Resorters - Saturday, August 5, 2023

SatuRday, auguSt 5, 2023

WOMEN'S CHaMPIONSHIP

Down to the wire

All Women’s Division quarterfinal matches end in thrilling fashion

By Sam Stuve Alexandria Echo Press

What an exciting day it was in the Women’s Division quarterfinals at the 102nd Resorters Tournament at the Alexandria Golf Club on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.

All four quarterfinal matches were either decided on the 18th hole or required extra holes to decide a winner.

Among the four golfers who pulled out a clutch victory on Friday is the defending Women’s Division champion, Hannah Boraas.

The recent Alexandria High School graduate and future Montana State Bobcat is the No. 2 seed in the division and is in the hunt for her third overall Resorters title.

She headlines a group of semifinalists who have shined at the college level and who are going to be playing at the college level for the years to come.

The semifinals for the women’s Championship Division in on Saturday morning at 7:10 a.m., with the championship round scheduled to tee off at 12:30 p.m.

Herzog def.

Mackayla Olsen, 1-up

The No. 8 seed Madison Herzog took down the Women’s division medalist but had to come from behind to do so.

Mackayla Olsen, the No. 1 seed, trailed by two holes after Herzog won holes 5 and 6, but she then rattled off four straight wins on holes 7, 8, 9, and 10 to go 2-up.

Herzog came firing back on the 13th hole with a birdie, and she won hole 14 to tie the match.

Herzog took the lead on the 16th hole with a birdie, but Mackayla Olson won the 17th hole to once again tie the match.

Herzog won the 18th hole to win 1-up.

Mackayla Olsen is an

Upper Iowa alum, while Herzog just completed her senior season at North Dakota State.

Herzog has played in eight Resorters Tournaments and placed runner-up in the Women’s division twice, once in 2019 and once in 2021.

Larson def.

Monty, 1-up

Neither the No. 4 seed

Cora Larson nor the No. 5 seed Caroline Monty led by more than one hole in Friday’s quarterfinal matchup, in which Larson won 1-up.

Monty, who plays college golf at North Dakota State, took a 1-up lead with a birdie on the 15th hole, but Larson won the 16th hole with a birdie and the 17th hole with a par.

Larson, who plays college golf at North Dakota State, matched Monty on hole 18 to win 1-up.

Larson is an Alexandria alum who was a part

of two state title-winning teams in 2021 and 2022, and she’s now played in seven Resorters tournaments.

Boraas def.

Skaar, 20 holes

Boraas and the No. 7 seed Leah Skaar battled back and forth all day long on Friday.

Boraas won five holes on the front nine (holes 1, 3, 5, 6, 8), while Skaar won four (holes 2, 4, 7, and 9).

Skaar took the lead by rattling off wins on holes 10, 11, and 12. She

birdied holes 11 and 12. With those hole wins, Skaar held a 2-up lead. But Boraas responded by winning hole 13. Boraas forced a playoff by posting par on the 18th hole. Boraas went on to win the match on the second extra hole and is now looking to win back-to-back Women’s division titles.

According to the Echo Press records, the last golfer in the Women’s

WOMEN'S CHaMPIONSHIP: Page 18

Herzog Larson Boraas Hicks

Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press Alexandria alum Hannah Boraas lines up a putt on the first hole in the quarterfinal round of the Women's Championship division in the 102nd Resorters Tournament on Aug. 4, 2023. Boraas defeated Leah Skaar in extra holes to advance to the semifinals at the Alexandria Golf Club.

Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press Madison Herzog putts on the No. 2 green at the Alexandria Golf Club during a quarterfinal match in the Women's Division at the 102nd Resorters Tournament on Aug. 4, 2023.

