Pine to Palm Spotlight - Vol 67 No 4

81st Pine to Palm

Sp tlight vol. 67 no. 4

detroit lakes, minnesota • Sunday, august 11, 2013

Jon Trasamar

VS. Rick Kuhn

...and then there were four Robert F. Wagner

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Pine to Palm semifinals set

A good mix of talent to be featured

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

There is a nice medley of golfing talent in the 81st Pine to Palm Golf Tournament semifinals, as the field of 64 is now down to four.

First, there is the flash and glamour in University of Minnesota senior men’s golf team captain Jon Trasamar, who is swinging a mean club.

The grit is provided by Pine to Palm veterans and former champions Rick Kuhn of Bismarck, N.D., and Greg Melhus of West Fargo, who between the two, own three tournament championships and eight final four appearances.

There is the local angle and hometown favorite Robert Wagner, who is a 1998 Detroit Lakes High School graduate and one of the most persistent golfers on the course this past week.

What it all adds up to is yet another intriguing and unpredictable Pine to Palm final four.

“For a guy coming into the tournament and being content with just qualifying for match play, this is quite special,” said Wagner, who will face Melhus in one of the semifinal match ups. “But now that I’m here, I am not satisfied. I am playing the best golf of my life and it just so happens to be at this tournament.”

Wagner won his Sweet 16 match 2 and 1 over Bobby Reuter, while he held onto a

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Former two-time Pine to Palm champion Rick Kuhn of Bismarck, N.D., watches his drive on the 12th hole of Detroit Country Club in Detroit Lakes, during Saturday’s Pine to Palm match play. Kuhn beat Dominic Kiefer 5 and 4 to advance to Sunday play. thriller over Fargo Davies’ Adam Gronaas 1-up in the quarterfinal round.

It came down to the 18th hole, with Wagner holding a 1-up advantage. A chip onto the green just held above the hole for Wagner, who sunk it and clinched his first-ever semifinals at the Pine to Palm.

“It was a lucky chip,” Wagner said.

The DL native, who now lives in St. Louis Park and plays at the Minneapolis Golf Club, had a streak of bird-

ies to key his victory over Gronaas.

Wagner made birdies on holes 10, 12, 13 and 15 to eventually hold a 1-up lead heading into the last hole.

“I felt good going into 18 with a 1-up lead and he ended up in the trees off the tee,” Wagner said. “But he made a good shot and gave himself a chance.”

Trasamar hasn’t had a match like that yet, instead his victories have been thorough and convincing.

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Jon Trasamar, above, blasts out of a bunker behind the 9th green during Saturday match play. Greg Melhus, right, of West Fargo, N.D., hits a birdie attempt on the par four 10th green during Saturday’s Pine to Palm championship match play at the Detroit Country Club in Detroit Lakes, Melhus beat Alex Gaugert 2 and 1 to advance to Sunday match play.

That was the case Saturday, as he tore through Gopher teammate Tyler Lowenstein 5 and 4, then racked up seven birdies against Ohio State men’s golf team member Max Rosenthal for a 7 and 6 win.

Trasamar also won medalist laurels after shooting a nine-under par 133. Winning both the medalist and championship is not an easy task, with only three doing so since 1985 in Andy Doeden (2001), Mike Podolak (1993) and Jim

Sorenson (1985).

Otherwise for Trasamar, no golfer has been in his his stratosphere, with the Gopher posting wins of 3 and 2, 4 and 3, 5 and 4 and 7 and 6.

“I feel I’ve been playing better as the week goes on after cleaning up my mistakes,” Trasamar said. “It’s helped that I’ve been able to keep the hammer down after building a lead.”

Trasamar’s length off the tee box has not been matched, which is evident on his par five holes, where he has birdied hole five every time and hole one every time, but once.

“Being able to make birdie on the first hole helps, because it usually means I won it or at least halved it,” Trasamar said. “I’ve been giving myself good opportunities for birdie all week.”

