Pinetopalmspotlight vol68no14

82nd PINE TO PALM

Sp tlight VOL. 68 NO. 1

DETROIT LAKES, MINNESOTA • THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2014

THE 2013 PINE TO PALM CHAMPION

JON TRASAMAR

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Meyer shoots for medalist honors Gopher keeps laurels in U of M family

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

For much of this past summer, Fargo natives Greg Melhus and Grady Meyer played more than a few rounds of golf in the area, much of it for fun.

But there was much more riding on the duo’s round Wednesday at the Detroit Country Club, with the 82nd Pine to Palm medalist honors on the line.

On this day, though, the final battle was won by Meyer, who kept the Pine to Palm’s medalist laurels in the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher family with his eight-under par two-round score of 134.

Melhus and Moorhead native Ben Welle shared runnerup honors with six-under 136 scores, during the two-day qualifying rounds played under almost perfect sunny and warm conditions.

But for the second year in a row, a Gopher will have won the medalist honors, after now graduated U of M golfer Jon Trasamar took each the medalist and eventual championship in 2013.

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Former Pine to Palm champion Greg Melhus eyes his tee shot on the 10th hole of Wednesday’s qualifying round. to step it up.

“Now, I’m just looking to take it match by match.”

Meyer led by a stroke over Melhus after Tuesday’s first

“It’s the only piece of silver I haven’t won out here.”

– Greg Melhus, medalist co-runner up Trasamar has since turned pro and is playing on the Dakota Tour.

“It was just like playing in Fargo with Greg (Melhus) and there wasn’t much pressure or anything, it was just a relaxed round of golf,” Meyer said. “We lost a few U of M guys playing the tournament this year, so the ones here had

day of qualifying with a sevenunder par 64, thus matching the two together in the same group.

Melhus, who was the 2003 Pine to Palm champion and earned spots in a bevy of semifinal matches, was eyeing that medalist honor simply for one reason.

“It’s the only piece of sil-

ver I haven’t won out here, so it’s somewhat of a bummer I didn’t get it this year,” said Melhus, who is playing in his 20th Pine to Palm. “I was keeping track of it all day. I have played a lot of golf with Grady this summer, so I was trying to track him down.

“Going into 17, I had a bad swing and it cost me. That’s the way it goes.”

With Trasamar not back defending his title, Meyer will now take the top seed, while Welle (who is a sophomore on the University of Kansas men’s golf team) and Melhus will be the second and third seeds.

Will Holmgren of Corcoran had a big boost to his score on the eighth hole Wednesday, CHAMPIONSHIP to page 5 ➤

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Fargo’s Grady Meyer watches his drive on the 10th hole of Detroit Country Club Wednesday. Meyer shot a two-day total of 134 to win championship medalist honors.

Former champion Greg Kuhn rolls a birdie putt on the par four 10th green Wednesday afternoon.

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82nd Pine to Palm Qualifying Scores CHAMP IONSHIP

MID-AM CHAMPIONSHIP

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

MID-A M CHA MP IONSHIP

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Thursday, August 14, 2014 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

82nd Pine to Palm Qualifying Scores

SUPER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

NUMBE RED F LIGHTS

N UM B ERED FLIGHTS

­— F UN FA CTS A B O U T G O L F — 1. Don’t feel bad about your high handicap, 80% of all golfers will never achieve a handicap of less than 18.

2. The word “caddy” comes from the French word for student, “cadet”, which is pronounced cad-DAY 3. Tiger Woods has won 77 PGA tournaments already.

4. The chances of making two holes-in-one in a round of golf are one in 67 million 5. The term “birdie” comes from an American named Ab Smith.

While playing a round in 1899, he played what he described as a “bird of a shot”, which became “birdie” over time.

6. Jack Nicklaus won the Masters a record 6 times.

7. The world’s first ever golf tournament for women was held on New Year’s Day in 1811 at Musselburgh 8. Tiger Woods is 6’ 1” tall.

9. The longest recorded drive on an ordinary course is one of 515 yards by Michael Hoke Austin of Los Angeles, California, in the US National Seniors Open Championship at Las Vegas, Nevada on September 25, 1974 10. A Putt Measured at 140 feet and 2 3/4 inches on the 18th at St. Andrews was sunk by Bob Cook in the International Fourball Pro Am Tournament on October 1, 1976 11. The Solheim Cup is the Women’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup.

