Minnesota Golf Association

MINNESOTA GOLF 90 Years of Tournament History

by

JAMES E. KELLEY

Published By

vtft:}MWJcm ~1olf "r/JJou'

Copyright 1991, by James E. Kelley Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 91-66281 Printed in the United States of America

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Contents Preface VII Minnesota Golf...a brief history. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 The Golf Courses of Minnesota .. ............................ . 13 Men's Golf in Minnesota: Biggest Winners. . . . . . . . . . ........... . 15 Minnesota Golf Association, Inc. (history) .. ........................ . 21 MGA Player-of-the-Year ........................................ 24 MGA Amateur Point Ranking System .............................. 25 MGA Amateur" Championship .................................... 27 MGA Mid-Amateur Championship ................................ 71 MGA Players' Championship .................................... 73 PGA Professionals vs MGA Amateurs Cup Matches . ............... , .. 81 International Junior Cup (Minnesota vs Manitoba) . ............. , .... .. 89 MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship .......................... 93 MGA Junior Championship ..................................... 94 MGA Senior Championship .................................... 105 MGA Four-Ball (Best-Balli Championship ........................... 111 MGA Senior Four-Ball (Best-Balli Championship ..................... 116 Minnesota Public Golf Association Championship ... ................ . 122 Minnesota Public Golf Association Senior Championship .. ............ . 154 Northwest Father & Son Championship ........................... 156 Francis Gross Invitational ... , ................................. . 157 Upper Midwest Bronze Amateur Tourney . ....................... .. 158 Minnesota State Junior Championship . .......................... . 160 Minneapolis Star Junior Championship . ................... , ...... . 162 Minnesota State High School Championship . ...................... . 164 University of Minnesota Golf . ................................. . 175 Women's Golf in Minnesota (historyl ............................. 183 Biggest Winners in Minnesota Golf (women). , ..................... . 186 Minnesota Women's Golf Association Championships . ............... . 189 Minnesota Women's Amateur Championship (1954-19711 . . . . . .. . ... 192 Minnesota Junior Girls' State Championship . .............. , ....... . 232 Minnesota Senior Women's State Amateur Championship . ............ . 235 Minnesota Women's State Amateur Four-Ball Championship . .......... . 238 Minnesota Women's Public Golf Association Championship . ........... . 240 Minnesota Women's Public Golf Association Senior Championship . ..... . 247 Minnesota Golf Champions Tournament . ................. , ....... . 249 Minnesota State Open Championship . ........................... . 260 Minnesota Section PGA Championship . .......................... . 293 MGA-PGA Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame ........................... 295 Minnesota Section PGA Match Play Championship . ............ , .... . 319 Minnesota Section PGA Senior Championship . ..................... . 323 Minnesota Senior Men's Open Championship . ...... , .......... , . . 325 Tapemark Charity Pro-Am ..................................... 326 Peters Open. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................... 330 Birchmont International . .............. , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. " .332 Resorters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .339 Pine-to-Palm ........................................ " ... 348

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1991 Vacation Circuit Summaries ............. ; ............... .. 353 Minnesota Vacation Circuit Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .. 354 Minnesota's National Champions plus best finishes

by Minnesotans in National Tournaments . .................... .. 356 Minnesotans in Walker Cup and Curtis Cup Matches ...... .......... .. 371 Additional Minnesota National and Sectional

Champions plus best finishers ... .......................... .. 372 Minnesota's All-Time Entrants in National Tournaments ............... 395 National and Sectional Tournaments Held in Minnesota . ............. . .402 St. Paul Open (Keller Open), Minnesota Classic ..................... .469 Northgate LPGA Classic ...................................... .472 Early Days of LPGA in Minnesota ............................... .474 Minnesota Women's Open Championship ...... .................. . .474

Great Champions in Minnesota Golf

Harry Legg ................. 41 Bea (Barrett) Altmeyer ........ 203 Jimmy Johnston ............ .45 Bev (Gammon) Vanstrum . ... .. 209 Pat Sawyer ................ .49 Joan Garvin .. , ............. 215 Gene Hansen ..... ......... .. 57 Nancy Harris .......... ... .. 225 John Harris ........... , ... .. 65 Joe Coria .............. ... . 274 AI Clasen .................. 139 Wally Ulrich ................ 278 Les Bolstad ................ 177 Gunnard Johnson .... ...... .. 301 Gertrude (Boothby) Dansingburg .195 George Shortridge ........... 314 Patty Berg ................. 201

PICTURE CREDITS

Most of the photographs reproduced in this book were loaned from the personal files of individual golfers. Credit is hereby acknowledged to the following: Minne-sota Historical Society, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Winona County Historical Soci-ety, Doubleday & Co., Inc., St. Paul Pioneer Press and Golf World. These were previously listed in the first edition of "Minnesota Golf," copyright 1976. Other photographs are used through the courtesy of the University of Minnesota, Carle-ton College, Minnesota GoJf Association (MGA)' Minnesota Women's Golf Associ-ation (MWGA), Minnesota Women's Public Golf Association (MWPGA), United States Golf Association (USGA), Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

Text Designed By: James E. Kelley Cover Designed By: Patrick Delmore and Don Kunshier

Cover Photography By: Crofoot Photography, Inc.

VI

Preface

Shortly after all the scores were posted there was time for a liftle daydream-ing. I dreamt I went back home, to the old store, a building so close to the railroad tracks that its foundation cracked and swayed and its rafters shook, rattled and'rolled whenever a heavily-laden freight rumbled through or a swift silk train whizzed past. This cold, rickety, two-story structure was at first a home for Hopkins factory workers. Later it became a saloon, eventually a general store where there was sold everything from groceries to shoes to aspirin.

At the edge of town near many golf courses, the store was a golfing center, a hangout for a vanishing breed-the caddy. When those bag toters checked in they had a candy bar, a pop, told their tales and dumped their loot-golf balls scrounged from the rough by day and skinny-dipped from the lakes and ponds by night. They were sold or exchanged for various items. The golf balls were counted, sorted and washed under the guidance of my father after which they were painted, dried and transported to the golf pro-fessionals and sold for the exhorbitant price of one dollar for twelve. Why, some of Minnesota's champions loved them.

Behind the store was a massive field upon which was a nine-hole golf course. It was hand-made, hand-mowed and neighborhood-loved. To not have seen it is not to have seen a golf course. Here younger caddies picked up golf tips from older caddies. There were no green fees. And the balls were free. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship with a sometimes frus-trating but always wonderful game.

The phenomenal growth of the golf in the next generation became one of the astounding developments of our time. Its universal appeal has made it more than a game. For countless Americans it is a way of life, for many an obsession. This rapid acceleration also meant more scores, more records of greater feats, more of everything to chronicle. Eventually it was evident that documentation of complete and accurate Minnesota golf records for the first time would be of value. Getting this data into a book became a reality for me when the Minnesota Golf Association sponsored "Minnesota Golf" in commemoration of its diamond jubilee in 1976. This new and revised edition marks the MGA's 90th year of serving Minnesota golfers. It is a record over the past near-century of competitive golf in Minnesota, which includes the state's major and minor tournaments, national and regional tournaments played here, national champions from Minnesota and state golfers who qualified for national tournaments. There's also a word about the 'Great Champions in Minnesota Golf:

The information in this book was not ready-made. For the most part it is the expansion of a personal collection of golf miscellany accumulated over many years. A persistent objective to resolve a zillion conflicting records became an undertaking more awesome fhan anticipated. While most of the material uncovered, studied, kept and discarded was authentic, much of it was unreliable. Facts not immediately recorded are virtually irretrievable. Golfers do not always possess the memories they often project at the 19th hole. Despite many mysteries and obstacles, a long research scramble in the archives, and letters and interviews by the hundreds, there emerged success, however measured.

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I am indebted to numerous individuals and organizations who through the years have helped in many ways to make these two books possible. Special gratitude goes to the Minnesota Golf Association and its executive director, Warren Rebholz, and his staff; the United States Golf Association (USGA), the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA), the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), the Minnesota Section of the PGA, the Minnesota Public Golf Association, the Minnesota Women's Public Golf Association, the Minnesota Women's Golf Association, the Minnesota Historical Society, the public libraries of Minneapolis and St. Paul; the St. Paul Pioneer Press and the Minneapolis Tribune (and earlier Minneapolis newspapers) and the Univer-sity of Minnesota Men's and Women's Athletic Publicity Departments. Addi-tionally my thanks go to members of my family who were so patient through it all and whose concern was surely as personal as mine. To all, I can only offer a blanket acknowledgement: "Thanks a million!"

As I walk off the home green for the last time there seems little left from bygone days except fading memories. Most of those old caddies have scat-tered or gone over to the last tee. That friendly meadow and the old store are no more. But what does remain are all those golf courses, timeless, now matured and more beautiful than ever. It was there and elsewhere that Min-nesota's champions, near-champions and all the others who gave it their best shot, made impressive history and left us with a rich and lasting legacy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JAMES E. KELLEY Minneapolis September 9, 1991

The author's love of golf goes back to his early caddy days, about the time Gene Sarazen scored his miraculous double eagle and won the sec-ond Masters. In those years Mr. Kelley began collecting and analyzing sports records in general, and golf records in particular. Much of his re-search forms the basis of this book. After World War II service as a Navy pilot, Mr. Kelley graduated from the University of Minnesota, majoring in journallsrn, and spent many years as a newspaper reporter, feature writer and editor. "Minnesota Golf" is the culmination of a lifelong hobby.

VIII

Minnesota Golf .... a brief history

The origins of golf, like those of many sports, are shrouded in mystery. Long ago it was generally accepted that the Scotch, in the 14th or 15th century, invented golf, certainly as it is known and played today . Scottish kings for a time banned the game, said ban being lifted when one of the kings was caught playing the game.