Trasamar put his quarterfinal match with Rosenthal to bed early, after taking a 4-up lead after the fifth hole.

Trasamar’s opponent knows a thing or two about being a Gopher, but he also knows plenty of being a Pine to Palm champion, as well.

Kuhn is batting 1.000 in Pine to Palm final fours by going 2-for-2 in them, which eventually led to championships in 1991 and 2005.

The former Gopher letterwinner downed Jack Championship to page 3 ➤

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3

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

With a gallery watching, Perry Piatz of Oxbow, N.D., blasts out of a bunker along side the 5th green during Saturday’s Mid-Am match against Bob Cavanagh.

Mid-Am title up for grabs BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Robert Wagner of St. Louis Park, rolls a birdie attempt on the par three 8th green during Saturday’s Pine to Palm match against Adam Gronaas of Fargo. Wagner won the match 1 up on the 18th hole.

➤ Championship from page 2 Holmgren 1-up in Saturday’s morning round, while winning 5 and 4 over Colorado State’s Dominic Kieffer in the quarters.

Back-to-back birdies by Kuhn on holes 11 and 12 led to a 5-up advantage over Kieffer, which was more than enough cushion to ride out the win.

“I was just trying to keep it on the fairway anyway possible,” Kuhn said. “I’m going out and trying to hit the best shots I can. Jon (Trasamar) is an awesome player, but I really can’t worry about what he’s doing.

“I need to do my best, that’s all I can do.”

Melhus is one of the most prolific Pine to Palm golfers of his time, with five semifinal appearances since 2000.

He was a runner-up in 2001 after losing to Doeden in 19 holes, but scored the title in 2003.

Melhus topped Pat Deitz 3 and 2 in the morning, then rode out a narrow 2 and 1 victory over U of M’s Alex Gaugert.

In the quarterfinals, Melhus and Gaugert tied every hole up to nine, before the Gopher won 10.

But birdie putts by Melhus on holes 14 through 16 sealed the deal on his fifth Pine to Palm final four.

All three birdies came on putts of 20-feet or more.

“I was being tentative with my putter early through the match, but I pulled back and started making those 20-foot birdie putts,” Melhus said. “I’ve been hitting the ball well and been good around the greens. It’s just been steady.”

Melhus said he is a different golfer than he was 10 years ago when he claimed his championship, not necessarily physically, but mentally.

“I am more level-headed,” Melhus said. “I don’t let the highs get too high and the lows get too low.”

The semifinals will tee off at 8 a.m. and the championship match will start at 2:45 p.m. at the Detroit Country Club.

Piatz going for 1st; Olafson his 3rd

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

After his latest and biggest Pine to Palm Golf Tournament victory, Perry Piatz looked down to the ground and found the proverbial lucky penny on the pavement of the Detroit Country Club’s rotunda area.

Naturally he picked it up for good luck, in which he maybe can use Sunday in his MidAm championship match with Fargo’s Jay Olafson.

But Piatz didn’t rely on luck in his 1-up victory over Perham’s Bob Cavanagh Saturday, but instead used steady, consistent play.

“I wasn’t in any trouble during the day and my putting was on,” Piatz said. “I just played steady golf and I am one of those guys who hit it down the fairways and make my greens.”

The turning point of the match came on hole four, where Piatz drained a 40-foot birdie putt to even the match, with the contest literally going back and forth the remainder of the way.

On hole eight, Piatz made par to go 1-up and maintained that advantage, until hole 14, where he used an iron to put his ball to within two feet of the cup and eventually a 2-up lead.

He added another hole on 15 after he punched out of the rough and up to the green for the commanding 3-up margin.

“For the longest time, I couldn’t pull away, because Bob can hit his ball so far,” Piatz said. “I bet I was about 60 yards behind him every time.”

But Piatz’ short game did wonders, as he finished his greens in regulation with effective putting.

“My philosophy is some guys can go so long, but if I can put it on the green from behind, it puts some more pressure on him,” Piatz said.