Alexandria Golf Club

Home of the Resorters

Sunday, July 30 - August 5

Pro-Am Saturday, July 29

Resorters Nightly Clubhouse Food, Beverage and Entertainment Schedule

Sponsored by:

LONG DRIVE FINALS

Wednesday, August 2nd - 6:30 PM

PUTTING CHAMPIONSHIP

Wednesday, August 2nd - 6:15 PM

NIGHTLY FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE

Sunday, July 30 - 7PM CHAMPION’S DINNER BY INVITATION ONLY

Monday, July 31 - 5PM - 8PM

WALLEYE FISH FRY

Premium Walleye filets lightly battered and fried with bacon cheddar potato kegs and slaw

Adults -$20, Children - $10

Tuesday, August 1st - 8PM RESORTERS CALCUTTA

A special food and beverage menu will be available from 5PM - 7PM for those wishing to enjoy apps and drinks prior to the Calcutta.

Wednesday, August 2nd - 6:30PM

BURGER AND BRAT BARBEQUE

Casual barbeque of delicious hamburgers and brats on the driving range during the Long-Drive Finals and Putting Championship. Beverage Bars available for everyone to enjoy!

MEN'S CHAMP

Wilson wows, Conn sizzles

By Al Edenloff and Jake Sutherlin Alexandria Echo Press

Jacques Wilson continues to turn back the hands of time to 2014 when he won the Resorters Men’s Championship.

In Friday’s quarterfinals, Wilson, the No. 9 seed, upended the division’s medalist and No. 1 seed, Josh Galvin of Maple Grove.

Another highlight of the quarterfinals was a battle between Alexandrians, Lukas Bigger, and Will Harris. Bigger came out on top in the day’s closest match, 2-up.

The two others who made the semifinals are Nathaniel Adams, who breezed to a 5-3 win over Davis Johnson, and Ryan Conn, who had a bogey-free round to defeat Logan Hamak.

The final four will tee it up at 6:50 a.m. Saturday from No. 1, weather permitting.

Wilson def. Galvin, 3-2

From the start, Wilson gave very few openings to Galvin to take advantage of. Wilson won No. 1 with a birdie, matched Galvin’s pars on the next two holes, and birdied No. 4 to go 2-up. Galvin got his first hole win on No. 5 to cut the lead, but his birdie only matched Wilson’s birdie on No. 6, and Wilson picked up another win with a birdie on No. 7 to go 2-up.

Both golfers parred No. 8, and Wilson delivered another clutch par on No. 9 to go 3-up at the turn.

Wilson’s birdie barrage continued on the back when he birdied No. 11 and 12. Galvin was able to match Wilson’s birdie on No. 12 to stay four holes back. From there, Wilson played steady golf, making par on the next four holes.

Galvin’s birdie on No. 15 cut Wilson’s lead to three, but it was his last hurrah. The match ended with pars on the next hole.

Wilson had just one bogey in the match that was offset by six birdies. After 16 holes, he was 5-under par.

Galvin is no slouch. He was the winner and medalist of the 2022 Birchmont Tournament and a runner-up in the 2020 Resorters. He has never missed qualifying for the championship flight.

Wilson, who played for the University of Kansas and Charleston Southern, is playing in his 11th Resorters. Other accomplishments – 2017 U.S. Amateur participant, 2017 MGA Players championship winner, an automatic qualifier for all MGA Major events, winner of two mini-tour events before getting his amateur status back in 2021, 2017 Big South All-Conference Team and a participant in the 2023 Barstool Classic National Championship.

Wilson was also a third-place finisher in the Resorters 2022 long drive contest. He’s part of the Woodhull group. And he’s known or played against Jerry Rose for years.

Conn def. Hamak, 3-2

Conn, the No. 12 seed, was sizzling from the start. He birdied No. 1, followed it up with four straight pars, and added

three more birdies on the front nine, Nos. 6, 7 and 9. Hamak, the No. 4 seed, also played very well – knocking down two pars on the front, Nos. 2 and 6, and made par on the seven other holes on the front but still trailed by two at the turn.

