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.

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 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.

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.

Adams won three

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

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