To determine where it all started in the United States is, at best, confusing. John G. Reid, a Scotsman who lived in the Yonkers, N.Y. area, is called the "Father of American Galf." He introduced it to friends in February, 1888 on a cow pasture which subsequently became a golf course that is said to be the first actual course in the United States.

While crude links spread about the East, one has only to visit the Town & Country Club just across the Mississippi River in St. Paul to be reminded that a few golf pioneers were already at work way out here in the West. Organized in Decem-ber, 1887 by some 60 men and women near Lake Como in St. Paul, the club moved in 1890 to its present site, property once owned by France. In its earliest years T & C had all the appearances of a large English country estate . Club histories tell us that golf received no consideration until 1893 and state further that the club is the oldest golf club in this country with the second oldest links in continuous use. Be that as it may, it is reasonable to assume that the birthplace of golf in Minnesota was at Town & Country. An additional nine holes was opened in 1907 and when the Minnesota Golf Association held its championship at Town & Country that year it was the first tournament in Minnesota to be played on an 18-hole course.

No club played a more conspicuous role in Minnesota golf than Minikahda, founded in August, 1898, a nine-hole course opening the following summer. Eighteen holes were in use by July, 1907. A forerunner in bringing tournament golf here, the first National Open west of the Mississippi River was held at Minikahda in 1916. That the Trans-Mississippi and the Western Amateur championships were contested at Minikahda as early as 1904 and 1910 reveals the foresight and organi zational acumen of the state's early golf leaders who, perhaps unwittingly I started a tradition that others have preserved to this day .

The development of courses in the next two decades was rapid, if not astonish-ing, particularly in view of the short season. Lafayette 1902, White Bear Yacht Club 1910 and Interlachen 1911 followed, the last an outgrowth of Bryn Mawr in north Minneapolis. Founded in the spring of 1898, Bryn Mawr was the first Minneapolis course and ultimately gave way to home development in 1910. The first MGA tournament was held at MeadowBrook GC in Winona in 1901. Opened in 1897 , MeadowBrook does not seem to have been preceded by any beyond the Twin Cities. The course was abandoned in 1919 and the Winona CC opened at a new site the following year. Northland in Duluth was built in ] 904 and hosted the MGA Amateur the next year. In 1927 a new course was dedicated near the site of the old. Faribault had a course in 1910, Alexandria in 1913.

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TOWN & COUNTRY CLUB ..... 1887 Birthplace of golf in Minnesota

Golf moved from the society page to the front page in 1913 when Francis Ouimet, a 20~year.old amateur, won the National Open over the great English professionals, Harry Vardon and Edward "Ted" Ray, in a playoff at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. The first Open victory by an amateur stunned the golf world and no single event to that time did more to stir pUblic interest. Within a short time those with only a passing knowledge of the sport began playing. Golf professionals from the British Isles poured into Canada and the United States to spread the teaching word. Minnesota was also the beneficiary of this migration. As the number of homebred professionals grew and many gifted amateurs decided to play for pay, the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) was founded in 1916. A year later the Minnesota PGA came into being and launched the State Open at Minikahda. Except for 1931 the tournament has been held annually.

Women from the private clubs organized the Minnesota Women's Golf Associa tion in 1915 and held the first tournament, appropriately, at T & C. In 1916 the Minneapolis Park Board opened the first public course in the Twin City area -Glenwood. In 1939 it was renamed Theodore Wirth in honor of the early Minnea polis Superintendent of Parks. Around World War I there were no more than a dozen courses in and about the Tw"in Cities, Glenwood and Phalen being the only fee courses.

'1'0 accommodate an even more widespread public enthusiasm following the war, Columbia was opened in 1920. Public courses following soon after were Super ior (now Brookview) 1922; Armour (now Gross) 1925; Meadowbrook, Highland Park and Riverview (now Mendakota) 1926; Como and Galls 1927; Westwood Hills and Keller 1929; Hiawatha 1934 and, naturally, some others. Many of the public courses started with sand greens but grass greens followed in relatively short order.

Once called the "rich man's game," these new courses made golf available to countless sportsmen of modest means. Men and women, young and old alike,

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played golf which soon became the most popular outdoor sport. The Minnesota Public Golf Association emerged in 1922. The next season the MPGA held its first tournament at Glenwood. To emphasize the growth of public golf, the first U.S. Public Links tournament in 1922 had an entry list of 140. After World War II more than 3,500 golfers entered.

Golf at first flourished greatest in and near the larger cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth. However,. in the early 1920's, such tournaments as the Resorters in Alexandria and the Birchmont at Bemidji, later the Pine-to-Palm at Detroit Lakes, stimulated excitement beyond the metropolitan communities. Some of the more 'widely known courses that opened in the years immediately preceding and following World War I were Minneapolis Golf Club, Northwood, Bemidji, Red Wing 1916; Minnetonka CC, Phalen, Woodhill 1917; Golden Valley, Detroit CC (Detroit Lakes) 1918; Mankato and Rochester 1919; Albert Lea, Fairmont, Somer set 1920; Midland Hills and Oak Ridge 1921; University of Minnesota, Brainerd, Southview, Hillcrest, Ridgeview (Duluth) 1922; St. Cloud, the Country Club (now Edina CC) and Hibbing 1923; Breezy Point, Westfield (Winona) 1924; Bloomington GC (now Minnesota Valley) 1925. As interest in golf mounted, the number of courses increased until ground-breaking for a neW golf course became common-place.

Golf in Minnesota was firmly established by the late 1920's. Tournaments conducted by tho various state associations drew record entry lists, the MGA Ama-

MINIKAHDA CLUB .. ... 1898 Hosted Second MGA Amateur 1902

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NORTHLAND ee, DULUTH ..... 1904 Became 18-hole course in 1912, rebuilt 1927

teu!' at one point being broadcast on radio. And good-sized crowds turned out at the State Open when the top prize was $100. Popularity intensified when Bobby Jones won the National Open at Interlachen in 1930 and more so when Minnesota golfers captured national and regional honors, Minnesota moved into the Na-tional forefront early. Year after year golfs unforgettable stars came to the St. Paul Open at Keller. That nearly 60 big toumaments have been played here is proof of Minnesota's enthusiasm, leadership and high-quality courses.

In the decades following World War II golf reached new heights. Steel-shafted clubs, which revolutionized the sport in the thirties, were better than ever. A golf course construction boom picked up the slack of the depression and war years when many courses went out of business or were sold to land developers. The driving range craze, indoor golf schools, watered fairways, advances in grasses and soil and better teaching methods were evident everywhere. Television and the professional tours became a big deal. A more affluent society soon found the golf course a profitable place to do business. Even the caddy was affected when golf cars dwindled his numbers. Whereas the early professionals came primarily from the caddy ranks, it wasn't long before the golfer with a college background was the order of the day.

This ancient and honorable pastime has fascinated man for generations. If it is relaxation for most, it is a challenge for many. The gifted and non-gifted alike are bound by a common tie ~ trying to get a little white ball into a tiny hole with a minimum of discomfort. With more than 20 million Americans playing on 13,000 or more courses, the game is big business with a high pitch, a $20 billion industry, clubs, balls, apparel, shoes, travel, lodging, corporate sponsorship of tournaments, new golf courses, homes overlooking fairways and other game-related real estate. There are no less than 400 golf courses in Minnesota. The ever-increasing golfing population cries for more and they are coming as fast as they can be designed and built by the newest partnership - the architect and the golf professional. The state's golf associations, for both men and women, have greatly expanded their services in recent years and, in addition, provide tournament schedules that ac-commodate a wide range of participants.

It's a whole new day for golfhel'e and elsewhere. For nearly a century Minnesota golfers have been part of an ever-changing scene and all the while creating a history of considerable significance.

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The Golf Courses of Minnesota

AFTON ALPS GC (Hastings) ALBANY GC ALEXANDRIA GC ANGUSHIAE GC ('Haile Park) APPLE VALLEY GC APPLETON GO ARROWHEAD CC (Emmons) ARAOWWOOD GC (Alexandria) AUSTIN CC B & V PAR 3 (Plymouth) BAB8!TT GC BAKER NATIONAL GC (Medina) BALMORAL GC (Battle lake) BELLWOOD OAKS GC (Hastings) BEMIDJI TOWN & CC BENSON GC BENT CREEK GC (Eden Prairie) BENlWOOD CLIMAX GC BIG LAKE GC (Cloquet) BIRCH BAY GC (Brainerd) BIRCHWOOD GC (Pelican Rapids)

BIRNAMWOOD PUBLIC GC (Burnsville) BLACKDUCK GC BLOOMING PRAIRIE CC BLUEBERRY HILLS CC (Deer River)

BLUFF CREEK GC (Excelsior) BOIS DE SIOUX GC (Breckenridge) BAACKEITS CROSSING CC (Lakeville) BAAEMAR GC BRAINERD GC BREEZY POINT GC (Peguot Lakes) BRIGHlWOOD HillS (New Brighton) BROCKWAY GC (Rosemount)

BROOKlAND GC (Brooklyn Park) BROOKLYN PARK GC BROOKSIDE RESORT GC (Park Rapids) BROOKTREE MUNICIPAL (OWatonna) BROOKVIEW GC BUFFALO HEIGHTS GC (Buffalo) BUNKER HILLS GC (Coon Rapids) PAUL BUNYAN GC {Brainerd} BURL OAKS GC (Mound) CANBY GC CANNON GC (Cannon Falls) CARRIAGE HILLS CC (Eagan) CASTLE HIGHLANDS GC (Bemidji) CASTLEWOOD GC (Forest Lake) CEDAR HILLS GC (Eden Prairie) CEDAR AIVER CC (Adams) CENTERBROOK GC (Brooklyn Center) CHASKA PAR 30 GC CHIPPENDALE GC {Farmington} CHISAGO LAKES GC {lindstrom} CHOMONIX GC {Lino Lakes} CHOSEN VALLEY GC {Chatfield} CIMARRON PARK GC (Lake Elmo) CLARKS GROVE GC CLEARY LAKE PARK GC (Prior Lake) CLOOUET CC COFFEE MILL G & CC ('Nabasha) COKATO TOWN & CC COLUMBIA GC COMO GC (St. Paul) COTTONWOOD CC (Cottonwood)

Which one do you play?