Conn didn’t cool off on the back. He parred Nos. 10 and 11, which were matched by Hamak, birdied No. 12, which was also matched by Hamak, and birdied No. 14 to go 3-up. Both golfers shot nothing but pars the rest of the way, giving Conn a 3-2 win.

On the day, Conn

was 6-under par when the match ended on No. 16 and Hamak was 3-under. There were no bogeys.

Conn, 40, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He’s playing in his sixth Resorters. He’s a twotime semi-finalist in the Resorters Men’s Division (2204 and 2022), is a two-time runner-up in the MGA Players Championship (2020 and 2022), was top 10 in the MGA Players Points, a 2022 USGA Four-Ball participant, champion of the Leo Spooner

Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press Jacques Wilson lines up a putt on the second green at Alexandria Golf Club during a Men's Championship Division quarterfinal match on Aug. 4, 2023, at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

Bigger and Adams also advance to semifinals

Bigger Adams

Wilson Conn

Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press Ryan Conn of the Alexandria Golf Club lines up a putt on the No. 2 green at the Alexandria Golf Club in a Men's Championship division quarterfinal match at the 102nd Resorters Tournament on Aug. 4, 2023.

MEN'S CHAMP: Page 18

Sunday, July 30th

Monday, July 31, 2023

August 2, 2023

Friday, August 4, 2023

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Saturday, August 5th, 2023

Awards Ceremony after Play Concludes

By Al Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press

The Men’s Senior Championship division yielded another stunner in Friday’s semifinals at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

Jon Freeman, the No. 12 seed, pulled off an upset over the No. 1 seed, Mark Aldrich. It was a battle of former Resorters champions – Freeman won the Men’s Executive title in 2010, and Aldrich won the Men’s Championship Division in 1992.

In the other semifinal match, the No. 23 seed Daniel Ystebo continues to impress. He defeated Larry Montplaisir, the No. 14 seed, 6-4.

This sets the stage for the championship match between Freeman and Ystebo. They’re set to tee it up, weather permitting, at 12:45 p.m. from No. 1. The Men’s Masters’ finalists will join them in the foursome.

Freeman def. Aldrich, 5-4

Freeman jumped out to the first lead with a birdie on No. 2. After halving No. 3 with pars, Aldrich had to settle for a bogey on No. 4, which gave the hole to Freeman. Freeman ended the rest of the front nine in style, hitting pars on Nos. 5 and 7, and notching birdies on Nos. 6 and 8. Aldrich,

however, hung tough, only losing one of those holes, No. 6, until a double-bogey on No. 9 put him four down at the turn.

Aldrich ran into bogey trouble again on the 10th hole, and Freeman took advantage with a par to go 5-up. On the par-4 No. 11, Aldrich showed how he won medalist honors –making an eagle to steal the hole from Freeman, who birdied it.

The feat was too little, too late, however. Both golfers birdied No. 12. Freeman won No. 13 with par and matched Aldrich’s birdie on No. 14 to close out the match, 5-4.

Freeman had a great day on the course. He was 5-under par after 14 holes. Aldrich also played well and stood at even-par, but it wasn’t enough to stop Freeman.

Ystebo def. Montplaisir, 6-4

Ystebo, who is playing in his first Resorters tournament, never trailed against Montplaisir.

He took the first lead with a birdie on No. 3

and added a par win on No. to go 2-up. Montplaisir drilled a birdie on the next hole but Ystebo won Nos. 7 and 8 with pars to go 3-up. Yste-

bo made about the only mistake he had all day –a double-bogey on No. 9 –, and Montplaisir took advantage with a birdie to draw within two at

the turn.

Ystebo won Nos. 10 and 11 with two more pars and coasted the rest of the way for a 6-4 victory.

As a newcomer to the tournament, Resorters fans might not know much about the 62-year-old Ystebo, but he’s won some

accolades. In 2017 and 2019, he was the Pine to Palm Senior champion in Detroit Lakes. He was also the North Dakota match play champion in 2017 and played in the 2022 USGA Senior Amateur Qualifier.

