorters Golf Tournament.

After speaking to 94-yearold veteran Henry Gordon “Gordy” Anderson for merely 10 minutes on August 6, it’s easy to understand why the Alexandrian of 23 years has become adored in the area golf community after purchasing a home on Lake L’Homme Dieu in 1992.

Anderson, who was competing in the Masters Division in his final Resorters Tournament, experienced some bittersweet emotions on his final run, but cherishes the time he’s had in the competitions over the years.

“I must say that I played with the absolute intention of not winning anything, but just going out and enjoying myself,” Anderson said. “The fellowship I’ve had with the guys I played with is just great and it’s a good way to end my tournament career.”

Anderson discovered the Alexandria Golf Club during his time as the head of the school system as superintendent at Wheaton in the 1950s and early 1960s before retiring in 1980. He recalls fond memories the tournaments created with his friends and family.

“As a result of being fairly close to Alexandria, they used to put on a state Legion golf tournament every year, and so with our group of Legionnaires and our wives, we would come over, play golf, and then go to the Legion club to stay for dinner,” Anderson said. “It was an outing that the ladies enjoyed as an event, and was just one of the great features of Alexandria that we enjoyed.”

Anderson has played at the course casually throughout the years and in the Resorters since the early 1960s. He stated that the last time in his

RUTLEDGE AWARD

Greg Potvin, Ron Smet and Nancy Rutledge Haggart

earlier years that he medaled was in the Senior Division championships in 1988.

Even today, he shoots lower than his age almost every time he goes out for 18 holes, and added that he feels rather disgusted if he gets into the 90s.

“I’ve had a long-term relationship with Alexandria and especially an interest in the Resorters.”

He believes golf can act as a savior in longevity and stressed that the sport means so much more at this stage in his life than ever before, serving as an incentive to keep staying active after his wife passed away last August.

“I must say that golf has become an important part of my life,” Anderson said. “So important, that I’ve seen a lot of older golfers stop golfing, give up the game, and the first thing you know they are in a nursing home. I’ve decided that because of the interest I have in golf, part of it is to stay active and to watch my diet to do everything I can to maintain that strength.”

Anderson continues to work out two to three times a week at the Alexandria Area YMCA and also tries to play golf three or four times weekly. He now is preparing to go to Arizona in October and plans to keep playing through the winter.

“I have been blessed, but I’ve got to say I can’t take credit for all of the good health I’ve had,” he said. “I feel that the good Lord has had a hand in this, and I’m very appreciative of the fact that I’m able to stay healthy as a result. It’s another reason for living.”

Although Anderson will be leaving the area, his recollections surrounding the AGC and its improvements over time are not forgotten, even with the little things.

“We’ve got a young lady

here that keeps up the flowers, and they are so special,” he said. “They are just one of those things that attract a lot of visitors.”

Anderson pointed out the sprinkler system enhancements on the previously dry fairways have been pivotal for developing the course.

“I don’t want to take credit like I’m a long ball hitter, but I remember being able to hit number one in the sand trap two or three times in those years, because the ball would run so far in the rough,” Anderson explained with a chuckle. “The golf course has improved to the point that I must say that I think that Alexandria has one of the finest – if not the finest courses especially for senior citizens, but also for everyone. It is the kind of golf course that you enjoy playing day after day.

You never get tired playing here.”

He will be remembered for his iconic can’t-miss red golf cart on the course and sporting knickers for events, although he added those days have passed.

“I had a foursome that I used to play with when I was in Hastings from 1966 to the 1970s, and of course, we all dressed that way.”

He feels at his age he perhaps could prove to be an inspiration for others to continue staying active and hopefully continue playing golf at an advanced age. The World War II veteran reflects on his own full life, and feels fortunate to be where it has taken him.

“We are kind of a dying breed as you know, so it gives me a great deal of pleasure as a veteran of World War II to be able to play golf and especially try to play a little competitive golf,” he said. “It isn’t like it used to be, but nothing else is either.”

25 YEAR AWARDS

Jim Wolff & Ted Hatlen

Saturday, August 15, 2015 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

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Rematch of last year’s final highlights Mid-Am semis

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Saturday’s Mid-Am semifinals feature a rematch of the 2014 championship with defending title holder Kent Spriggs facing Bob Cavanagh of Perham.

Spriggs won last year’s matchup 4&3.

In the heat of Friday’s quarterfinal matches, Spriggs battled in a backand-forth affair with Wade King to a 1-up victory.