COUNTRY VIEW GC (Maplewood) COUNTRYSIDE GC (Minneota) CROSSLAKE EXECUTIVE GC CROW RIVER CC (Hutchinson) CUYUNA CC (DeelWood) DAHLGREEN GC (Chaska) DAWSON GOLF ASSOCIATION DAYTONA CC (Dayton) DEER RUN GC (Victoria) DELLWOOD HILLS GC DETROIT CC (Detrol! Lakes) DODGE CC (Dodge Center) DOUBLE EAGLE GC (Eagle Bend) DRIFTWOOD GC (Pine River) DWAN GC (Bloomington) EAGLE VIEW GC (Park Rapids) EASTWOOD GC (Rochestel) EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS (Bigfork) EDGEWATER CC (Albert Lea) EDINA CC EDINBURGH USA (Brooklyn Park) ELK RIVER CC ELM CREEKGC ELYGC EMILY GREENS ENGER PARK GC (Duluth) ERWIN HILLS GC (longville) ESHQUAGUMA CLUB (Gilbert) EVELETH MUNICIPAL GC FAIR HILLS RESORT GC (Detroit Lakes) FALLS CC (International Falls) FARIBAULT G & CC FARMERS G & HEALTH CLUB (Sanborn) FERNDALE CC (Rushford) FIDDLESTIX GC (Isle) FOREST HILLS GC (Forest Lake) FORT RIDGELY GC (Fairfa)() FORT SNELLING GC FOSSTON GC FOUNTAIN VALLEY GC (Farmington) FOX HOLLOW GC (Rogers) FOX LAKE GC (Sherburn) FRAZEE GOLF ASSOCIATION FRENCH LAKE OPEN GC (Osseo) FRITZ'S RESORT G & CC (Nisswa) GEM LAKE HILLS GC (White Bear Lake) GLENCOE CC GOLDEN VALLEY CC GOODRICH GC (St. Paul) GRACEVILLE GC GRAND VIEW LODGE (Nisswa) GRANDVIEW GC (Duluth) GRANDY NINE GC (Stanchfield) GRANITE FALLS GC GREEN LEA GC (Albert Lea) GREEN VALLEY GC (Lake Park) GREENHAVEN GC (Anoka) GREENWOOD GL ('Nyoming) FRANCIS A. GROSS GC GUNFLINT HILLS GC (Grand Marais) HAMPTON HilLS GC (Plymouth) HARMONY GC HASTINGS CC

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HAVANA HILLS GC (Onatonna) HAWLEYG & CC HAYDEN HILLS GC (Champlin) HAZELTINE NATIONAL GC (Chaska) HEADWATERS GC (Park Rapids) HEART OF THE VALLEY GC (Ada) HENDRICKS GC HIAWATHA GO HIBBING MUNICIPAL GC HIDDEN GREENS GC (Hastlngs) HIDDEN HAVEN CC (Cedar) HIGHLAND PARK GC HILLCREST CC HOLIDAY PARK GC (Hayward) HOLLYDALE GC (Plymouth) HOWARD'S BARN & GC (Fifty Lakes) HOYT LAKES CC HYLAND GREENS (Bloomington) INDIAN HILLS GC (Stillwater) INTERLACHEN CO INTERLAKEN GC (Fairmont) IRISH HILLS GC (Pine River) IRONMAN GC (Detroit Lakes) ISLAND VIEW CC (Waconia) iZATYS G & YC {Onamia} JACKSON GC KARLSTADGC KATEHAVEN GC (Circle Pines) KELLER GC KENYON CC KERKOVEN COMMUNITY GC KIMBALLGC KORONIS HILLS GC (PaYl1esville) LAFAYETIE CLUB LAKE CITY CC LAKE MILTONA GC LAKEVIEW OF ORONO (Mound) LAKEWAY GC (Dalton) LANCASTER MUNICIPAL GC LANESBORO GC LESTER PARK GC (Duluth) LeSUEUR CC LEWISTON CC LINDSTROM PAR3 GC LITCHFIELD GC lITILE CROW CC (Spicer) lITILE FALLS CC LONE PINE CC (Shakopee) LONG PRAIRIE CC LOON LAKE GC (Jackson) LOST SPUR CC (Eagan) LUTSEN LODGE GC LUVERNE CC MACALGROVE CC (Caledonia) MADDEN INN AND GC (Brainerd) MADElIAGC MADISON CC MAHNOMEN CC MAJESTIC OAKS GC (Ham Lake) MANITOU RIDGE (White Bear Lake) MANKATO GC MAPLE HILLS GC (SI. Paul) MAPLE HILLS GC (Frazee) MAPLE VALLEY G & CC (Rochester)

The Golf Courses of Minnesota

MAPLE BROOK Ge (Stewartville) MAASHAllGC MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL GO MAYFLOWER CO (Fairfax) MEADOWBROOK GO MEADOWLARK CO (Melrose) MENDAKOTA CO MENDOTA HEIGHTS GO (St. Paul) MESABA GC (Hibbing)

MIDLAND HILLS CC MILACA GO MILLE LACS CC (GaHison) MILLER'S CRESTWOOD (AleXandria) MINAKWA CO (Crookston) MINIKAHDA CLUe (Minneapolis) MINNEAPOUS GO MINNEOPA GO (Mankato) MINNESOTA VALLEY CC MINNETONKA CO (Excelsior)

MINNEWASKA GO (Glenwood) MINNIOWA GO (Elmore) MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GL (Red Wing) MONTEVIDEO CC MONTGOMERY GO MONTICELLO CO

MOORHEAD CC MOORHEAD VILLAGE GREEN GO MOOSE LAKE GO MORACe MOUNT FRONTENAC Ge (Frontenac) MOUNTAIN LAKE GO NEW HOPE VILLAGE GO NEW PRAGUE GO NEW ULM CC NORMANDALE GO (Edina) NORTH BRANCH GO NORTH OAKS GC NORTHERN HILLS GC (Rochester) NORTHFIELD GC NORTHLAND CC (Duluth) OAK GLEN CC (Stillwater)

OAK HARBOR G & TC (Baudette) OAK KNOLLS GC (Red Lake Falls) OAK RIDGE CC (Hopkins) OAK RIDGE GC (Hallock) OAK VIEW GC (Freeborn) OAKCREST GC (Roseau) OAKDALE CC (Buffalo Lake) OAKDALE GREENS

OAKS CC (Hayfield) OAKVtEW GC (Greenbush) OAKWOOD GC (Henning) OLiVIAGC

OLYMPIC HILLS GC {Eden Prairie} ORCHARD GARDENS GC (Burnsville) ORONO GC (Crystal Bay) ORTONVILLE GC

OSAKIS CC OWATONNACC PARKVIEW GC (Eagan) PEBBLE CREEK CC (Becker)

PEBBLE LAKE GC (Fergus Falls) PERHAM LAKESIDE CC PEZHEKEE GC (Glenwood) PHALEN PARK GC (St. Paul)

IIow many have you played?

PHEASANT RUN GC (Rogers)

PIERZ MUNICIPAL GC PIKE LAKE cc (Duluth) PINE CITY CC PINE CREEK GC (laCresent)

PINE HILL GC {Carlton} PINE RIVER CC PINEWOOD ESTATES GC (Elk River) PIPER HILLS GC (Plainview)

PIPESTONE CC POKEGAMA GC (Grand Rapids)

POMME DE TERRE GC (Morris) PONDEROSA GC (Glyndon) PRAIRIE VIEW MUNICIPAL GC (Worthington) PRESTON GC PROCTOR GC

PURPLE HAWK GC (Cambridge) QUADNA GC (Hill City) RAMSEY GC (Austin) RED OAK GC (Mound)

RED ROCK GC (Barretq RED WING CC REDWOOD FALLS GC RICH ACRES GC (Richfield)

RICH SPRING GC {Cold Spring} RICH VALLEY GC {Rosemount} RIDGEVIEW CC (Duluth) RIDGEWOOD GC (Longville) RIVER OAKS GC (Cold Spring) RIVERS EDGE CC (lNatertown) RIVERSIDE GC (Stephen) RIVERSIDE TOWN & CC (Winnebago)

RIVERVIEW GC (New Richland) ROCHESTER G & CC ROLLING GREEN CC (Hamel) ROLLING GREEN FAIRWAYS (Fairmont) ROLLING HILLS GC (Westbrook) ROLLING HILLS GC (Pelican Rapids) ROOT RIVER CC (Spring Valley) ROSE LAKE GC (Fairmont)

ROSEVILLE CEDAR HOLM GC RUM RIVER GC (Princeton) RUM RIVER HILLS GC (Ramsey) RUTIGER'S BAY LAKE GC (Deerwood) SANDSTONE GC ST, CLOUD CC

SAND TRAP GC (Cass Lake) SARTELL GC

SAUK CENTRE CC SAVANNA G & SC (McGregor) SAWMILL GC (Stillwater)

SCOTIDALE GC (Prior Lake) SHAMROCK GC (Corcoran)

SHATIUCK-ST. MARY'S GC (Faribault) SHOATEE GC (lNaterville) SHOAELAND CC (SI. Peter)