Andy Rennecke / Forum News Service Jon Freeman hits a tee shot on the sixth hole at the Alexandria Golf Club during his semifinal win over Mark Aldrich on Aug. 4, 2023, at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

Ystebo, pictured above, is playing in his first Resorters Tournament and is in the Men's Senior Championship match.

Freeman Ystebo

MEN'S SENIOR Medalist falls in Men’s Senior

Christensen, Hoops, Johnson, and Schomer into semifinals

By Jake Sutherlin

Alexandria Echo Press

Some stellar match play from the Resorters Men’s Executive quarterfinals on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, was highlighted by an ace from Daniel Klein and an eagle from Cory Schultz. But even those terrific shots weren’t enough to take those men through to Saturday’s final rounds.

Christensen def. Klein, 2-1

The 9-17 seed matchup between Dave Christensen and Daniel Klein, respectively, was highlighted by an ace from Klein on hole 13. Klein added four birdies to his scorecard, but he was ultimately unable to overcome a solid six-birdie performance by Christensen, who advanced to Saturday’s final rounds.

Hoops def. Black, 2-1

Riding a six-birdie performance, the No. 5 seed Bryan Hoops overcame a two-hole deficit to beat the No. 4 seed Bryant Black. Black established a lead early by winning four holes on the front nine and tallying three birdies, but Hoop’s flurry of birdies on holes 10, 11, 12, and 14 flipped the script and helped send Hoops to the next round.

Johnson def. Mulvahill, 4-3

The No. 10 seed Andrew Johnson led virtually his whole quarterfinal matchup against the No. 31 seed William Mulvahill. The pair tied hole 1, but a couple of bogeys and a double bogey from Mulvahill handed Johnson the next three holes, and Mulvahill never recovered. Both golfers birdied hole six, and Mulvahill grabbed a hole back with a birdie on hole 10, but Johnson added the point right

back with his own birdie on hole 14 and held on to advance

Schomer def. Schultz, 1-up

The No. 3 seed Daryl Schomer survived a close battle with the No.

22 seed Cory Schultz to book his spot in Saturday’s final rounds of the Men’s Executive.

The pair swapped birdies and bogeys throughout a match that was tied four separate times and fea-

tured two birdies from Schultz and four from Schomer. The deadlocks were highlighted by Schultz’s eagle on hole 12. But the pair entered hole 18 dead-even, and it was there that Schomer nabbed his fourth birdie and the win.

Andy Rennecke / Forum News Service Daryl Schomer chips from behind the No. 3 green at the Alexandria Golf Club during the Men's Executive quarterfinals on Aug. 4, 2023.

Andy Rennecke / Forum News Service

Above: Bryan Hoops putts on the third green during the 102nd Resorters Tournament on Aug. 4, 2023. Below: Andrew Johnson putts on the third green at the Alexandria Golf Club during the Men's Executive quarterfinals on Aug. 4, 2023.

Andy Rennecke / Forum News Service Dave Christensen chips near the third hole during the Men's Executive quarterfinals at Alexandria Golf Club on Aug. 4, 2023.

Christensen Hoops

Johnson Schomer

JUNIOR 13-15

Lunden Esterline set to defend title in Saturday championship match

By Andy Rennecke Forum News Service

Lunden Esterline is going for it again.

The Andover, Kansas, native, who spends his summers in Alexandria, advanced to the finals of the Junior 13-15 division at the 102nd Resorters Tournament Friday, Aug. 4, with a 3-2 match play win over top-seeded Will Thornburg.

The fifth-seeded Esterline won the Junior 13-15 division in 2022 and won the Junior 10-12 tournament in 2020. Esterline will take on Macoy Denny in the championship match, which begins with a tee time of 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5.