Piatz made the quarterfinals

in Championship play four years ago, but since then has played in the Mid-Am division, where Sunday’s championship match will be his furthest venture in the Pine to Palm yet.

“I am not going to do anything different,” Piatz said. “I need to take advantage of the other player’s mistakes and stay steady.”

Olafson survived an extra playoff hole Saturday against medalist Kent Spriggs, who was playing very well entering match play.

Olafson will be vying for his third Mid-Am championship, as well.

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Jay Olafson rolls a birdie putt on the par four 16th green Saturday in Mid-Am match play.

2013 MID-AM

Championship A.J. Greff

A.J. Greff, 2 & 1

Eric Lundmark

Perry piatz, 1-Up

Perry piatz kent fronk bob cavanagh

Perry piatz, 1-Up

Perry piatz, 3 & 2

bob cavanagh, 4 & 3

mitch buboltz joe mcginnis PAUL UITHOVEN Kent Spriggs

bob cavanagh, 5 & 4

joe mcginnis 1-Up

2013 Champion

Kent Spriggs, 6 & 5

BRIAN W BENSON

Kent Spriggs, 6 & 4

kevin swenson aaron burnside

aaron burnside, 2 & 1

Jay olafson Dave collins duane siverson jon anas

Jay olafson, 1-Up

Jay olafson, WD

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

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Sunday, August 11, 2013

2013 Pine

Champion jon trasamar austin rusness

jon trasamar, 3 & 2

teddy cox michael melhus

teddy cox, 1-up 20 hOLES

hunter thorsen ryan vincelli

ryan vincelli, 1 uP

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

jon trasamar, 4 & 3

jon tra tyler lowenstein, 3&1

tyler lowenstein, 4 & 2 max rosenthal, 8 & 6 max rosenthal, 3 & 1 coy papachek, 3 & 2

max ro lukas davidson, 1-up 19 HOLES

taylor cavanagh, 2&1

taylor cavanagh, 1 uP rick kuhn, 1 UP rick kuhn, 2 & 1 marc redman, 1 UP

rick k jack holmgren, 4 & 3

jack holmgren, 1-up 19 Holes

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

dominic kieffer, 1-up 19 Holes

marc vincelli, 1 UP

domin 19 Ho

zach kappes, 3 & 2 nathan anderson, 2 & 1 nathan anderson, 3 & 2

greg melhus, 3 & 2

LOWER BRACKET

greg melhus, 2 & 1

alex gaugert,2 & 1

robert f wagner, 2 & 1

robert f wagner, 1-up

adam gronaas, 5 & 3

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asamar, 5 & 4

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rick kuhn, 5 & 4

nic kieffer, 1-up oles

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

jacob montplaisir pat deitz

greg melhus, 2 uP

greg melhus brock ellingson

trenton olson, 7 & 5

trenton olson alexander Mcelhaney

alex gaugert, 5 & 4

alex gaugert mason kennedy

todd hillier, 3 & 2

todd hillier michael kosiek

jon dutoit, 4 & 3

jon dutoit jake miller

larry montplaisir, 4 & 3

grady meyer larry montplaisir

robert f wagner, 1 UP

robert f wagner caleb ketterling

chris swenson, 5 & 4

chris swenson will holmgren

thomas strandemo, 3 & 2

thomas strandemo charlie braniff

bobby reuter, 1 UP

lucas gervais bobby reuter

bryant buckellew, 3 & 2

bryant buckellew sean krall

chad skarperud, 3 & 2

chad skarperud connor holland

adam gronaas, 6 & 5

adam gronaas trevor swangler

jim lehman, 1 UP

jim lehman philip haug

greg melhus, 4 & 3

alex gaugert, 5 & 3

larry montplaisir, 4 & 3

robert f wagner, 2 & 1

bobby reuter, 1 UP

chad skarperud, 1-up 20 Holes

adam gronaas, 2 & 1

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Stein and Rubis to face off for Senior’s title

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

How does one stop a hard-charging golfer, who is riding a big wave of momentum in match play?