SILVER BAY CC SILVER SPRINGS GC (Monlicello) SLAYTON CC SLEEPY EYE GC

SOLDIERS MEMORIAL FIELD GC

SOMERSET CC (Mendota Heights) SOUTHVIEW CC (West SI. Paul) SPRINGFIELD CC

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STILLWATER CC STONEBROOKE GC (Shakopee) SUGAR HilLS RESORT & GC SUNDANCE GC (Osseo) SWAN LAKE CC (Pengilly)

TARTAN PARK GC (Lake Elmo) TERRACE GC (Staples) TERRACE VIEW GC (Mankato) THIEF RIVER FALLS GC

TIANNA CC (lNalker) TIMBER CREEK GC (lNatertown) TtPSINAH MOUNDS CC (Elbow lake) TOWN & COUNTRY CLUB (SI. Paul) TOWN & COUNTRY GC (Moorhead) TRACY CC TRAVELERS CC ON THE MISSISSIPPI (Clear Lake)

TWENTY-NINE PINES CC (Mahtowa) TWIN PINES GC (Bagley) TWO HARBORS U\KEVIEW GC TYLER COMMUNITY GC

UNIVERSITY GC (SI. Paul) V. A. HOSPITAL GC (St. Cloud) VALlEBRooK GC (Lakefield) VALLEY CC (East Grand Forks) VALLEY GC (lNilimar) VALLEY HIGH CC (Houston) VALLEYWOOD GC (Apple VaHey) VERMILtON FAIRWAYS GC (COOk) VIKING MEADOWS GC (Cedar) VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL GC WADENACC WAPICADA GC (Saint Cloud)

WARREN RIVERSIDE CC WARROAD ESTATES GC WASECA LAKESIDE CLUB WATONWAN CC (Saint James) WAYZATA CC WEDGEWOOD GC (lNalker) WEDGEWooD VALLEY GC WELLS GC

WESTFIELD GC (lNinona) WHEATON CC WHISPERING PINES (Annandate) WHISPERING PINES (Maple Grove) WHITE BEAR YC WHITEFISH GC (Pequot Lakes) WILLMAR COMMUNITY GC WILLOW CREEK GC (Rochester)

WILLOW CREEK MUNICIPAL GC (BarneSVille)

WIN-EMAC GC (ErSkine) WINDOM CC

WINONACC WINTHROP GC THEODORE WIRTH GC WOODBURY GOLF & FITNESS

WOODHILL CC (Wayzata) WOODLAND CREEK GC (Andover) WORTHINGTON CC ZUMBROTA GC ZUMBRO VALLEY GC (Kasson)

MEN'S GOLF IN MINNESOTA

BIGGEST WINNERS IN MINNESOTA GOLF Most State Championships

(Big Four: Open, Amateur, PGA, Public links. All PGA listings are the Stroke Play Championship unless otherwise designated)

Only Major Championships considered. No Junior or Senior Championships listed in any of the following categories. For details refer to those sections. tPlayoff Winner. Legend: S-Stroke Play; M-Match Play

MGA Amateur State PGA PGA Public Links lSI IMI Open lSI IMI lSI IMI

15 George Shortridge 2 6 7 11 Harry Legg 10 1 11 Joe Coria 7 2 2 10 Gunnard Johnson 10 9 H.R. 'Jimmy" Johnston 7 2 9 lester Bolstad 1 4 2 2 8 AI Clasen 1 1 5 7 Pat Sawyer 4 3 7 John Cook 1 4 2 6 Gene Hansen 2 2 2 6 Bob Reith, Jr. 1 4 5 Wally Ulrich 4 5 Bill Israelson 3 1 4 Jack Burke 4 4 leonard Mattson 4 4 Ray Hill 2 2 4 Joel Goldstrand 2 1 4 Mike Fermoyle 3 1 4 Rick Ehrmanntraut 1 2 4 Jon Chaffee 3 3 Frank Brakl, Jr. 2 3 Ade Fordham 3 3 John Lakotas 3 3 Bob Clark 3 3 Don Waryan 3 3 Bill Waryan 2 3 Clayton Johnson 2 3 Ron Benson 3 3 Steve Johnson 1 2 3 John Harris 3 3 Chris Perry 2 1 3 Dan Croonquist 1 2 3 Dave Nordeen 2 3 Tom Lehman 1 2 3 Mike Barge 1 2 3 Bill Brask, Jr. 3

WINNERS OF TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS (Same Tournament)

MGA AMATEUR: Harold P. Bend, Dudley H. Mudge, Jr., Bobby Campbell, Neil Croonquist, Larry Karkhoff, Ade Simonsen, Gary Burton. PUBLIC LINKS: Howard Pousette, John Bloyer, Roy Shortridge, Chet Latawiec, Don Hauser, Gene Parr, John Snyder. STATE OPEN: Tom Stevens, George Smith, Dave Gumlia. PGA: Charles "Corky" Dahl (stroke play)

15

GRAND SLAM CHAMPION

(Open, Amateur, PGA, Public links)

LESTER BOLSTAD: Open 1933, 1938-1939. 1943; Amateur

1931; PGA 1938, 1951; Public Links 1925-1926.

TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONS (Open, Amateur, Public Linksl

BOLSTAD

AL CLASEN: Open 1937; Amateur 1935, t1945; Public Links 1947, 1951, 1957, 1959, 1964

GENE HANSEN: Open, Amateur. Public Links, each 1961-1962. (Won Open playoff in 1961)

RICK EHRMANNTRAUT: Open 1976; Amateur 1972; Public Links 1989-1990

Note: Bolstad was the first Triple Crown winner, in 1933. He became the "Grand Slam" champion in 1938. Clasen became a Triple Crown champion in 1947, Hansen in 1961 and Ehrmanntraut in 1989. Hansen is the only one to win the Triple Crown more than once (1961-19621 and in consecutive years

CLASEN HANSEN EHRMANNTRAUT

JOE CORIA: Open 1934, 1940, t1941; 1945, 1948-1949; 1952. PGA 1943-1944; Public Links 19331934

Bill ISRAELSON: Open 1991; Amateur 19761978; PGA (match play) 1991

CORIA

Six golfers, though not Triple Crown winners, are the only other champions of three of the four "Grand Slam" tournaments. Coria never won the MGA Ama-teur and Israelson did not win the Public Links as did Triple Crown champions Clasen, Hansen and Ehr manntraut. However, Coria won the PGA Stroke Play champiollship and Israelson captured the PGA Match Play championship which none of the other three won. George Shortridge, John Cook, Bob Reith, Jr. alld Joel Goldstralld also won three differellt tourna-ments. Each won the State Open and both PGA championships.

16

ISRAELSON

OPEN and AMATEUR CHAMPIONS

HARRY LEGG: Open 1925; Amateur 1905, 1908-1913, 1917, 1919-1920

HARRISON R. "JIMMY" JOHNSTON: Open 1927-1928; Amateur 1921-1927

LESTER BOLSTAD: Open 1933, 1938-1939, 1943; Amateur 1931

CARSON "LEE" HERRON: Open 1932; Amateur 1933

PAT SAWYER: Open 1935-1936, 1956: Amateur 1930, 1932, 1946, 1948

AL CLASEN: Open 1937; Amateur 1935, t1945

BILL WARYAN: Open 1950, 1959; Amateur 1956

GENE HANSEN: Open and Amateur, each 1961-1962. (Won Open playoff in 1961)

CLAYTON JdHNSON: Open 1967, 1971; Amateur 1957

DAVE HABERLE: Open 1970, 1978; Amateur 1971

RICK EHRMANNTRAUT: Open 1976; Amateur 1972

CHRIS PERRY: Open t1984; Amateur 1982-1983

DAN CROONQUIST: Open 1979-1980; Amateur 1990

TOM LEHMAN: Open 1989-1990; Amateur 1981

BILL ISRAELSON: Open 1991; Amateur 1976-1978

LEGG

BILL WARYAN

CROONQUIST

JOHNSTON HERRON

JOHNSON HABERLE

Jimmy Johnston and Gene Hansen are the only amateurs to win both the State Open and the MGA Amateur in the same year. Johnston did it first, in 1927. Hansen ac-complished this feat twice, in 1961 and 1962. Hansen won a playoff over Bob Fin-seth for the 1961 Open championship, the only time two amateurs were involved in an Open playoff. Harry Legg was the first ama-teur to win the Open, in 1925.

17

SAWYER

PERRY

LEHMAN

OPEN and PGA CHAMPIONS

JOCK HENDRY: Open t1929; PGA 1932 LESTER BOLSTAD: Open 1933, 193B,1939, 1943; PGA 1938, 1951 JOE CORIA: Open 1934, 1940, t1941, 1945, 1948,1949, 1952; PGA 1943,1944

STAN LARSON: Open 1944; PGA t1952 RAY HILL: Open t1954, 1957; PGA 1956, 1963 WALLY ULRICH; Open 1946,1947; 1951, 1955; PGA (match play) 1957 JOHN COOK: Open t1960; PGA 1961,1962, 1971, 1976; PGA (match play) 1970, 1979

JOE SODD: Open 1963; PGA 1954 GEORGE SHORTRIDGE: Open 1966, 1981; PGA 1968, 1978,1979; 1981,1982, 1984; PGA (match play) 1971, 1973, 1976,1978, t1985, t1987 BOB REITH, JR.: Open 1969; PGA 1964, 1967, 1969, 1972; PGA (match play) 1972

PAUL O'LEARY: Open 1958; PGA (match play) 1975 JOEL GOLDSTRAND: Open 1973, t1985; PGA t1986; PGA (match play) 1974

JON CHAFFEE: Open t1988; PGA 1989,1991 BILL ISRAELSON: Open 1991; PGA (match play) 1991

HENDRY LARSON HILL

COOK SODo SHORTRIDGE REITH, JR.