Esterline had defeated No. 12 Ehren Anderson and No. 13 Blake Scholl before knocking off Thornburg. Thornburg had defeated Lunden’s younger brother, Bronx, in his quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday, Aug. 2.

Denny Esterline

Esterline def.

Thornburg, 3-2

Esterline took control of the match over Thornburg with an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole to go 2-up. Thornburg closed the deficit to 1-up after they finished the front nine, but Esterline birdied the 10th and 11th holes to go 3-up for good.

Denny def.

Crosby, 1-up Denny, the 11th seed, pulled a minor, but thrilling upset with a 1-up victory over No. 10 Adam Crosby Friday. Denny did it in comeback fashion after Crosby took a 5-up lead on the front nine. Denny shot a 39 on the front, and Crosby shot a 34.

Denny slowly cut into Crosby’s lead and had it down to 1-up after the 16th hole. On the par-3 No. 17 hole, Denny parred, and Crosby bogeyed to even things up. On No. 18, Denny birdied the par-4 hole while Crosby bogeyed to earn the victory in stun-

ning fashion.

Denny finished with a 38 on the back nine, and Crosby had a 45. Denny had knocked off sixth-seeded Will Hacker and No. 14 Ellie Sticha before Friday’s match.

Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press Lunden Esterline putting in the ball on the No. 2 green at Alexandria Golf Club during the Junior 1315 Division semifinals on Aug. 4, 2023, at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press Macoy Denny lines up a putt on the second green during the Junior 13-15 semifinal match on Aug. 4, 2023, at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

Resorters newspaper is published five times throughout the tournament, starting with the preview issue. The remaining issues will be available Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday mornings with the results of the previous day’s play. Copies are located at the Alexandria Golf Club and around the area and are free of charge.

MEN'S REGULAR

Coatta and Banyai swing into Men’s Regular final

Jake Sutherlin

Alexandria Echo Press

The hot-hitting favorite and the upset machine both fell during the Men’s Regular semifinals matchups Friday afternoon at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

The No. 12 seed Max Coatta and the No. 7 seed Kendell Banyai rode

a series of birdies and an eagle to claim their spots in Saturday’s final.

Coatta def. Krulik, 4-3 Max Coatta ended the No. 16 seed Jordan Krulik’s upset streak after Friday’s semifinal matchup.

The pair were tied heading into hole six when Coatta kicked off a 5-hole win streak

sparked by birdies on holes 6, 8, and 10. Krulik was able to pull one back with a birdie on hole 12 but couldn’t close the gap in time.

Coatta shot 2-under through 15 holes.

Banyai def. Swedberg, 3-1 Kendell Banyai’s upset

of the No. 3 seed Drew Swedberg was highlighted by an eagle on hole 6 which put Banyai up three holes on the front nine.

Swedberg knocked in back-to-back birdies on holes 10 and 11 to cut the lead to one, and both golfers birdied hole 12. Banyai extended his lead

again with a birdie on hole 15 and sealed his spot in the finals with a par on hole 17.

Banyai shot 2-under par through 17 holes on Friday.

SATURDAY’S FINAL1OTH HOLE

11:30 a.m. Max Coatta vs Kendell Banyai

Kendell Banyai hits a tee show down the first hole at Alexandria Golf Club on Aug. 4, 2023, in the Men's Regular semifinals.

Jake

Jake Sutherlin / Alexandria Echo Press

Max Coatta smiles during his round in the Men's Regular semifinal on Aug. 4, 2023, at the Alexandria Golf Club.

Sutherlin / Alexandria Echo Press

Coatta Banyai

Johnson into the final for second year straight

By Jake Sutherlin Alexandria Echo Press

The top-seed in the Junior 10-12 division, Garrison Johnson, had to finish his round for the first time in match play and lost a couple of holes early but used a strong finish to advance. After stumbling in last year’s finals, he will be hoping he can take down the No. 3 seed Lewis Kuhn who also had to go the distance for the first time in his 2023 match play.

