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Official Publication of the 89th Annual Resorters Golf Tournament by the Echo Press
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VOL. 73, NO. 1
RESORTERS Golf Tournament
SATURDAY,
July 31, 2010
Alexandria’s Maggie Leland sets re cord at state Page 5
New division to debut for 2010 Resorters The Junior Division will be divided into two sections for 2010 And then there were seven. This year’s Junior Division field has been divided in two – 10-12year-olds and 13-14year-olds – giving this year’s field for the 89th Resorters Golf Tournament a total of seven divisions. And only one other division will have a new champion as six-time defending titlist Ron Clayton of Sarasota, Florida, will not be among the field taking the course in the Masters Division. All other divisions will see the defending champion returning to make a stab at a repeat. They begin that action on Monday as qualifying play opens at the Alexandria Golf Club and is open to all spectators. Men Jim Lehman, Jr. entered the Resorters last year for the first time since 1983. He was the 2003 Minnesota Golf Association MidAmateur champion. He is back looking for a repeat, but will have a full field standing in his way, including five former champions – Mark Lindberg of Coppell, Texas (2002, 2003), Pete Passolt of Minneapolis (1989), Greg Peterson of Rochester (2001), Jerry Rose of Sarasota, Florida (1979, 1983, 2000) and Tyler Whiting of Alexandria (2008). Add to that three former Junior Division
Echo Press file photo
Five of last year’s Resorters Golf Tournament champions will be returning for another shot at a title, with the only missing champion being Ron Clayton of Sarasota, Florida (second from left). The other champions – Jack Dressen of Edina (2004), Sean Halverson of Baxter (2007) and Jason Whiting of Maple Grove (1995), and you have a formidable field awaiting Lehman. Executive Men Stefan Freeman of St. Cloud won his first Resorters title last year and is back to try for another. Last year, Freeman had to defeat his brother, Jon, for the title and battled him for 19 holes before winning. Both golfers are back
for another try, as is the 2005 champion, Kevin Kirkwood of Plano, Texas. Senior Men The defending champ in this division, John Empanger of Chaska, has competed in the Resorters Golf Tournament since the early 1970s and has only missed one year. He also won Executive titles in 1993, 1997, 2004, 2007 and 2008 and is back for a shot at a four-peat. He will have to contend with a tough field
returning players include (left to right) Nick Heinen of Edmond, Oklahoma, Jim Lehman Jr. of Plymouth, Stefan Freeman of St. Cloud, Maggie Leland of Alexandria and Jon Empanger of Chaska.
that includes Joe Klick of Albert Lea, the Executive Men’s champion in 1998 and 2001. Masters A new Masters champion? Say it isn’t so! But it will be, as the six-time defending champion, Ron Clayton of Sarasota, Florida, is not among the 2010 field in this division. Clayton has a total of eight Resorters titles in all, including two Senior Men’s titles, but won’t be adding to it this year. A scheduling conflict is keeping him joining the
field. That’s not to say the competition in this division won’t be of the same caliber, as four players with a total of eight titles between them will be in this year’s field. Leading the way is George Cliff of Mankato, who was the Senior Division champion in 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2007. Alexandria’s Wayne Elton holds claim to the former Super Senior SEVEN DIVISIONS
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2009 CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS Menʼs Division – Jim Lehman, Jr., Plymouth, defeated Will Harris, Alexandria, 5-4 Executive Menʼs Division - Stefan Freeman, St. Cloud, defeated brother Jon of Chanhassen 1-up in 19 holes Masterʼs Division – Ron Clayton, Sarasota, FL, def. Dave Harris, Alexandria, 1-up Senior Menʼs Division – Jon Empager, Chaska, defeated Peter Glanville, Scottsdale, AZ, 7-6. Womenʼs Division – Maggie Leland, Alexandria, defeated Allison Thimjon, Plymouth, 5-3. Junior Division – Nick Heinen, Edmond, OK, def. Tommy Brandebur, Minnetrista, 8-7.
from the top of the clubhous clubhouse
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