Gruidl, Cliff try to add to hardware

Schoenrock and Golden look for first Resorters title

By Eric Morken

Alexandria Echo Press

Jerry Gruidl has a deep history at the Resorters Tournament that includes quite a claim to fame.

He upended Alexandria’s Tom Lehman to win his first of two Men’s Division championships in 1977. Gruidl’s ability to stay competitive was proven almost two decades later when he won the 1994 Men’s Division championship over Dave Christensen of Elk River. Now he’s trying to add the first Grand Master Division championship to his resume.

Gruidl shot a 78 in qualifying to best the Grand Master field by three strokes early this week. He now faces the challenge of trying to take down another Resorters Tournament legend in George Cliff of Mankato.

Cliff is trying to get his seventh Resorters title and first since 2007 when he won his fourth Senior Division championship. Cliff, seeded fifth after qualifying with an

86 at the Geneva Golf Club, won a 5-4 match in his opener on Wednesday. Gruidl beat Ron Way in a 3-2 decision.

Joining them on the first tee at 8:50 a.m. on Friday will be seventh-seed - ed Tom Schoenrock and sixth-seeded Mike Golden. Both are trying to win their first Resorters championship.

Schoenrock beat second-seeded Terry Martell on Wednesday after taking six holes on the back nine and never looking back once they made the turn to the front. Golden won a 4-3 decision over third-seeded

Clayton Pike. Will Gruidl or Cliff add to their Resorters trophy case or will Schoenrock or Golden become firsttime champs? That will all be decided in the next two days.

FRIDAY GRAND MASTER DIVISION PAIRINGS — 1ST TEE

8:50 A.M. - Jerry Gruidl vs. George Cliff; Tom Schoenrock vs. Mike Golden emorken@echopress.com