Johnson def.

Cullen, 2-up

The No. 1 seed Garrison Johnson lost his first hole of match play against the No. 4 seed Tyler Cullen on the first hole of their semifinal matchup. Garrison leveled the tie a couple holes later, but Cullen took the lead again with a birdie on hole 14. Garrison parred the next two holes trumping Cullen’s bogeys, and

finished off the round with another par to cement the win. Cullen was competing in his third Resorters.

Kuhn def. Bull, 1-up

The No. 3 seed Lewis Kuhn took an early two-hole advantage against the No. 7 seed Tyler Bull after three holes, but Bull was able to level the score three holes later. Kuhn notched a winning and ultimately decisive par on hole 16 to book his spot in the finals. The bull was competing in his first Resorters alongside his mother, Krista, and grandfather Roger Ledebuhr.

Jake Sutherlin / Alexandria Echo Press Garrison Johnson hits a tee shot on the 10th hole during the Junior

division semifinals on Aug. 4, 2023, at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

Jake Sutherlin / Alexandria Echo Press Lewis Kuhn follows through on a tee shot during the Junior 10-12 division semifinals on Aug. 4, 2023, at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

Johnson Kuhn

WOMEN’S EXECS

Multi-time champion back in the final

By Jake Sutherlin

Alexandria Echo Press

Betsy Aldrich has competed in over 30 Resorters tournaments and will be competing for her eighth total title after winning a close Women’s Executive Division semifinal match at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

She will be joined by Krista Bull, who is competing in only her sec-

ond Resorters but has pulled off three straight upsets to earn a shot at the title.

Aldrich def. Beckendorf, 2-1

The No. 5 seed Betsy Aldrich erased an early deficit to advance over the No. 9 seed Heidi Beckendorf. Becken -

dorf notched a birdie on hole 3 and held onto the lead until shooting a bogey on hole 7; Aldrich parred the hole and then birdied hole 8 to take the lead. After trading a few more holes, the pair entered hole 15 tied. Aldrich knocked in a birdie and added a win on hole 17 to lock up a

spot in the finals.

Bull def. Allyn, 2-1

The No. 14 seed Krista Bull jumped out to an early four-hole lead over the No. 10 seed Andrea Allyn after winning four of the first seven holes, highlighted by a birdie on hole 3. Allyn was able to cut the lead to

one during the midround after Bull scored a couple of bogeys and double bogeys. But Bull was able to reestablish a two-hole lead by scoring a birdie on hole 15 and held on for a spot in the final.

Betsy Aldrich vs. Krista Bull

Andy Rennecke / Forum News Service

Betsy Aldrich hits a tee shot on the fourth hole at the Alexandria Golf Club during the Women's Executive semifinals on Aug. 4, 2023.

Andy Rennecke / Forum News Service

Krista Bull hits a shot out of the fifth fairway during the Women's Executive Division semifinals at the 102nd Resorters Tournament at the Alexandria Golf Club on Aug. 4, 2023.

Aldrich Bull

GRAND MASTERS

Defending champ to battle medalist for all the marbles

Golden and Madsen breeze through semifinals

Al Edenloff

Alexandria Echo Press

Medalist Skip Madsen will go head-tohead against defending champion Mike Golden for the Men’s Grand Masters trophy Saturday at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

They both breezed to quick wins on Thursday over the other semifinalists, Clayton Pike and Gary Ekdahl.

Golden won last year’s title with a grueling 2-1 win over Dave Harris in the finals. It was his first Resorters title and a vindication of a tough loss he experienced in the 2021 finals against Jerry Gruidl. That match came down to the 18th green, where Golden missed a birdie putt, and Gruidl made his to win the championship, 1-up.

Golden def.

Ekdahl, 5-4

Golden didn’t waste time against Ekdahl, winning the first five holes with two pars, a bogey, and two more pars.