Spriggs led 2-up after two and the pair only halved two holes out of the first 11 played.

“We were just trading back and forth,” Spriggs said.

King birdied 15 to move to 1-down.

“I was 1-up with three to go and I was able to hold on,” Spriggs said.

Spriggs made a seven-footer to seal the victory.

“Matches like that are fun, even though they’re close,” he said. “We both had a couple bad holes, but other than that, we both played well.”

The course at Detroit Country Club has a number of areas where the playing surface has a surprise for players. Spriggs was not immune to a few funky ball placements.

“The course has come a long way, but you get a couple funny lies every once in a while when you’re not expecting it, but everybody gets them, that’s just the way it is.”

Cavanagh was headed to a practice round to work on his short game that gave him some trouble during the quarterfinals.

“I hit the ball well but my short game was suspect,” said Cavanagh. “I

was able to Band-Aid it and get a win.”

Cavanagh defeated Jon Anas 2&1 to advance.

Neither Spriggs nor Cavanagh was adversely affected by Friday’s heatwave in Detroit Lakes.

“It wasn’t that bad,” Cavanagh said.

“That wasn’t the problem. It was just some goofy lies and not being able to handle it.”

“I don’t mind the heat,” said Spriggs. “At my age, it helps to be a little loose.”

Of the upcoming rematch, both players know what to expect of each other and are ready to battle for a berth in the finals.

“I hope for better results this year,” said Cavanagh. “He never gets in trouble so you can’t let him wear you down. He’ll wear you down with pars.”

“Bob’s been playing well,” said Spriggs. “It’s going to be a fun match tomorrow. It’s not going to be an easy road. Everybody left is playing well.”

In the other half of the bracket, medalist Scott Uithoven defeated Jim Mikkelson 2&1 to force a semifinal match with the 2013 Mid-Am champion Perry Piatz.

Piatz had little trouble finishing early in a 6&4 victory over Miles Schacher.

The semifinals get underway Saturday at 2 p.m.

Pine to Palm Mid Am Quarterfinals No. 1 Kent Spriggs 1-up No. 9 Wade King No. 2 Scott Uithoven 2&1 No. 10 Jim Mikkelson No. 4 Bob Cavanagh 2&1 No. 5 Jon Anas No. 6 Perry Piatz 6&4 No. 14 Miles Schacher Semifinal matchups Spriggs vs. Cavanagh Uithoven vs. Piatz

Kent Spriggs rolls in a putt on the par four 7th green during Friday’s Mid-Am match play.

2015 MID-AM

CHAMPIONSHIP KENT SPRIGGS KENT SPRIGGS 4&3

JEFF CLEVELAND KENT SPRIGGS 1-UP

KENT FRONK

WADE KING 2&1

WADE KING BOB CAVANAGH BOB CAVANAGH 4&3

BRADY OPHEIM JON ANAS

JON ANAS 2&1

BOB CAVANAGH, 2 & 1

JAY OLAFSON SCOTT UITHOVEN SCOTT UITHOVEN 1-UP

AARON BURNSIDE

2015 Champion SCOTT UITHOVEN, 2 & 1

PAUL UITHOVEN

Bob Cavanagh of Perham chips up to the 7th green during his Friday Mid-Am match against Jon Anas. Cavanagh beat Anas to advance to Saturday match play.

JIM MIKKELSON 5&4

JIM MIKKELSON JAY PETERSON MILES SCHACHER

MILES SCHACHER 1-UP

PERRY PIATZ DAN PERRINE

PERRY PIATZ 5&3

PERRY PIATZ 6 & 4

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Saturday, August 15, 2015

7

2015 PINE TO PALM

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD BEN WELLE BEN WELLE 7&5 TODD HILLIER