O'LEARY GOLDSTRAND CHAFFEE

18

vrJ,;l\i CUIU I' VULI ..... r..,,~1'\. ........ 1 ..... '"'' ,'-',,, ....

LESTER BOLSTAD: Open 1933, 1938-1939, 1943; Public Links 1925-1926

JOE CORIA, Open 1934, 1940, t1941, 1945, 1948-1949, 1952; Public Links 1933-1934

AL CLASEN: Open 1937; Public Links 1947, 1951, 1957, 1959, 1964

GENE HANSEN: Open and Public Links, each 1961-1962. (Won Open playoff in 1961)

RICK EHRMANNTRAUT: Open 1976; Public Links 1989-1990

JIM SORENSON: Open 1986; Public Links 1984

Joe Coria and Les Bolstad only golfers to win both the PGA and Public Links. Bolstad and Israelson only wintlers of the PGA (Stroke and Match Play Championships respectively) to have also won the Amateur

AMATEUR and PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONS

FRANK BROKL, JR.: Amateur 1929; Public links 1927-1928

LESTER BOLSTAD: Amateur 1931; Public Links 1925-1926

AL CLASEN: Amateur 1935, t1945; Public Links 1947, 1951, 1957, 1959, 1964

HENRY ERNST: Amateur 1953; Public Links 1952

GENE HANSEN: Amateur and Public Links, each 1961-1962

ROLF DEMING: Amateur 1963; Public Links 1963

MIKE FERMOYLE: Amateur 1970, 1973, t1980; Public Links 1969

STEVE JOHNSON: Amateur 1975; Public Links t1979, 1988

DAVE NORDEEN: Amateur 1985-1986; Public Links t1985 RICK EHRMANNTRAUT: Amateur 1972; Public Links 1989-1990

BROKL ERNST DEMING

JOHNSON NORDEEN

19

SORENSON

FERMOYLE

CHAMPIONS of TWO TOURNAMENTS SAME YEAR

OPEN-AMATEUR: Harrison R. "Jimmy" Johnston 192?; Gene Hansen 1961-1962

OPEN-PUBLIC LINKS: Joe Coria 1934; Gene Hansen 1961-1962

OPEN-PGA: Lester Bolstad 1938; Bob Reith, Jr. 1969; George Shortridge 1981; Bill Israelson 1991 AMATEUR - PUBLIC LINKS: Gene Hansen 1961-1962; Rolf Deming 1963; Dave Nordeen 1985 AMATEUR - PGA and PGA - PUBLIC LINKS: Not applicable

PGA STROKE PLAY - PGA MATCH PLAY: Bob Reith, Jr. 1972; George Shortridge 1978

Note: Hansen won Open playoff in 1961 and Nordeen won Public links playoff in 1985. Israelson won PGA Match Play championship. Bolstad, Reith, Jr. and Shortridge won PGA Stroke Play championship

MOST CHAMPIONSHIPS and MOST CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS OF SAME TOURNAMENT

tPlayoff Winner

AMATEUR (Match Playl:

(Stroke Play):

OPEN:

PUBLIC LINKS IMatch Playl

{Stroke Play}

PGA {Stroke Play}

{Match Play}

"'4. .., "4.:"4.4 "

10 Harry legg 1905, 1908-1913, 1917, 1919-1920, Consecutively: 7 Jimmy Johnston 1921-1927

3 Mike Fermoyle 1970. 1973. t1980; Bill Israelson 1976-1978; John Harris 1974, t1987, t1989. Consecutively: 3 Israelson 1976-1978

7 Joe Coria 1934, 1940, t1941, 1945, 1948-1949, 1952. Consecutively: 3 Jack Burke 1919-1920. t1921

3 Ade Fordham 1930-1932; John Lakotas 1935. 1937. 1939. Consecutively: 3 Fordham 1930-1932

5 AI Clasen 1947, 1951, 1957, 1959, 1964. Consecutively: 3 Bob Clark 1941-1942. t1943

10 Gunnard Johnson 1931. 1934. 1936-1937, 1939-1940. t1941, 1942, 1945-1946. Consecutively: 4Johnson 1939-1940. t1941, 1942; Leonard Mattson 1947 - 1950

7 George Shortridge 1971, t1973. 1976-1978. t1985. t1987. Consecutively: 3 Shortridge 1976-1978

., .",

STATE RECORD 59

Bob Lucas, who won the 1968 State Public Links at Meadowbrook, shot a 59 in the second round of the 1962 tournament at Columbia. Despite the fact this is the only sub-GO round in state golf competition, Lucas could finish no better than second. Both of his nine-hole totals also were records. He had 10 pars, 7 birdies (5 in G holes and four in succession) and one bogey.

Par Lucas

344 344 343 353

333 - 31 333 - 30

345 234

20

443 443 -34 -65 342 443 - 29 - 59

Minnesota Golf Association, Inc. "TO FOSTER, PROMOTE AND CONSERVE THE BEST INTERESTS AND

TRUE,sPIRIT OF THE GAME OF GOLF IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA"

BY WARREN J . REBHOLZ Executive Director

If one were to speculate about the site of the first organizational meeting of the Minnesota Golf Association the odds are very good that the '!\vin Cities would logically be chosen. Interestingly enough, this is not the case. The actual site was the Meadow-Brook Golf Club in Winona, Minnesota. if one were to speculate further about the date of this meeting, knowing that the United States Golf Association was organized in Decem-ber of 1894, a guess of around 1910 would seem in order. Once again, this was not the way it happened.

On August 29, 1901 seven golf clubs met to form the Minnesota Golf Association. The original clubs were the 'Ibwn and Country Club of St. Paul, the Minikahda Club of Minneapolis, the Bryn Mawr Club of Minneapolis, the Tapeta Golf Club of Faribault, the Rochester Golf Club of Rochester, the Merriam Park Club of St. Paul and the Meadow-Brook Club of Winona. In 1902 the Northland Country Club of Duluth and the Mi nnetonka tce "SeLf Club 'oined followed b the Lafa ette Clu .

e first president was 0 n R. Marfield of the host Meadow-Brook Club. The first MGA Amateur '!burna-ment was held at that time at Meadow-Brook with a HEFFELFINGER member, T.P. Thurston, the MGA Amateur Champion. Since that time there has been an MGA Amateur Thurnament every year with the exception of the World War II years of 1942-44. An entrance fee of $2.00 was required to enter the first tournament.

Since 1901 those original seven clubs have expanded to 340 member clubs. The original objectives for organizing - "to hold a state amateur tournament and to afford a convenient means of arranging the dates of the annual tournaments of its members so that they shall not conflict" - have grown to unforeseen proportions. Today the MGA has permanent year-around office and staff involved in adminis-tering a program that encompasses the total golf picture.

In 1930 Totton Heffelfinger's name hegins to appear in the minutes of the Minnesota Golf Association. Mr. Heffelfinger advanced to the presidency of the association in 1932 and following that was a board member for many years. He served on the Board of Directors of the Western Golf Association from 1939 until 1946. His length of service with the United States Golf Association ranges from 1942 until 1953, the last two years as the only president of the USGA to hail from Minnesota.

It was entirely through Mr. Heffelfinger'S initial effort and influence that the 1957 Walker Cup Matches were held at the Minikahda Club, the first time they had been played west of the Mississippi River and only the second time staged away from the Atlantic Seaboard.

In 1960 Mr. Heffelfinger founded the Hazeltine National Golf Club which opened for play in 1962. As president of Hazeltine, he successfully invited the USGA to hold its 1966 Women's Open Championship at this new course which was only in its fifth season. The results were so spectacular that Hazeltine was awarded the 1970 USGA Men's Open Championship. As general chairman of both

21

MINNESOTA GOLF ASSOCIATION, INC.

events he put Minnesota on the golfing map. Hazeltine continued its mission to host national championships by serving as the site of the 1977 USGA Women's Open Championship, the 1983 USGA Senior Open Championship and the 1991 USGA Open Championship. Suffice it to say that no finer , man could be found to be the Honorary President of the Minnesota Golf Association. Each year the Amateur Cham-pion receives a replica of the Totton P. Heffelfinger Trophy as a tribute to his efforts on behalf of the MGA. Tot passed away at the age of 88 on April 12, 1987,

The first time we encounter the name of W.R. Ray" Smith was when he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Golf Association in 1938. Ray represented the University of Minnesota Golf Course. Eventually, he became the Executive Secretary of the MGA and was re-sponsible for holding the organization together during the war years and the period up to 1957 when it was rem'gan-ized and new bylaws were written. Scores of tournament golfers will always remember Mr. Smith quietly but firmly SMITH explaining the local rules to each group and individually announcing their names prior to tee off in a gentlemanly manner that will never be duplicated. Smith died at the age of 91 on July 5, 1977.

In January of 1957 a group of MGA Directors reorganized the MGA under new bylaws. The leader in the move to get the association back to a more prominent and progressive position was Mr. Al Wareham, a stalwart promoter of public golf in Minnesota. He had served as a USGA Public Links Committeeman since 1931.

WAREHAM

He retired from this position in 1973 after 42 years as a committeeman. He was responsible for bringing two USGA Public Links tournaments to this area. In 1947 the Meadow-brook Golf Club and in 1964 the Francis Gross Golf Club hosted the tournament. In 1976 he was the Honorary Chair-man of the USGA Public Links played at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids.

Al became president of the MGA in 1957 and by the end of his three terms in office, the association was beginning to grow and increase its services to member clubs. The advent of the Computer Handicapping Program gave the MGA a vehicle with which to perform a splendid service to its mem-ber clubs and raise revenue as well. In 1969 the first office of the MGA was opened. Mr. Wareham served as Executive Director until 1973 and the association prospered and grew

under his able direction. As a tribute to his dedication, the MGA named its Players' Championship Trophy after Wareham, The Championship began in 1979, the year Wareham died at the age of 79.