Ekdahl got his first win on No. 6 with a par but trailed by four. Golden won the Minnesota Green No. 7 with par but lost the next two holes when Ekdahl was able to make par.

Leading by three holes at the turn, Golden kept the pressure on, sinking a birdie on

No. 10 to go 4-up. They halved No. 11 with pars, and they both ran into difficulties on No. 12 and had to settle for double-bogeys.

Golden closed out the match with a bogey win on No. 13 and matched Ekdahl’s double-bogey on No. 14, which ended the match, 5-4.

Golden, 76, has competed in the Resorters for 30 years. A highlight of his golf game was winning the Grand Masters’ championship in 2022.

Madsen def.

Pike, 9-7

Madsen showed his medalist round was no fluke. He made par on every hole in his match against Clayton Pike, except for a bogey on No. 2.

It just wasn’t Pike’s day. He started the match with six straight bogeys and ran into trouble on the Minnesota Green No. 7 with a double-bogey. Pike did knock down a par on the No. 8 hole, but it didn’t dent Madsen’s big lead.

Leading by seven at the turn, Madsen

wrapped up his victory with two more pars, No. 10 and 11.

Madsen, 74, is playing in his sixth Resorters. He’s a graduate of the University of North Dakota. He’s racked up many accolades in his golfing career and is now playing on The Farms Golf Club inter team club in Rancho Santa Fe, California, a year-round private club near San Diego.

Skip Madsen vs. Mike Golden. The finalists in the Grand Masters Consolation bracket, Dave Harris and William Douglas, will also play in the foursome.

Jake Sutherlin / Alexandria Echo Press Skip Madsen gets ready for a tee shot on the 1st hole during the Men's Grand Master's semifinals on Aug. 4, 2023.

Jake Sutherlin / Alexandria Echo Press Mike Golden, the defending Men's Grand Masters champion, hits a tee shot during the semifinals round of the 102nd Resorters Tournament, on Aug. 4, 2023

Golden Madsen

MEN'S MASTERS

Defending champion, Empanger, lights up the scorecard

By Jake Sutherlin

Alexandria Echo Press

Jon Empanger and Greg Mattson combined for 12 birdies through 14 holes during their Friday afternoon’s semifinal match play in the Masters Division at the 102nd Resorters Tournament. Empanger is the reigning champion and looks primed to repeat after a phenomenal round.

He will face off against Mike Herzog, a seasoned golfer in his own right and a 2022 runner-up in the Men’s Senior division.

M. Herzog def. Vanyo, 4-3

The No. 4 seed Mike Herzog didn’t lose a single hole through the first nine and had a commanding fourhole midway through his semifinal matchup against the No. 9 seed Rick Vanyo. His steady play was highlighted by a birdie on hole 6. Vanyo was able to pull one back after carding a birdie on hole 12, but couldn’t catch up in time.

Empanger def.

Mattson, 6-4

The No. 2 seed and defending champion Jon Empanger defeated the

No. 3 seed Greg Mattson with a stellar semifinal performance. Empanger carded eight birdies through 14 holes: 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, and 14 to seal his return to the final. Mattson actually started the round with the lead after holing birdies on the holes 1 and

2, but Empanger was too hot to stop. Mattson also had a solid day carding four birdies on the front nine before succumbing midway through the second nine.

- Mike Herzog vs. Jon Empanger

Herzog Empanger

Andy Rennecke / Forum News Service

Mike Herzog, pictured putting on the No. 3 green at the Alexandria Golf Club, won his Men's Masters division semifinal match on Aug. 4, 2023 and advanced to the Men's Masters Championship match at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

MEN'S CHAMP

From Page 3

Tournament, and 2018 champion in the MGA Four-Ball.

Bigger def.