W. CZEH 2-UP

COLE JOHNSON WILL CZEH 1-UP WILL CZEH JACQUES WILSON ROBERT WAGNER 2-UP ROBERT WAGNER

R. STEINERT 2-UP

N. MYHRE 6&5

NICK MYHRE NICK MYHRE 1-UP COY PAPACHEK JUSTIN DOEDEN JUSTIN DOEDEN 1-UP TANNER SCHNATHORST

T. VINCELLI 1-UP

BRYANT BUCKELLEW TONY VINCELLI 7&6 TONY VINCELLI ALEXANDER KLINE ALEXANDER KLINE 1-UP BEN BRAATEN

A. KLINE 3&2

TONY KALLEVIG MICHAEL MELHUS 3&2 MICHAEL MELHUS JIM FOSS MARC VINCELLI 1-UP MARC VINCELLI

M. VINCELLI 2&1

JASON HUNTINGTON TEDDY COX 4&3 TEDDY COX CHRIS SWENSON CHRIS SWENSON 7&6 ANDREW STRAND

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GRADY MEYER 5&4

GRADY MEYER GUY STRANDEMO

ROBBIE FOSTER 5&3

ROBBIE FOSTER NATHANIAL VARTY

JACOB DEHNE 3&2

JACOB DEHNE PATRICK TRAYNOR

BEAU HANSON 7&6

BEAU HANSON BENNETT SCHROEDER

RICK KUHN 3&2

RICK KUHN JAKE WITHAM

CHARLIE DUENSING 3&2

CHARLIE DUENSING MASON KENNEDY

MATT RACHEY 6&5

MATT RACHEY MATT KOSTER

BEN MALLOW 1-UP

BEN MALLOW EIRK WEISS

BENJAMIN SKOGEN 8&6

BENJAMIN SKOGEN DAVID TRETT

JACK ELLIOTT 5&4

JACK ELLIOTT JORDIE SIVERSON

LUKAS DAVISON 2&1

NICK EVIN LUKAS DAVISON

LUCAS JOHNSON 7&5

LUCAS JOHNSON BRENNAN HOCKMAN

CONNOR HOLLAND 2&1

CONNOR HOLLAND MICHAEL GREENBERG

CODY COOK 5&3

CODY COOK MARK HALVERSON

PAT DIETZ 4&3

PAT DEITZ BRADY ROBERTSON

CALEB KETTERLING 3&2

NOAH LAWSON CALEB KETTERLING

B. HANSON 2&1

LOWER BRACKET

C. DUENSING 4&2

B. MALLOW 1-UP

J. ELLIOTT 1-UP

L. JOHNSON 3&1

C. HOLLAND 2&1

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Filled with adrenaline, the hunters forgot about how cold and tired they were. The hunters were happy and relieved knowing there would be meat on the table for their families the coming winter.

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Then on the SE side of the slough the buck appeared. The hunters shouldered their guns, aimed and fired. The buck tumbled down.

UPPER BRACKET

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Saturday, August 15, 2015 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

John Woxland squints and glares at his 15-foot putt on the par five 5th green during Friday Senior championship match play.

Woxland lost his match to Jim Strandemo 1 up.

BRIAN BASHAM/ SPOTLIGHT

Jim Strandemo rolls a putt on the par five 5th hole during his Friday Seniors match against John Woxland.

Strandemo won the match 1 up.

Neil Braaten watches his drive on the par four 6th hole Friday.

All four senior matches end in upsets

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

2015 SENIOR

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Upsets were the name of the game in the Pine to Palm Seniors division as all four matches went to the underdog, including Marc Redman taking out the defending champion Scott Linnerooth.

Linnerooth admitted he wasn’t playing his best golf after winning on Thursday, and Redman, the eight-seed, was better Friday taking the match 3&2.

Redman’s win sets up a semifinal match with No. 12 seed Neil Braaten.

Braaten took out a local favorite, No. 4 Michael Seelye of Detroit Lakes by a score of 1-up.

Both of the top seeds were knocked out of the tournament when No. 7 Keith Aasen defeated No. 2 Dan Elton 2&1.

The pattern of play continued in the final pairing, a match between No. 14 Jim Strandemo and No. 11 John Woxland.

Strandemo made it four-for-four underdog victories with a 1-up win.

Redman and Braaten will tee off on hole No. 1 Saturday at 1:51. Strandemo and Aasen square off on hole No. 10.

Jim Strandemo plumb-bobs his putter to look at his birdie putt on the par four 13th green Friday.