12. The highest golf course in the world is the Tactu Golf Club in Morococha, Peru, which sits 14,335 feet above sea level at its lowest point 13. John Hudson, a 25 year old professional, achieved a near miracle when he holed two consecutive holes-in-one at the 11th and 12th holes (195 yards and 311 yards respectively) in the 1971 Martini Tournament at Norwich, England 14. In March, 1961, Lou Kretlow got the longest hole-in-one at the 427 yards 16th hole at Lake Hefner course, Oklahoma City, USA 15. The driver swing speed of an average lady golfer is 62mph; 96mph for an average LPGA professional; 84mph for an average male golfer; 108mph for an average PGA Tour player; 130mph for Tiger Woods; 148-152mph for a national long drive champion 16. Phil Mickelson, who plays left-handed, is actually right handed. He learned to play golf by mirroring his father’s golf swing, and he has used left handed golf clubs ever since.

17. Arnold Palmer won 95 Professional tournaments.

18. 125,000 golf balls a year are hit into the water at the famous 17th hole of the Stadium Course at Sawgrass 19. The largest bunker in the world is Hell’s Half Acre on the 585yard 7th hole of the Pine Valley Course in New Jersey.

Source: lastwordonsports.com

Thursday, August 14, 2014 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

5

➤ CHAMPIONSHIP from page 2 after draining a hole in one to key his two-under par 69, which followed a 72 Tuesday for a final 141.

The par three, 174-yard shot landed just left of the pin, but from Holmgren’s view, the ball looked as if it rolled off the green.

“It landed just left of pin and I thought it went over the green and I didn’t react to it,” Holmgren said. “But there were some people up on the green who started cheering.”

Holmgren didn’t let the excitement of a hole in one affect his game by shooting his next shot down the middle of the ninth fairway and eventually putted for par.

He will be entering match play after tying for 12th, but with just a little bit more momentum than normal.

“I ended qualifying on a good note and have some good mojo going,” Holmgren said.

“Now I need to have some putts start dropping.”

The final cut was 148, with 15 players in a playoff for the final four slots in the 64-man match play bracket, which starts Thursday.

Some familiar tournament names who qualified include 1991 and 2005 Pine to Palm champion Rick Kuhn (142), Perham’s Taylor Cavanagh (144), 2010 champion Todd Hillier (144), 2011 champion Connor Holland (145), and Detroit Lakes’ native and University of NebraskaOmaha hockey player Tanner Lane (146).

DL 2014 graduate and threetime girls’ state champion, including one individual state title, Natalie Roth finished with a 150, missing the cut, but not on learning more about the game of golf.

“I loved every shot I hit, but I just went into it as another tournament and taking it as a good experience,” Roth said.

“I was playing against some big hitters, but I figured just to keep the ball in the fairway and get up to the green in regulation.”

Roth did exactly that throughout the two rounds and the experience was invaluable for her next step, which is Division I women’s golf on the NDSU team.

“I was happy to make it through the first cut, but I wish a few more of my putts would have dropped,” Roth said. “It was a completely new experience and I wanted to know how I compared playing on the back tees. It was a great test and it was awesome pushing myself like that.”

In the Mid-Am division, Scott Uithoven won medalist laurels with a two-over par 144, while the Senior medalist was Rob Harris with a oneover 72.

The Super-Seniors had comedalist in Chuck Renner and Paul Krueger, who each finished with a one-over 72.

Championship match play begins at 12:15 p.m., with tee times running through to 2:21 p.m. on the first tee at the Detroit Country Club.

Ryan Vincelli watches his tee shot on the par three 3rd hole during Tuesday’s Pine to Palm qualifying.

Keaton Lausch watches his approach to the 10th green during Wednesday’s championship qualifying round.

Max Rosenthal of Eden Prairie watches his drive on the 4th hole during Wednesday’s Pine to Palm qualifying.

Andrew Passanante rolls a putt on the par four 11th green during Wednesday’s qualifying round.