Since 1975 the MGA has named a Player-of-theYear as well as a Senior and Junior Player-of-the-Year. These awards are based on a system of player points which a competitor can earn each year by his performance in a number of national and state events. These player points are highly prized. They are also used to determine MGA teams as well as invitations to the Players' Championship and exemptions from qualifying for the MGA Amateur Championship.

'Ibday the Minnesota Golf Association is looked to by golfers as the hub of all golf activity in the state. Its tournament program includes all local USGA quali-fying events plus the Players', Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Senior Amateur, Four-Ball, Senior Four-Ball and Mixed Amateur Championships. Also, a summer long

22

IVII!'.I!'.It::;U I A GULF A:;:;UCIAIIU!'.I. I!'.IC.

Junior Program has as many as 1,100 boys and girls competing throughout the state. All member clubs in the state have been measured and rated by an official MGA team to ensure the most equitable handicaps possible.

The office serves as a clearing house for the validating of players' current handi-caps during the tournament season. The MGA supplies the USGA GHIN system more than 75,000 golfers. The GRIN Electronic Option, which features an in-house computer system, is available as well as the regular paper system. In conjunction with the Western Golf Association, the MGA sponsors the Evans

REBHOLZ

Caddie Scholarship Program in Minnesota. The program has graduated 320 former caddies from the University of Minnesota. The MGA has a house at University with a total capacity of 55 scholars. The scholarship winners receive a full four-year tuition and housing scholarship. The golfers of Minnesota finance this program through yearly donations for Evans Bag Tags and by the members of the Par Club who donate $100 or more yearly to the program.

In addition to the above programs the MGA cooperates closely with the Minnesota Section of the PGA, the Minne-sota Golf Course Superintendents' Association, the Minne-sota Women's Golf Association and the men's and women's Public Golf Associations. Close cooperation between all groups ensures a well-organized, nonconflicting golf sched-

ule. The associations have created a MGAIPGA Golf Hall of Fame which honors all Minnesota golf champions, past and present, While weather makes the golf season relatively short, the MGA is one of the nation's most active golf associa tion.

Currently, the MGA board has more than 60 directors, both men and women. Thirty-four directors are elected representing member clubs; 17 are from the Twin Cities and 17 from outside the metro area. The remaining directors are U.S.G.A. committee people and Western Golf Association directors who serve concurrently for as long as they are in their association positions, This gives the MGA not only a great cross section of ideas and interests but also a good supply of knowledgeable tournament officials.

We have presented a short history of the MGA from its inception to the present. In doing so we have inevitably missed names, dates and a few important events that had a direct influence on the MGA's course at various times. The office is most desirous of receiving any and all news clippings, golf programs or other historical items relating to the MGA's history. As time goes by, we hope to build a significant collection of golf memorabilia.

23

MGA Players-of-the-Year

HARRIS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1975 STEVE JOHNSON 1976 BILL ISRAELSON 1977 BILL ISRAELSON 1978 BILL ISRAELSON 1979 DAN CROONOUIST 1980 DAN CROONOUIST 1981 DAVE TENTIS 1982 DAVE TENTIS 1983 CHRIS PERRY

1984 DAVE TENTIS 1985 JIM SORENSON 1986 JIM SORENSON 1987 JOHN HARRIS 1988 JOHN HARRIS 1989 JOHN HARRIS 1990 JOHN HARRIS 1991 JOHN HARRIS

JOHN HARRIS RECORD: Winner MGA Amateur 1974, 1987, 1989; MGA Mid-Amateur 1988, 1990-1991; MGA Four-Ba!11973 (with Rick Ehrmanntraut); 1987 and 1989 (with Dick Bloos-ton); Minnesota Champions Tournament 1991; Big Ten Champion 1974; State High Schoo! Champion 1970 (tie)

JUNIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

1975 MARK NORMAN 1976 JOHN HENDRICKS 1977 JEFF TEAL

1983 TOM NYBERG 1984 BRAD GEER 1985 BRAD GEER

.. ~

1978 CHRIS PERRY 1979 CHRIS PERRY/

DAVE TENTIS 1980 CHRIS PERRY 1981 JOHN BRELLENTHIN 1982 STEVE BARBER

1986 TOM ANDERSON 1987 RUSS SIMENSON 1988 TIM HERRON 1989 RUSS SIMENSON 1990 PAUL MEYER 1991 MIKE SAUER

TEAL

JEFF TEAL RECORD: Winner 1983 State Public Links (lost in playoff 1985-1986); 1987 MGA Players' Championship; 1978 MGA Junior Championship; lost in playoff 1987 MGA Amateur; won 1987 Amateur Division, Minnesota Champions Tournament; 1984 MGA Four-Ball (with Paul Luchau) lost playoff; 1985 runner-up (with Luchau); 1986 lost in playoff (with Ray Pontinen)

SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR 1975 JOHN MILLER 1985 DICK KOHLBRY 1976 GENE CHRISTENSEN 1986 ROD MAGNUSON 1977 NEIL CROONOUIST 1987 ROD MAGNUSON 1978 LOYAL "BUD" CHAPMAN 1988 ROD MAGNUSON/ 1979 JACK ADAMS CHUCK MINGO 1980 NEIL CROON QUIST 1989 LOYAL "BUD" CHAPMAN 1981 LLOYD FRED EN 1990 LOYAL "BUD" CHAPMAN 1982 CHUCK McCURDY 1991 JAMES SCHELLER 1983 LEO SPOONER 1984 LEO SPOONER/

CHAPMAN LOYAL "BUD" CHAPMAN

Loyal "Bud" Chapman has been named the MGA Senior Player-of-the-Year four times and is the only golfer to be honored in three different decades. Chapman was selected in 1978, 1984, 1989 and 1990. He shared the honor with Leo Spooner in 1984.

Chapman won the Minnesota Senior championship in 1978 and 1990 and has been on the winning end in the MGA Senior Four-Ball three times. In 1977 he teamed with Don Teorey and two years later with Karl Dosen, both times in the Senior Division. He won in the Masters Division in 1990 with Dosen. After losing a playoff for the 1986 Senior Men's Open, Bud won the 1989 title. He was runner-up to Rolf Deming in the 1963 MGA Amateur. Chapman also has competed in the Players' Championship and the MGA-PGA Cup Matches.

24

MGA AMATEUR POINT RANKING SYSTEM Stroke Play 'lbumaments ," 2nd 3M 4th 5th .th 7th 8th 9th 10th MGAAmateur 200 150 100 75 60 50 40 30 20 10

MGA Senior Amateur 75 50 30 20 15 10 5

MGA Mid-Amateur 100 75 60 50 40 30 25 20 10 5

MGA 4-Ball ~ch Plar!r~ 75 50 40 30 20 10 5 MGA Senior 4-Ball (Each 50 40 30 20 10 5 PI~r, Each Division} ~Grand ChamEion 65 Pts. Each Pla:ier~ MGA!unior 75 60 50 40 30 25 20 15 10 5

MNPublinb 100 75 60 50 40 30 25 20 10 5

MPGA 4-Ball ~Division oneonll::~ 30 25 20 15 10 5 lvfN Publinks Senior 50 40 30 20 15 10 5 N.C.A.A. 350 300 250 200 150 100 75 50 40 30 Natl. Car ()pen 250 200 150 100 75 50 40 30 20 10

MN PCA Senior O~n 125 100 75 60 50 40 30 20 10 5 Nat!. PCA Junior 200 175 150 125 100 75 60 50 40 35

Sectional ~aljfiers - 25

MN PGA tumor 40 30 25 20 15 10 5 MN State High School 40 30 25 20 15 10 5 OassA&AA USGA Open 600 S50 500 475 4SO 425 400 375 350 325 Low Amateur (11th-cut) 315 Pls.; 11th Place through Cut - 215 Pts.; Sectional Qualifiers - 115 Pts.; Local Qualifiers - 40 Pis.

USGA Senior Open 400 350 300 275 250 225 200 175 150 140 Low Amateur (11th-cut) - 12S PIS.; 11th Place through Cut .~ 100 Pts.; Local Qualifiers - 25 PIS.

Match Play Final Final Thurnamenta Winner R-U Semi gu. " 32 MGA Pla:iers Cham~ionshiE 50 30 20 10 USGA Amateur 400 300 250 200 150 120

Toumey Site Qualifier - 90 PIS. Local Qualifier - 40 Pts.

British Amateur 400 300 250 200 150 120 Toum!:X Site ~alifier - 90 Pts.

Canadian Amateur 300 200 150 100 90 75 Tourney Site Qualifier - 50 Pts. Local Qualifier 30 Pts.

Western Amateur 400 300 250 200 Match Play Qualifiers 100 Pts. Low 50 ~alifiers - 50 ets.

USGA Public Links 350 250 200 150 125 90 Tourney Site Qualifier - 50 Pts. Local ~alifier - 20 Pts.

USGA Junior Championship 300 200 150 125 100 SO Mid-Amateur Tourney Site Qualifier - 50 Pts. Senior Amateur Local ~alifier - 25 Pts.

Trans-Mississippi 100 75 50 40 30 20 Match Play 9!!alifiers - 10 Pts.