Pine to Palm Seniors Quarterfinals No. 8 Marc Redman 3&2 No. 1 Scott Linnerooth No. 12 Neil Braaten 1-up No. 4 Michael Seelye No. 7 Keith Aasen 2&1 No. 2 Dan Elton No. 14 Jim Strandemo 1-up No. 11 John Woxland Semifinal matchups Redman vs. Braaten Aasen vs. Strandemo

CHAMPIONSHIP SCOTT LINNEROOTH

SCOTT LINNEROOTH, 3 & 2 MICHAEL CONNER

MARC REDMAN

MARC REDMAN, 3 & 2 MARC REDMAN, 3 & 1

TIM RUBIS MICHAEL SEELYE

MICHAEL SEELYE, 2 & 1

GEORGE THEISEN RICK JOHNSON

NEIL BRAATEN, 2 & 1

NEIL BRAATEN, 1-UP EXTRA HOLES

NEIL BRAATEN DAN ELTON DAVE PEARSON

2015 Champion

DAN ELTON, 2 & 1

KEITH AASEN, 2 & 1

KEITH AASEN RICK SAMSON

KEITH AASEN, 2 & 1

DAVE BARGE JIM STRANDEMO CRAIG STEIN JOHN WOXLAND

JIM STRANDEMO, 1-UP

JOHN WOXLAND, 1-UP

JIM STRANDEMO, 1-UP

Saturday, August 15, 2015 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

Former Pine to Palm champion Connor Holland of West Fargo rolls a short putt on the 6th green Friday.

Pat Dietz of Moorhead chips up to the 6th green Friday. Dietz beat Caleb Ketterling 2 up.

9

Lucas Johnson of Moorhead rolls a putt on the 4th green during his match against Lukas Davison. Johnson won the match 3 and 1.

➤ CHAMPIONSHIP from page 2 Melhus 3&2.

Andrew Israelson came back from a 3-down deficit after five holes to defeat Chris Swenson 2&1.

Israelson will face off with Brandon Sletmoen. Sletmoen defeated Riley Johnson 2&1.

Charlie Duensing eliminated Rick Kuhn 4&2 to force a matchup with Ben Mallow.

Mallow had the longest and wildest match of the day needing 23 holes to dispatch Matt Rachey.

Rachey made solid putts all day and chipped in on 18 down one to force extra holes.

The pair matched birdies on the first extra hole. Mallow sunk a 20-foot par save on two and won the match with a driver and pitching wedge to eight feet for eagle on the fifth hole. Rachey was right in the trees and needed to chip out.

After missing a par chip he conceded the match.

Jack Elliott defeated Benjamin Skogen and will face Lucas Johnson. Johnson beat Lukas Davison 3&1.

Connor Holland and Pat Dietz will square off in the round of 16. Holland defeated Cody Cook 2&1. Dietz won his match 2-up over Caleb Ketterling.

Championship matches start bright and early Saturday with first tee in the seven o’clock hour.

Beau Hanson of Frazee watches his drive on the par four 7th tee box Friday afternoon.

Championship flight medalist Grady Meyer, above, watches his drive on the par four 7th hole during his Friday match against Robbie Foster.

Meyer won the match 6 and 4 to advance to Saturday morning match play. Ryan Steinert, left, watches his tee shot on the par three 8th hole Friday.

10

Saturday, August 15, 2015 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

46th Annual Ironman Classic Ironman Golf Course • August 13-14, 2015 Ironman Classic Final Day recap Plenty of heat today was felt by all, but the junior golfers at Ironman Golf Course hung in there to play great golf in the 46th annual Ironman Classic. Cardiac kid Parker Bartels, Oxbow ND, defeated #1 seed Ty Satter, Fargo, ND, in the finals of match play in the 13-18 year old Open Division. Parker had to make a 15 footer on his first playoff hole against Hunter Burnside, Detroit Lakes, to advance to the finals!

Newcomer Mallory Belka of Perham, blew away the girls division with a 37 today and a two day total of 79 for an 11 shot victory. Clara Halverson of Minneapolis was second at 90. Mia Tickel, Hawley, won the First flight with consistent scores of 52-50 total of 102.

In the 8-9 year old boys division, Jack Justesen of Hawley won by 9 shots in the Championship flight with a two day total of 70. Torger Ohe, Edina, was the odd man out in the three way playoff for second and third. His brother Sander had the better scorecard playoff and came in second while Nicholas Tobkin, Detroit Lakes, came in third. Nolan Witham came from behind to win the First flight with a nice second day score of 43.

Year in and year out, our best golf seems to come out of the 10-12 year old boys division. This year was no exception. Dueling it out in the Championship flight were co-leaders Ian Simonich, Moorhead, and Bridger Hanson, Wahpeton who both carded 31’s in the first round. Ian’s 18 hole score on Friday was very impressive! Ian birdied his last hole, made 11 pars, and shot 59! Bridger came in with a 64 to finish third. Scott Boehning’s final round of 61, 1 birdie and 9 pars, secured him the second place spot. Ian and Scott are partners in the new PGA Junior League in Fargo. Watch out for these two in years to come! Max Vikander won the First flight with a nice 76 today and a total of 115.