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Thursday, August 14, 2014

2014 PINE

CHAMPION GRADY MEYER TANNER KRETCHMAN TAYLOR CAVANAGH TODD HILLIER MICHAEL KOSIEK SEAN KRALL ALEX KLINE ADAM GRONAAS THOMAS STRANDEMO CADE MONTPLAISIR ROBBIE FOSTER DANIEL SAYLER CHRIS SWENSON MARC VINCELLI JAKE WHERLEY JACK HOLMGREN JACOB MONTPLAISIR JORDIE SIVERSON ANDREW ISRAELSON BENNETT SCHROEDER BROCK ELLINGSON RYAN STEINERT DAVID ELLIOTT ALEX CASE MATT RACHEY CHRIS HARRIS DOMINIC KIEFFER MASON KENNEDY BILL CARLSON TANNER LANE

LOWER BRACKET

RILEY JOHNSON MICHAEL GREENBERG

FINAL • SUNDAY,

Thursday, August 14, 2014

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Mid-Am

Uithoven clinches medalist honors

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

The sixth Pine to Palm Mid-Am match play tournament will have plenty of familiar faces, as well as a few new ones.

Perry Piatz returns to defend his 2013 title, while Scott Uithoven will hold the second seed after winning medalist honors after stroking a tworound score of 72-72 for a two-over par 144.

Uithoven’s 144 was four strokes better than second place Bob Cavanagh and Jim Mikkelson, who tied with a 148.

After those two, a pair of 149’s were scored by Kent Spriggs and two-time Mid-Am champion Jay Olafson.

A trio of Mid-Am golfers carded a 150 in Marc Redman, Keith Aasen and Matt Mayer.

Shooting for 151’s included David Barge, Kent Fronk and Aaron Burnside, while each of Tim Carlson and Jon Anas fired a 152.

The final two slots were filled

by Britton Mattson with a 153 and Thomas Solien with a 154.

Mid-Am match play will begin at 12:23 p.m. on tee one and run through 12:47 p.m.

2014 MID-AM

CHAMPIONSHIP

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Lynn Marr chips up to the 2nd green during his Tuesday Super Senior qualifying round.

Super Seniors

Co-medalists in SS

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

PERRY PIATZ

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

THOMAS SOLIEN

This time it worked out to perfection for Pine to Palm Super Senior golfer Chuck Renner.

For the second consecutive Pine to Palm tournament, Renner passed up his automatic berth into match play, instead opting to play in the qualifying round and try for his fourth medalist honor in five years.

Last year, Renner’s same plan came up a bit short, when Clint

KEITH AASEN MATT MAYER JIM MIKKELSON

TIM CARLSON AARON BURNSIDE KENT SPRIGGS SCOTT UITHOVEN

Nelson captured medalist laurels by shooting a 69.

But this time around, Renner shot a one-over par 72 to share co-medalist honors with Detroit Lakes’ Paul Krueger.

“It’s the same thing as it always is as far as setting goals and trying to achieve them,” Renner said. “So it’s nice to have that objective and being able to accomplish it.”

SUPER SENIORS to page 11 ➤

2014 SUPER SENIOR

2014 Champion

CHAMPIONSHIP

Britton Mattson DAVID BARGE MARC REDMAN

CHUCK RENNER

BOB CAVANAGH

TBD

JON ANAS

BRUCE CARLISLE

KENT FRONK

LANCE BROWN

JAY OLAFSON

DOUG GILLUND

THOMAS WOOD

The first golf balls were made of thin leather stuffed with feathers. Tightly-packed feathers made balls that flew the farthest and they were used until 1848.

Source: GolfBallsUnlimited.com

PETE LYSAKER STEVE SUNDBY PAUL KRUEGER JAMES WOLFF WILLIAM BLAKE DON BRADFORD RONALD VINCELLI RICHARD MCCONN GENE HEBL DR. LYNN MARR

2014 Champion

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L to R: Blake McMullen, Drew Simonich, Tommy Suckert, Lawson Justesen, Casey Cole, Benno Sullivan & Max Splonkowski

WEE GOLFERS TAKE ON THE LITTLE MONSTER HELD AT THE IRONMAN GOLF COURSE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13 The Ironman Golf Course hosted the 11th annual WeeTee Tournament for the “wee” golfers on Wednesday afternoon. The 650 yard golf course produced pars from 3 different players, Tommy Suckert led the way with 3 pars to finish in 3nd place in the boys division. Kaitlin Hanson brought home the gold in the girls division with a fine score of 59. Drew Simonich finished in 2nd with a score of 41 in the boys division. Lastly, 6 year old Blake McMullen won with a great score of 38. Ice cream treats provided a happy ending for everyone. Ironman golf course is “Where golf fun originates.”