You win three-straight holes on the back nine to secure the victory and earn a berth in your first-ever Pine to Palm Seniors championship match.

That’s the formula Moorhead’s Craig Stein used to defeat medalist Rob Harris of Eden Prairie 5 and 4.

“The main thing was I didn’t get into any trouble and made my greens in regulation,” Stein said. “I kept my driver in the bag and used a lot of three wood off the tee and made lots of pars.”

Stein won holes 10 through 12, with the final two coming on birdies, to take a 3-up advantage over Harris, who was playing well, starting with his four-under par 67 during qualifying.

But Harris couldn’t overcome the three-hole deficit down the stretch, as Stein kept pace with pars.

“Rob is one of the nicest guys to play golf with,” Stein said.

Stein will be playing for his first Pine to Palm championship, with his only other award he’s won was taking medalist honors with Tom Hoffman and Dr. Rick Render in 1975.

After playing in the Mid-Amateur division for the last four years, Stein moved to Seniors this year.

“I’m glad I went to Seniors, it’s been a fun week,” Stein added.

In the other semifinal match, Fargo’s Tim Rubis downed Alexandria’s Steve Herzog 1-up in a close match, which was won on the 18th green.

Rubis will be playing for his second Senior’s title, after he won his first one in 2010.

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Craig Stein of Moorhead watches a drive during his Senior championship match against Rob Harris Saturday afternoon.

2013 SENIOR Championship Scott linnerooth

Scott linnerooth, 4 & 3

Rick JOHHNSON

tim rubis, 1-Up

jim brothers tim rubis steve herzog

tim rubis, 5 & 4

tim rubis, 1-Up

steve herzog, 4 & 2

ron burnside

steve herzog, 4&3

jim strandemo dan elton rob harris

jim strandemo, 4 & 3

2013 Champion

rob harris, 7 & 6

CRAWFORD

rob harris, 3 & 2

mark doyle george strand

mark doyle 3 & 2 Craig Stein, 5 & 4

Craig Stein Craig Stein, 2 & 1

TBD

Craig Stein, 1-Up

Michael Seelye Ron Vincelli

Michael Seelye, 2 & 1

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Tim Rubis of Fargo rolls a putt on the par four 4th green Saturday afternoon.

Renner and Sjostrom to play for Super Senior’s championship

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

bwierima@dlnewspapers.com

Chuck Renner has accomplished much already in the Pine to Palm Super Seniors division already, after winning

the first three medalist laurels of the division’s history and the last two championships.

But Renner hasn’t ever had a match like he had Saturday in the Super Senior semifinals in his improbable comeback

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Chuck Sjostrom, left, of Fargo watches his drive on the 7th hole during Saturday’s Super Seniors championship match play. Defending Pine to Palm Super Seniors champion Chuck Renner, right, rolls a putt on the 17th green during Saturday’s match play.

win over Sauk Rapids’ Joe Sauer in 20 holes.

“Joe had me buried,” Renner said. “I was just thinking, ‘I have to make everything.’”

What Renner was referring to was Sauer’s 3-up lead with just three holes left to play.

But that deficit wasn’t enough to “bury” Renner, who sunk a 15-foot putt for par, while Sauer two-putted on hole seven (the back nine of the match) to trim it to 2-up.

“The ball fell into the cup on its very last rotation,” Renner added.

On hole eight, Renner used a five iron on his approach and put it within inches of the cup and now Sauer’s lead was shrunk to 1-up heading into nine.

This time, Renner used a 121 wedge and shot it 20 feet short of the flag. Sauer left his first putt short, then missed his second by lipping it out to force a playoff.

Finally on the third playoff hole, Renner ended it by sinking his 10-foot putt below the hole.

“It was totally unexpected, because Joe was playing so

well all day,” Renner said.

With that upset in Super Seniors play avoided, another was not, as Chuck Sjostrom upended the medalist Clint Nelson 1-up.