The Parent Child Scramble on Saturday morning will close out the Smith chapter of running four fun days of junior golf competition at Ironman Golf Course. Competition, good fellowship, and parents allowing their children to play and learn (for the most part!) make this an event that the trophy winners and other players will talk about until the next August when they can play it again. Our sixteen years are in the books! We had fun! That is our best advice to all competitors -Keep the game in perspective! As intense as we want to get, it is a game and it is fun to compete!

​CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT BOYS 8-9 1st place-Jack Justesen, 2nd place- Sander Ohe, 3rd place-Nicholas Tobkin

BOYS 10-12 YEAR OLD DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT 1st- Ian Simonich, 2nd-Scott Boehning, 3rd-Bridger Hanson

OPEN DIVISION, CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT 1st-Parker Bartels, 2nd-Ty Satter, 3rd-Hunter Burnside

GIRLS 8-13 YEAR OLD DIVISION • CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT Mallory Belka, 2nd- Clara Halverson, 3rd-McKenna Mallow

BOYS 10-12 YEAR OLD, FIRST FLIGHT 8 & 9 YEAR OLD DIVISION • FIRST FLIGHT 1st place- Max Vikander 1st -Nolan Witham 2nd place- Lukas Justesen 2nd- Tommy Suckert 3rd- Lawson Justesen2015 IRONMAN JUNIOR CLASSIC 3rd place-Ian Ness

GIRLS 8-13 YEAR OLD DIVISION 1st- Mia Tickel 2nd- Abby Larson 3rd-Madison Gerded 2015 IRONMAN JUNIOR CLASSIC

Kris Smith and family

FINAL RESULTS

FINAL RESULTS CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT -BOYS DIVISION 8 & 9 1ST 2ND* 3RD* *

36 34 70 Justesen Jack 40 39 79 Tobkin Nicholas 42 37 79 Ohe Sander 39 39 79 Ohe Torger 44 46 90 Solberg Charlie 44 52 96 Vincelli Owen * THREE WAY TIE FOR 2ND BROKEN BY LOW SCORE ON FRIDAY

9 9 7 9 9 9

Hawley Detroit Lakes Edina Edina Fargo Brandon

MN MN MN MN ND SD

2015 IRONMAN JUNIOR CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT- GIRLS DIVISION 8-13 1ST 2ND 3RD

42 47 47 48 45 47 49 51

37 43 44 47 51 51 50 53

79 90 91 95 96 98 99 104

Belka Halverson Mallow Eckman DeBoer Pederson Hess Bartels

Mallory Clara McKenna Anna Falyn Kay Ella Avery

12 11 11 9 12 13 10 9

Perham Minneapolis Pelican Rapids Paynesville Detroit Lakes Lake Park Frazee Oxbow

MN MN MN MN MN MN MN ND

1ST 2ND 3RD

31 32 31 33 38 38 33 37

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT- BOYS DIVISION 10-12 59 90 Simonich Ian 61 93 Boehning Scott 64 95 Hansen Bridger 66 99 Randall Jack 73 111 Belka Marcus 74 112 Simonich Joey 85 118 McQuillan Max 53 120 Dronen Max

12 12 12 9 12 10 12 12

Moorhead Fargo Wahpeton Lawrence Perham Moorhead Oxbow Moorhead

MN ND MN KS MN MN MN MN

Friday, August 14, 2015 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

11

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Super Seniors Chuck Renner and Doug Gillam talk strategy on the 6th tee box before teeing off Friday afternoon.

Renner beat Bruce Carlisle 2 and 1 in championship match play and Gillam beat Joe Sauer 2 and 1 in championship consolation play Friday.

Doug Gillund watches his drive on the par five 12th tee box Friday.

Gillund beat Bob Cram in Super Seniors match play 3 and 2 to advance to Saturday’s round.

Bruce Carlisle, left, and Chuck Renner, right, shake hands after their match ended on the 8th green Friday afternoon. Renner beat Carlisle 2 and 1 to advance to Saturday’s Super Seniors match play.

Defending Pine to Palm Super Senior champion Chuck Renner continued his winning ways, beating Bruce Carlisle 2 and 1 Friday afternoon.

Three Super Seniors remain to unseat Renner

BY ROBERT WILLIAMS

rwilliams@dlnewspapers.com

Chuck Renner took another step toward a fifth straight Super Seniors title with a 3&1 victory over Bruce Carlisle on a sweltering day at the 83rd Pine to Palm golf tournament.