~rnlunior 100 75 50 40 30 20 10 Bircmnont ~midii~ 30 20 10 5

Resorters' !Alexandria~ 30 20 10 5 Pine to Palm @!;tmit Lakes~ 30 20 10 5

MGA Mixed Amateur (Overall standings only): 1st Plaet': 50 Pts.; 2nd Place: 40 Pt~,; 3rd Place! 30 Pts,; 4th Place: 20 Pts.; 5th 1)lace! 10 Pts.; 6th Plaet': 5 PIS. The following Regional Tournaments will be awarded 20 points to the Champion and ]0 points to the I{unner-Up or the low amateur and second low amateur: Arrowhead Invitational. Ridgeview CC, Duluth; Hildebrandt Invitational, Hastings CC; Loren Krugd Invitational, Mankato GC; Lakeland Invitational, Willmar Cc; Labor Day Classic, Worthington CC; Lyle Cran Shortstop, SlillwaterCC; Northland Invitational, Northland CC, Duluth; Northwest Invitational, Mesaba CC, Hibbing; KX Invitational, Moorhead CC; Upper Midwest Bronze Amateur Champi-onship; Tapemark Charity Pro-Am, Southview CC and Indian Hills Gc. 'The Player Point Committee may assign points for performance in any other prestigious event. 'Players who earn exemptions will reet'ive points for any qualifications from which they are exempt.

25

The MGA Symbols of Excellence

[Center} The Totton P. Heffelfinger Trophy (MGA Amateur Championship). Named in honor of the former MGA president and the only president of the USGA from Minnesota.

(Left] The Oak Ridge Trophy (MGA Four-Ball Championship). Oak Ridge hosted the first tournament in 1962 and continued to host the event every five years. Two golfers on the trophy indicates partners format.

(Right] Edina Cup (MGA Mid-Amateur Championship). Named in honor of Edina CC members who were instrumental in starting and hosting the first event in 1988. Tournament returns to Edina CC every four years.

[Lower Centerl Senior Amateur Championship Trophy. Donated in 1961 by the Minnesota Senior Golf Association.

Junior Trophies: The large bowl. the "Dick Lilly Memorial Trophy" is for the MGA Junior Champion and is named after the longtime Somerset member and a former State Senior champion. The smaller bowl goes to the winning MGA Junior Team and is named the "Ken Murphy Memorial Trophy" in honor of the former St. Paul Pioneer Press sports editor and golf writer.

26

MGA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP It was the late summer of 1901. Two golfers smiled at each other and shook

hands at the Meadow-Brook Ge, a little nine-hole course nestled at the foot of the bluffs on the west side of Winona. A young clergyman, the Rev. Theodore Payne Thurston, had just won the first Minnesota Golf Association championship.

"Muscular Christianity Won Out," read the newspaper headline. The Episcopal rector of St. Paul's church in Winona was too steady for his sometimes more brilliant fellow townsman, runner-up William Balcom. The Rev. Thurston took an early lead over the lumber firm executive and maintained it through four trips around the tricky layout, ending the 36hole final 2 & 1 with a long putt. There were 40 entries, 16 qualifiers and an 18-hole qualifying test in this first Minnesota golf tournament that saw the founding of the MGA.

Harold Bend of Town & Country) one of the better early champions) defeated clubmate Ben Schurmeier on the 19th hole at Minikahda in 1902. T & C players Mike Doran and William Finch met for the 1903 title, the former winning on the 37th hole. Bend regained his title when the tourney moved back to Winona in 1904. The match went one extra hole where C. T. Jaffray of Minikahda) about to drive, was set aback when a mongrel pup dashed across the fairway.

The 1905 season marked the beginning of the Harry Legg era. Legg won the first of a record 10 championships at Duluth's Northland, beating his boyhood chum and Minikahda clubmate, Lynn Johnson. Legg dominated the MGA Amateur longer than any other golfer, until after World War L But before he started his string of six in a row, Jaffray gained revenge on Bend in 1906 at Minikahda and Johnson turned the tables on Legg at T & C in 1907. After his defeat of Johnson at Minikahda in 1908, Legg would go unscathed until the 1914 finals in the rain at Duluth, his conqueror being one of his principal foes and a superb player, R(ichard) S. Patrick of Northland, a former professional. Legg had beaten Patrick in the 1911 final at Minikahda, regarded as one of the aU-time great matches in amateur history. Patrick twice had a threehole lead but Legg drew even on the 31st green and was

MEADOWBROOK GOLF CLUB, WINONA (abandoned 1919) Site of First MGA Amateur Championship

27

MINNESOTA GOLF ASSOCIATION AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP the victor when Patrick drove out-of-bounds on the 34th and then hit into a bunker.

The two seasons prior to America's entry intd ,the first World War saw the rise of St. Paul's Dudley Mudge, the 1915 champion and one of the strongest of his time. His close victory over Legg at T & C in 1916 was a great final in a broiling sun and strong wind. Legg led until the last few holes which Mudge played two under. Minikahda's Bob Hopwood rallied in the afternoon to overtake T & C's Fred Mahler at Interlachen in 1918. Mahler was five up at mid-morning. Hopwood licked Legg in the quarters. Legg's last titles, after he recovered his laurels in 1917 at White Bear, came in 1919 at Minikahda when he crushed young Jimmy Johnston and in 1920 at Northland where he gained the first crown. This was his finest and against his old rival Mudge. From 1908 through 1920 Legg lost four matches, twice in the finals.

Johnston became a worthy successor to Legg and cruised along for seven straight years. Only in 1926 at the Country Club was Johnston pressed in a final. His foe, whom he had whipped handily in an earlier final at Golden Valley, was little Jake Wetherby. Four times Jake drew even before falling two down through 26 at which point the pair halved eight in a row.

Two of Johnston's matches in 1925 at Minneapolis Golf Club are noteworthy. An artful yearling who challenged him in the semis was Len Mattson. Jimmy needed a tricky putt on the last green to preserve a onehole lead. Johnston's final foe was a 17-year-old youngster not yet graduated from high school, Les Bolstad who, ironically, became Minnesota's first national champion the next season.

Johnston's retirement opened a new era at Bemidji in 1928. The champ was a southpaw, Rudy Juran of Golden Valley, a winner of national left-handed tiUes. He beat Runde Martin in the finals. Caddies came up from Minneapolis and slept in tents all week near the course. Succeeding Juran was Frank Brokl, a former Public Links champion who finished off young Harry Robinson at T & C. There was an all-time high entry of 231 as a new generation challenged the old guard. Minnesota in 1930 got its youngest champion, 17-year-old Pat Sawyer, whose aggressive afternoon play was too much for slender Art Tveraa. Pat twice holed out from the sand for birdies against Wetherby in the semis. Bolstad earned his lone Amateur title in 1931 at Minikahda. He was also the medalist. The final loser was again Tveraa. Allen Labatt upset defender Pat Sawyer in the morning and knocked off Dick Sawyer, an elder brother of Pat, in the afternoon before losing to Edgar Bolstad, Les' kid brother. Tveraa's defeat of Edgar in the fours prevented a family final.

Pat Sawyer returned to the throne the following year at Midland Hills, one of the more dramatic tournaments, where he hung tight in the face of a stiff rally by Carson "Lee" Herron. The previous day Herron beat Dick Sawyer in a brilliant 39-hole semi-final match. Bolstad went out in the first round at the hands of Bob Clark whose pitch on the last green hit Bolstad's ball and knocked it out of birdie range. Clark then holed for a birdie.

Lee Herron came to Minnesota from his native Iowa and was the amateur champion there in 1927. A leading player here for years, Lee won in 1933 on his home course, Interlachen. Suffering from blistered feet, wee Bobby Campbell of Duluth was no match for Lee who was six up at lunch and shot nine pars and two birdies over the last 11 holes. Campbell, 19, playing in his first tournament, had stopped Jimmy Johnston when the former champion, who was making a comeback, three-putted the last green from eight feet. Howie Pousette beat medalist Bolstad.

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MINNESOTA GOLF ASSOCIATION AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

The next year Campbell, in his backyard, prevailed over Herron and became the first outstate champion since Patrick of Duluth in 1914. It was close until the tiny Scot took the last four morning holes from Lee. The gallery totaled 4,000. From 1931 through 1937 Herron reached the championship round three years, was beaten in the semis once, the quarterfinals twice. He lost in the first round in 1936 when he was medalist a third time.

HERRON AMATEUR CHAMPION OF TWO STATES No native Minnesotan has ever won the amateur championship of this state in addition to

the championship of another. In fact, only one Minnesota amateur titleholder ever captured similar honors elsewhere, Lee Herron.

Amateur king here in 1933, Lee was the winner in his home state of Iowa in 1927 and was runner-up there in 1924 and 1928. Herron placed second in Minnesota in 1934 and won the State Open in 1932.

Bob Leonard of Winona, state high school champion in 1930 and runner-up the next year, won the North Dakota amateur tournament in 1950. H.H. Ferguson of Winona, a frequent competitor in the early years of the MGA Amateur, was Iowa's champion in 1904-1905, 1907 before coming to Minnesota, Ferguson, incidentally, beat Harry Legg in the second round of the 1915 amateur at Minikahda, the earliest defeat for Legg from 1908 until his semi-retirement after winning his tenth title in 1920.

Bill Fowler of Fargo, former University of Minnesota golfer, won the North Dakota title in 1927-1928 and was twice champion of the Birchmont International at Bemidji. Bill Cording/ey, a frequent threat in the Minnesota tournament in the 1950's and early 1960's, was the Iowa runner-up in 1940 .

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Nineteenyearold Al Clasen defeated CoL C. W. Griggs at Somerset in 1935, first allSt. Paul final in 32 years. Clasen licked the tough rough and triumphed successively over Tveraa, Clark, Dick Sawyer and Campbell, Dick Sawyer, who'd been trying to break through for years, finally made it in a close final against Ole Williamson at MGC in 1936. The day previous Dick beat Clasen by a record score and Williamson's birdie on the 37th nipped Campbell.