GIRLS DIVISION

Kaitlin Hanson............... 59 Emily Peterson............... 66 Tessa Windels............... 83

BOYS DIVISION

Blake McMullen............. 38 Drew Simonich............... 41 Tommy Suckert.............. 42 Lawson Justesen........... 45 Casey Cole.................... 47 Benno Sullivan............... 69 Max Splonskowski.......... 73

L to R: Kaitlin Hanson, Emily Peterson, Tessa Windels

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BIRCHMONT MEN’S DIVISION

Jenkins takes his 2nd Birchmont

BY PAT MILLER

Forum News Service

PAT MILLER | BEMIDJI PIONEER

Bemidji native Tom Jenkins won the Men’s Championship title at the Birchmont Saturday at The Bemidji Town and Country Club.

Junior Championship Brady Wright kept his eyes focused on winning the Junior Championship division and on Saturday he accomplished that goal, defeating Keaton Wolf 3 and 1 in the title match PAT MILLER | BEMIDJI PIONEER

BEMIDJI — Tom Jenkins was born and raised in Bemidji and participates in the Birchmont every chance he gets. In 2009 Jenkins, who now lives in Plymouth, capped his return to the summer event hosted by the Bemidji Country Club by capturing the crown. And Saturday he duplicated that accomplishment, outlasting Toby Palmiscno of Bemidji 3 and 2 in the semifinals and hanging on to down Jim Foss of Roseau 3 and 1 in the title match.

“It’s always nice to win your hometown tournament and now, to win it twice, is something special,” Jenkins said.

The hot sun and calm conditions took their toll on both Jenkins and Foss but Foss was able to mount a back-nine comeback despite the heat.

On the strength of birdies on the third, fourth and fifth holes, Jenkins roared to a 5-up lead after only six holes and seemed to have the match well in hand.

“I don’t see how I can win this match,” Foss said to the gallery just before hitting his drive on No. 8.

Despite the gloomy outlook, however, Foss didn’t give up. Instead, he won No. 8 with a par and victories on No. 12, No. 14 and No. 15 cut the deficit to 2-down after 15 holes.

“I have played with and against Jim at least 10 times during our time in the Birchmont and the Vandersluis,” Jenkins said. “I know that Jim has it in him to make birdies and come back in a match. He did that again on Saturday. And I wasn’t surprised.”

Foss’ rally began with a “gimmie” par on No. 8 and he

gained another hole by draining an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 12.

Jenkins claimed No.13 with a par but gave the next hole to Foss when he missed the green off the tee and had to settle for bogey.

Foss also won No. 15 when Jenkins missed a 6-foot birdie putt but, after the golfers halved No. 16 with pars, Jenkins closed the deal with a conceded birdie on No. 17.

“I played a lot of golf on Saturday but I remember the birdies on 3, 4 and 5 that helped me take control of the match,” Jenkins said.

“But I knew Jim would come back. I wasn’t playing poorly on the back nine but I wasn’t take advantage of the opportunities that Jim gave me.

“The difference in the match was that I got off to too fast of a start for Jim to catch me.”

In Saturday’s semifinals Foss ousted AJ Oster of Ham Lake 2 and 1 while Jenkins slid past Palmiscno.

On his way to the title Jenkins also defeated Ty Kennedy of Grand Forks 1-up, Adam Van Raden of Grand Forks 2 and 1 and Drew Gumlia of Tustin, Calif. 6 and 5.

Foss’ week-long resume included a 2 and 1 win over Trey Dale of Bemidji, a 1-up win over Paul Daman of Bemidji and a 1-up triumph over Conner Bjugstad of San Antonio.

“Winning the first Birchmont in 2009 is always special but it’s great to back that one with a second championship,” Jenkins said.

“It’s been a long week and I’m drained. This was my seventh straight day of golf and to play as well as I did this week is unexpected. But it’s also nice to win another Birchmont.”