That sets the stage for a

Sjostrom and Renner Super Senior final.

“I know I will try and not do what I did today,” Renner said. “I’m going to try and play my 18 like I did my last six holes today.”

2013 SUPER SENIOR Championship clint nelson

clint nelson, 5 & 4

John Gergen

clint nelson, 1 up

thomas wood richard mcconn william blake

chuck sjostrom, 1-UP

thomas wood, 1 Up william blake, 3 & 2

gene hebl chuck sjostrom, 4 & 3

chuck sjostrom paul krueger chuck renner John Bartley

chuck sjostrom, 4 & 3

chuck renner, 6 & 5

2013 Champion chuck renner, 5 & 4

tom hanson steve sundby

tom hanson, 2 & 1

chuck renner, 1-up 20 holes

lance brown joe sauer james wolff william Hawkins

joe sauer, 2 & 1 joe sauer, 2 & 1 william Hawkins, 1 Up, 19 Holes

Sunday, August 11, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

7

P ine to palm

The Fab Four — PHOTOS BY BRIAN BASHAM —

Pine to Palm medalist Jon Trasamar of Blue Earth, watches his drive on the par four 10th hole during his match against Max Rosenthal Saturday afternoon. Trasamar won the match 7 and 6.

Robert Wagner of St. Louis Park, rolls a birdie attempt on the par three 8th green during Saturday’s Pine to Palm match against Adam Gronaas of Fargo. Wagner won the match 1 up on the 18th hole.

Ironman Classic Parent Child Scramble - 10 and over Champions, Aaron and Tyler Burnside,

The 44th annual Ironman Junior Classic

Parent Child Scramble The 44th annual Ironman Junior Classic wrapped up on Saturday morning with the annual Parent Child Scramble. In the 9 and under division, the competition was fierce, ending in a playoff between the ultimate victors, Joey (8) and Mike Simonich from Moorhead against Abby (9) and Brooks Larson from Detroit Lakes, who finished second. One stroke back was David (7) and Mark Malingen from Detroit Lakes. Aiden (8) and Chad Lunde from Detroit Lakes and Tommy (6)

and Mike Suckert also from Detroit Lakes tied for 4th.

The ten and over division saw Tyler (12) and Aaron Burnside from Detroit Lakes win by 2 strokes over the runner up team of Ben (13) and Greg Unruh, also of Detroit Lakes.

Hunter (11) Burnside and Aaron Burnside came in 3rd while Carter (13) and Shawn Justesen of Hawley came in 4th.

It was a great ending to a perfect week of camaraderie and competition.

Greg Melhus watches his drive on the par four 11th hole Saturday afternoon.

Rick Kuhn looks over a birdie putt on the 11th green Saturday.

Ironman Classic Parent Child Scramble - Nine and under Champions, Mike and Joey Simonich.

8

Sunday, August 11, 2013 Sponsored by Zorbaz & Gunderson Real Estate Company

Saturday golf shots

- Photos by Brian Basham -

Detroit Country Club pro Mark Holm, third from left, makes a ruling during Super Seniors match play on the 17th hole Saturday (above). Joe Sauer, left, and Richard McConn’s tee shots ended up less than a foot apart in the greenside bunker. Sauer’s ball was marked and replaced after McConn made his shot. Medalist Jon Trasamar talks to himself after narrowly missing a birdie attempt on the par three 8th green Saturday (right). Dominic Kieffer and Alex Gaugert have a laugh while waiting to tee off on the 11th hole during Saturday’s match play (left).

Mid-Amers Bob Cavanagh, Kent Fronk and Perry Piatz cracked a few jokes before teeing off on the par five 5th hole during Saturday’s MidAm match play (above). Craig Stein rolls a putt across the 18th green during Saturday’s Senior Championship match play (right).

Alex Gaugert looks over a birdie putt on the 10th green Saturday (above). Adam Gronaas blasts out of a bunker on the 9th green Saturday (middle).