Grand Masters medalist keeps shining Gruidl, Cliff, Schoenrock, Golden advance

By Al Edenloff Alexandria Echo Press

The Resorters Grand Masters Division, which is in its third year, will have a new champion in 2021 because Tom Eidsvold, the winner in 2019 and 2020, withdrew from the field before the tournament started.

After Wednesday’s matches, the four who are left battling for the title are Jerry Gruidl, George Cliff, Tom Schoenrock and Mike Golden. But the drama will have to build a bit. The final four won’t tee off until Friday from the No. 1 tee at 8:50 a.m.

The winners will advance to the championship match, which is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. from No. 1 on Saturday.

Here’s a look at how the Grand Masters final four advanced in Wednesday’s windy weather.

Gruidl def. Way, 3-2

Jerry Gruidl, the division’s medalist, edged Ron Way in the opening round of the Resorters Grand Masters Division Wednesday afternoon, 3-2.

Details of the match aren’t available.

Cliff def. Zoutendek, 5-4

George Cliff, a two-time champ in Men’s Execs, four-time champion in the Resorters Senior Men’s Divi- sion and a runner-up in the Resorters Masters Division and last year’s Grand Master runner-up, showed how he won all that hardware over the years, taking down John Zoutendek in 15 holes.

The match began on No. 10, with Zoutendek jumping ahead with a bogey. Cliff answered with a bogey win on No. 11 and then surged ahead by winning No. 13 with par and No. 14 with par.

Cliff pulled comfortably ahead with three straight wins, thanks to a bogey on No. 16, a par on No. 17 and a par on No. 18 to go 5-up.

After crossing the road to the front nine, Zoutendek stopped the bleeding by matching Cliff’s par on No. 1 and his double-bogey on No. 2. Zoutendek won his second hole of the afternoon with a par on No. 3 to draw within four, but it was too little, too late. They halved No. 4 with double-bogeys and Cliff put the match away with a par win on No. 5.

Schoenrock def.

Martell, 4-2

Tom Schoenrock was swinging a hot club against Terry Martell from the start, winning six of the first nine holes.

Starting from No. 10, Schoenrock leaped out front with a par but Martell quickly erased the lead with a par win of his own on No. 11. That seemed to light a fire under Schoenrock. He won the next three holes with pars. Martell stopped the surge by matching Schoerock’s bogey on No. 15, but Schoenrock took Nos. 16 and 18 with pars to go 5-up at the turn.

Martell didn’t go down without a fight. He won No. 1 with a par, only to see Schoenrock take the next hole with par. Both golfers halved Nos. 3 and 4 before Martell edged to within four with a birdie on No. 5. Schoenrock wasn’t about to let this match slip away, however, as he nailed down a 4-2 win.

Golden def. Pike, 4-3

The match between Mike Golden and Clayton Pike – who both qualified with a round of 86 – lasted 15 holes before Golden escaped with a 4-3 victory.

Details of the match