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11

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Super Senior John Bartley hits a putt on the 2nd green during Tuesday’s qualifying round.

“...it will depend on the pairings, because there are some very good golfers now in match play.”

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Randy Burnside chips up to the 2nd green during his Tuesday senior qualifying round.

Senior Medalist

­— Chuck Renner ➤ SUPER SENIORS from page 8 Krueger and Renner played in the same group and both had their ups and downs throughout their round.

By the time they ended their round, with Renner taking a birdie on eight with a chip-in, they were tied.

With Renner already owning three of four Super Senior championships and Krueger the other one, the fifth Pine to Palm Super Senior tournament will be highly competitive.

“Now it will depend on the pairings, because there are some very good golfers now in match play,” Renner said.

Doug Gillund took third with a four-over par 75, which was tied with Ron Vincelli.

In fifth was Steve Sundby’s five-over 76, followed by Gene Hebl (79). Carding 80’s were Lance Brown, Don Bradford and Bruce Carlisle.

Four finished with an 81 in William Blake, Dr. Lynn Marr, Pete Lysaker and Thomas Wood.

James Wolff and Richard McConn tied for 14th with an 82, while three are playing off for two spots in Ken Riesberg, Burke Kiger and John Bartley.

Burke Kiger rolls a putt on the 2nd green during his Tuesday Super Senior qualifying round.

BRIAN BASHAM/SPOTLIGHT

Harris nabs No. 2

BY BRIAN WIERIMA

brianw@dlnewspapers.com

Rob Harris is starting to climb the ladder once again in the Pine to Palm Seniors’ division, after capturing his second medalist honors in a row.

Harris will also be vying for his second Seniors’ championship to add to his two medalist silver trophies.

But he will be doing it as the No. 2 seed in the 16-man bracket, which will be led by top-seeded and defending champion Tim Rubis.

After the top two, Jim Brothers and former Senior’s champion Scott Linnerooth, along with Rick Crawford, are the next three seeds after they each carded a two-over par 73.

Pine to Palm legend Jim Strandemo came in with a strong three-over par 74 for the sixth seed, while Scott Peters, Rick Johnson and Larry Olin each finished with a 75.

The final three secured spots were filled by John Hagge, Craig Stein and Tom Thompson, who all had a five-over 76.

A mega-playoff will be held Thursday morning, which includes 11 players vying for the final four slots.

Those in the playoff after

shooting a 77 include Randy Burnside, Mark Johnson, Chuck Wiger, Bob Jamison, Dan Elton, Bob Nelson, Rick Samson, George Theisen,

T.L. Solien, Brad Solheim and Hank Prien.

The Seniors’ match play will start 8:44 a.m. on the first tee.

2014 SENIOR

CHAMPIONSHIP TIM RUBIS TBD LARRY OLIN SCOTT PETERS SCOTT LINNEROOTH

TBD TOM THOMPSON RICK CRAWFORD ROB HARRIS TBD CRAIG STEIN RICK JOHNSON JIM BROTHERS TBD JOHN HAGGE JIM STRANDEMO

2014 Champion

12

Thursday, August 14, 2014 SPONSORED BY ZORBAZ & GUNDERSON REAL ESTATE COMPANY

Qualifying shots Photos by Brian Basham

LUKAS DAVISON of Fargo watches his drive on the 5th hole of the Detroit Country Club during Wednesday’s Pine to Palm qualifying round in Detroit Lakes (above). Detroit Lakes’ Tanner Lane rolls a putt on the par four 4th green during Wednesday’s championship qualifying round (below).

2014 MEDALIST Grady Meyer of Fargo lines up a putt on the 11th green during Wednesday’s qualifying round (above).

Jacob Montplaisir of Gilbert, Ariz., is disappointed his birdie chip to the 10th green narrowly missed falling in the cup during Wednesday’s qualifying round (left).

NATALIE ROTH of Detroit Lakes, right, has a laugh with her caddie and former high school teammate, Kate Smith, while waiting to tee off on the 3rd hole of Tuesday’s Pine to Palm qualifying (above). Former Pine to Palm champion Connor Holland watches his drive on the 4th hole during Wednesday’s qualifying round (right).