Harris, 2-up

The No. 31 seed Will Harris looked set to extend his fairytale run after taking an early two-hole lead with back-to-back birdies on holes 2 and 3. But the No. 7 seed Lukas Bigger charged back and took the lead by knocking in three consecutive birdies on holes 9, 10, and 11. Harris tied the match up again with a birdie on hole 12 and took the lead after Bigger bogeyed on hole 13. But Bigger came alive at just the right time, scoring birdies on three of the last four holes and securing his spot in Saturday’s final rounds.

Harris ended the day with four birdies, while Bigger finished with eight. Bigger is playing in his 14th Resorters, Adams

def.

Johnson, 5-3

The No. 3 seed Nathaniel Adams lost only one hole in an otherwise rock-solid win over the No. 6 seed Davis Johnson.

Adams tallied five birdies and knocked in

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

From Page 1

Championship division to win backto-back titles was Claudia Pilot in 1995 and 1996.

In Friday’s round, Skaar birded the fourth, ninth, 11th, and 12th holes, while Boraas eagled the third hole and birdied the fifth, sixth, eighth, and 13th holes.

Skaar also plays college golf at North Dakota State.

Last year, Skaar tied for second in the Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur Championship.

Boraas has been a big name in the Alexandria High School girls golf program in recent years and helped the team win back-to-back state titles in 2021 and 2022.

Hicks def. MacKenzie

Olsen, 1-up

The No. 6 seed Madi Hicks controlled her match early against the No. 3 seed MacKenzie Olsen. Hicks lead 4-up after winning holes 2 through 6.

MacKenzie Olsen managed to cut Hicks’ lead down to three holes after the front nine was completed. She then flipped the momentum of the match by winnings holes 10, 11, and 12, and those two were deadlocked after 12 holes.

Hicks retook the lead with a birdie on the 14th hole, but MacKenzie Olsen responded well with a win on hole 15. MacKenzie Olsen birdied the 15th hole.

Hicks won the 18th hole to win the match 1-up and to advance to Saturday morning’s semifinal round.

Hicks is also a member of the North Dakota State women’s golf team, and this year is her first-ever Resorters Tournament appearance.

MacKenzie Olson also played college golf at Upper Iowa University.

an eagle on hole 12 to power his way into Saturday morning’s semifinals. Johnson’s lone hole win came off an Adams bogey, and he was still able to notch three birdies despite a tough loss.

Adams won three

Resorters junior championships in years past, and he is playing in his 14th Resorters overall.

CHAMPIONSHIP PAIRINGS,

Photos by Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press Madi Hicks tees off on the second hole during the Women's Division quarterfinals at the 102nd Resorters Tournament on Aug. 4, 2023, at the Alexandria Golf Club.

MEN’S

SEMI-FINALS AND FINAL, SATURDAY, AUG. 5 - 1ST TEE

a.m. Jacques Wilson vs. Ryan Conn; Lukas Bigger vs. Nate Adams 1 p.m. (approximate) winners from 6:50 a.m. will advance to play in the final

Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press Nate Adams putts on the No. 5 green at the Alexandria Golf Club during a Men's Championship division quarterfinal match on Aug. 4, 2023, at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

Sam Stuve / Alexandria Echo Press Lukas Bigger of Alexandria lines up at putt on the 4th green at the Alexandria Golf Club during the 102nd Resorters Tournament on Aug. 4, 2023. Bigger is one of four semifinalists in the Men's Championship Division.

Alexandria alum Cora Larson lifts a shot from the No. 1 fairway to the green at the Alexandria Golf Club in Women's Division quarterfinal match at the 102nd Resorters Tournament.

“We provide a wide range of glass and glazing services from large commercial doors to custom shower surrounds to onsite or in-shop storm window & screen repair.”

“We handle a wide variety of custom work, so give us a call about any project we may be able to help with.”

“We are a third generation family owned and operated glass service company - it’s in our blood!”

“At Alex Glass & Glazing, every job, big or small, is important to us. We are dedicated to continually working to raise the bar for our customer in quality and service.”