“All I was trying to do was drink as much water as possible,” said Renner.

Super Seniors were off at 9 a.m. tee times and got some golf in before the afternoon temperatures reached 90+ degrees.

Carlisle got out to an early 1-up lead at the beginning of the round on the back nine but a consistent Renner caught up and held a 2-up lead to the seventh hole needing to halve the eighth hole to win.

“It was one of those days where Bruce didn’t play well; he missed some putts early in the match,” said Renner.

“I thought maybe this is going to be a test all day, but he missed enough little shots and that’s what heat does to you sometimes. It’s easy to fold up in this stuff.”

Renner was pleased with his quarterfinal effort, but believes the semifinals will require a stronger effort.

“It was better than yesterday,” he said. “Yesterday, I was spastic, but today I was able to hit more good shots, not good enough to continue to win.”

Renner’s strategy is simple.

“One shot at a time. That’s all you try to do. This course can really frustrate you; you look at the slopes of the greens…it’s a very difficult course for most of us. The kids, obviously,

like Ben Welle, don’t seem to have any trouble. He’s going to go to another level. It’s nice to see that the kids play so well out here and the tradition continues. That’s what I really like.”

In the other half of the bracket, William Hawkins advanced to face Renner with a 2-up victory over William Blake.

Detroit Lakes’ Paul Krueger kept hometown hopes alive defeating Richard McConn 2&1. McConn dispatched top-seeded Don Bradford Thursday.

Krueger will face Doug Gillund, a 3&2 winner over Bob Cram.

The Krueger and Gillund semifinal features the No. 8 seed versus four.

Renner and Hawkins are a No. 2 versus No. 11 matchup.

Tee times for the semifinals are Saturday at 12:47 p.m. Renner and Hawkins will start on hole No. 10; the Krueger/Gillund pairing on No. 1.

Both pairings will play in similar conditions with temperatures again in the 90’s, however winds are expected to gust to 20-25 miles per hour.

“If you’re swinging well and making solid contact, it can be an advantage,” Renner said of the wind. “You just can’t give it to Mother Nature.”

Pine to Palm Super Seniors Quarterfinals No. 8 Paul Krueger 2&1 No. 16 Richard McConn No. 4 Doug Gillund 3&2 No. 12 Bob Cram No. 2 Chuck Renner 3&1 No. 7 Bruce Carlisle No. 11 William Hawkins 2-up No. 14 William Blake Semifinal matchups Krueger vs. Gillund Renner vs. Hawkins

2015 SUPER SENIOR

CHAMPIONSHIP

DON BRADFORD RICHARD MCCONN, 1-UP RICHARD MCCONN PAUL KRUEGER

PAUL KRUEGER, 2 & 1 PAUL KRUEGER, 4 & 3

LANCE BROWN DOUG GILLUND

DOUG GILLUND, 3 & 2

PETE LYSAKER THOMAS WOOD

DOUG GILLUND, 3 & 2

BOB CRAM, 3 & 2

BOB CRAM CHUCK RENNER

2015 Champion

CHUCK RENNER

KEN GASPAR

CHUCK RENNER, 2 & 1

BRUCE CARLISLE RONALD VINCELLI

BRUCE CARLISLE, 1-UP

DOUG GILLAM WILLIAM BLAKE JOE SAUER WILLIAM HAWKINS

WILLIAM BLAKE, 1-UP

WILLIAM HAWKINS, 2-UP WILLIAM HAWKINS, 1-UP

12

Saturday, August 15, 2015 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

Reading the Pine to Palm greens Photos by Brian Basham

JIM STRANDEMO plumbbobs his putter to look at his birdie putt on the par four 13th green Friday.

RYAN STEINERT eyeballs his putt on the 11th green using his hand and closing one eye (above). Lukas Davison gives himself tunnel vision as he looks over his birdie putt on the 4th green Friday (left).

DEFENDING MID-AM CHAMPION Kent Spriggs gets low in his squat to eye his putt on the par four 7th green Friday (left). Ben Mallow of Detroit Lakes stares intently at the 4th green reading his putt during his Friday match against Matt Rachey (above). John Woxland squints and glares at his 15-foot putt on the par five 5th green during Friday Senior championship match play (above right). Woxland lost his match to Jim Strandemo 1 up. Medalist Grady Meyer looks over a short putt on the par four 6th green Friday (right).