Top seed bows out

By Al Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press

If you like upsets, the Men’s Executive Championship division was the one to watch Thursday.

Five of the eight matches were won by the underdog, according to the 2023 Resorters Tournament’s seeding.

The biggest shocker was 17th seed Dan Klein toppling Andrew Olson, the No. 1 seed who blistered the course with a 67 round during qualifying.

Two other stunners: The No. 31 seed, Bill Mulvahill, knocked out the No. 15 seed, Sam Pokorney; and the No. 22 seed Cory Schultz upended the No. 6 seed, Joe Sauer.

The other two upsets weren’t as dramatic: Dave Christensen, the 9th seed, defeated Andy Petersen, the No. 8 seed; and 10th seed Andrew Johnson prevailed over the No. 7 seed, Matt Norgaard.

Meanwhile, three seeds in the top five survived – the 2017 champion Daryl Schomer, Bryant Black, and Bryan Hoops.

Klein def. Olson, 2-1

Klein won the first hole with a birdie only to lose the next to Olson’s birdie on No. 2. Olson took the lead with a par on No. 3. Both golfers halved the next two holes before Klein made birdies on Nos. 6 and 8 to regain the lead. It was short-lived, though – Olson took No. 9 with a par to tie the match at the turn.

Klein made consecutive birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 to go 2-up, but Olson battled back, taking No. 12 with a birdie to draw to within one. After halving the next two holes, Olson ran into bogey trouble on No. 15, putting Klein 2-up. Both golfers matched pars on the next two holes, which preserved Klein’s upset.

Christensen def. Petersen, 3-2

Dave Christensen and

Andy Petersen battled through 16 holes filled with pars, a combined six birdies, and just three bogeys. Both golfers won two holes on the front –Petersen with a par on No. 1 and a par on No. 9, and Christensen with a par on No. 2 and a birdie on No. 8. Christensen went out front with a birdie on No. 11, but Petersen’s birdie on the next hole squared the match.

Christensen took No. 14 with a birdie to go 1-up and was able to nail down a 3-2 win.

Black def.

O’Donnell, 5-4

Black built a 3-up lead by the turn. His opponent, Kerry O’Donnell, sliced the lead to two with a birdie on No. 11, but Black kept the pressure on, taking Nos. 12, 13, and 14 with a birdie, par, birdie to win it, 5-4.

Hoops def. Johnson, 6-4

Bryan Hoops was on a par roll against Dan Johnson. Hoops hit nothing but pars on the first nine holes. Along the way, he won 5-holes and didn’t lose any. It took an eagle for Johnson to get his first win. It happened on the par-4 10th hole.

Johnson made birdie on No. 11, but so did Johnson. Hoops continued his roll by going birdie, par, birdie on the next three holes to wrap up a 5-4 win.

On the day, Hoops was 2-under-par after 14 holes.

Mulvahill def.

Pokorney, 1-up

A day after Mulvahill, the 31st seed, the winner of the last five Resorters Men’s Executive champion, Troy

MEN’S EXECUTIVE: Page 15