Campbell was in rare form at the Country Club in 1937 and won the title from Neil Croonquist, a University of Minnesota student, who made his amateur debut by ousting defending king Dick Sawyer. Campbell built an early lead with subpar golf and turned back Neil's late rally. Campbell's defeat of Johnny Lakotas on the 20th hole was another classic match. Medalist Kenny Young traveled a hard road at Midland Hills in 1938. He beat Pousette with a stymie, shot five straight threes against Virgil Roby and won a record 41hole semi final match from Earl Larson when the latter carded his first bogey in 13 holes. Young rallied to defeat Robinson in the finals,

Dick Sawyer was one up with three to play at Golden Valley in 1939 but lost to darkhorse Bud Wright who had survived a qualifying playoff. Sawyer beat Croonquist in the semis and Young lost his title in the opening round. White Bear was the scene of Tommy Hamper's 1940 victory over Interlachen's Roby, the first tournament with 64 qualifiers. Young, Larson and Croonquist fell in the quarter finals and medalist Babe Orff was the victim of a first round shocker.

Croonquist won in 1941 at T & C over Gene Christensen in a surprising turn of events. The match was extremely tight and Christensen led most of it. Square at the final turn, the blond Northfield golfer lost his game and Croonquist won five of the next six holes, The amateur was suspended during the war except in 1945 when anyone who could swing a club entered a 54holer at the Country Club. Clasen's birdie on the last hole deadlocked Bill Zieske and AI won the playoff.

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Dick Sawyer, Roby and Lakotas led the first round. Zieske then took control with a 67 until Clasen came along.

After some years as a professional, Pat Sawyer reentered the amateur wars in 1946 and won over medalist Croonquist at Minikahda. Pat shot the first five holes three under and won them all after which the two played even. Along the way Pat beat his brother Dick and Clasen while Croonquist topped Larson. Pat moved along smoothly for his fourth title, at Interlachen in 1948, eventually shooting four under against Young. Surrounding Pat's titles were those won by Larry Karkhoff. At Bemidji in 1947 Jim Nordine went down to defeat. Two years later at Midland Hills, Larry out.putted cigar-smoking Williamson in 39 holes. This was the first all-Public Links final and the year for fee course players in the Amateur.

No golfer had won back-to-back championships since Jimmy Johnston's days until curly-haired Ade Simonsen's "double" in 1950-51. Clasen and Young were the final victims of the tall blond who was at the top of his game in the 1950's. Ade's morning 69 at Golden Valley had Clasen five down. Ade escaped Torchy Hammerland in 38 holes and Clasen drubbed Young. Against Young at Oak Ridge, Ade shot one-under and was plus two for the week. Young won three holes and had to shoot an eagle and birdie to win two of them. Ade's efforts to win a third straight were thwarted in the 1952 semis at Duluth's Ridgeview by Zieske who had been beaten by Ade in close matches two years running. In 50-degree weather and a strong wind, Simonsen won but three holes. Zieske waited 20 years for his honor, winning over Bill Waryan in a fog and rain-delayed final. Zeke did not trail in seven matches.

Henry Ernst downed Don Holick at MGC in 1953, a match between close friends from Gross. Clubmates had not matched shots for the title in almost 30 years. Holick never trailed against Pat Sawyer and Ernst needed a rally to tip Clasen in the fours. Clasen whipped two former champs, Karkhoff and Young. Sawyer's 18-foot snake on the 19th hole sent Simonsen to the sidelines. Left-hander Spero Daltas shot successive birdies on the last two holes to nip Dick Copeland in 1954 at White Bear. Several big names did not enter and it was the final amateur for Pat Sawyer who later turned pro for keeps. Copeland won one up over Croonquist in the quarters and an all-lefty final was a possibility until southpaw Ray Resch fell to Copeland.

Tom Hadley's awesome power could only beat Croon quist's short game by one hole at Minnesota Valley in 1955. Both were one-under. Despite his long tee game, it was the putter that eventually did the business for the 19-year-old Evans Scholar, the youngest titleholder since Pat Sawyer in 1930. Simonsen, one of five ex-champs in the field, lost in the second round to Ed Hruska of Meadowbrook. Clasen and Karkhoff bowed later and Ernst earlier. Bill Waryan's drubbing of Hadley at Rochester in 1956 climaxed a brilliant week for the former University star. He shot 42 birds in 154 tournament holes and donned the crown after 15 tries. Waryan and Dayton Olson were both several strokes under par in their tight semi-final go.

The keys to victory for big Clayton Johnson over Hadley at North Oaks in 1957 were three late-morning birdies. The season was one of the best for the steady, long-hitting Como ace, later a two-time State Open champion. Johnson ousted Simonsen on the 21st hole and his chipping was sharp against Bob Reith, Jr. Chet Latawiec had Hadley down until the 26th in the semis but the latter won four straight. One of the youngest champions was Bob Henrikson who eased past Gene Hansen in the rainy 1958 final at Edina CC. Henrikson did not forge ahead

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unt.il the 28th. Both bowled over name players all week. Hamper, Clasen and Bill Waryan missed the cut and Earl Larson, who bowed to Hansen by a single hole in the eights, was playing in his last Amateur.

Ted Vickerman shot three-under at Mankato in 1959 for a 2 & 1 victory over Bill Waryan who played even par, a match between former University golf cap-tains. When Vickerman lost the third hole it was the first time he'd trailed in the tourney. He had one bogey and Waryan two in the final 26 holes. Waryan captured the Open in June,and was shooting for a "double." Vickerman drubbed defending champ Henrikson in the quarters. Croonquist won his second title in 1960 at the site of his first, T & C, 19 years earlier. A virtual automaton, Croonquist chipped and putted his way to a 6 & 5 win over long-driving Joel Goldstrand. Minus four for the day, Neil had 19 pars, eight birdies and was nine up on the 28th tee before the Worthington youth rallied.

Hansen was invincible in 1961-62 and beat Croonquist. in the finals both years. At the tough, treacherous Wayzata CC, Gene was minus two for 163 tourna-ment holes. He posted an eagle and three birds against Neil who had too many bogeys. Goldstrand hit more greens but Hansen downed mare putts in the semis where Croonquist and Olson were even for 32 holes. Neil finally pulled it out over Olson who later won the Pine-to-Palm, stopping Jack Rule's unbeaten string.

Hansen's show of strength in the Hillcrest final: 10-under fOl' 28 holes on 14 pars and 12 birds. He was eight-under with nine birdies in his last 19 holes. Ironically, Croonquist's four birdies got him nothing but halves and he did not have a bogey until the 20th and by that time was five down. The only holes he won were No's 6 and 11 where Hansen got his two bogeys of the match. It was unbeliev-able that a golfer could shoot one under and lose 9 & 8, the hottest final and greatest round ever in the MGA Amateur.

Rolf Deming, a former high Bchool champion from Minneapolis Roosevelt, did not score a birdie in winning 4 & 3 over Bud Chapman in 1963 at the Stillwater CC. But his consistency earned him 29 pars in 33 holes and he played 172 tourna-ment holes in level par, It was the first major for Deming who later in the summer won the Public Links.

St. Cloud's Bob Barbaros..c;a, at 16, became the youngest champion when he bested veteran Bob Finseth on the 37th at Somerset in 1964. Finseth had to win the last two holes to even it. in regulation after being four up at lunch. Co-medalists Dave Gumlia and Dean Brandsness both lost in the quarters, the former to Tom Garrett, the latter to Finseth, Veteran Gene Christensen bowed to Finseth, the second st.raight year he lost in the semis, Power-hitter Jim Archer got into less trouble than Jim Hiniker at long Hazeltine in 1965 and won 3 & 2. Hiniker, four down with seven to play, made a fight of it until Archer drilled a five-iron to the stick on the Par 3-16th. Neither scored a birdie, Warren Rebholz ousted medalist George Hallin in the first round and lost to Ted Stark in the eights.

The last MGA match play champion was Keller's Nubs Anderson who topped Tom Cook of Fergus Falls 2 & 1 at Midland Hills in 1966. Galen Skramstad of Marshall needed 23 holes to defeat Jim Ostrom, then lost to Cook in the semis where Anderson won over Steve Satierstrom on the 22nd hole, Dick Blooston birdied the long 17th to beat Neil Croonquist in an opener. Skramstad ousted defending champion Jim Archer in the second round. Satterstrom beat Bob Bar-barossa, the 1964 champion, in the quarterfinals, D. Ward Johnson, Jr. and Bob Getten, Jr. were co-medalists and Johnson won the playoff.

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The Stroke Play Years.

The MGA's first stroke play title went to Duluth's Bob Magie, III, who shot two-under at Golden Valley in 1967 and held off a fast-finishing Bill Brask. The next year Brask opened with a record 65 at Mendakota but another Duluthian, Gary Burton, scrambled by four over Brask and Warren Butlel: Brask shared the lead at 36, missed some short putts while Burton, a 21-ycm'-old Arizona State student, one-putted five of the final nine greens and won going away.

Defending at Minikahda in 1969, Burton scored 74-70 in the last 36 holes and beat Ron Benson, the 54-hole leader, by two. The pair was close with nine holes to go but Burton deuced 11, birdied 13 and 14 and rolled in a 25-foot birdie on 17. Dave Haberle led through the first two rounds after an opening, no-bogey 69.

Red-haired Mike Fermoyle knocked down two long, late putts and won by a stroke over Steve Johnson at Rochester in 1970. The Hiawatha product, who had been a University of Minnesota player, was three over for the first three holes of the final round but settled down. Johnson made his bid with a morning 70 and led until he doubled No's 15 and 16 in the last round.

By 1971 the older stars had drifted out and young Haberle took a thrilling duel from Blooston at the Edina ee, the first 54-hole tournament. Haberle opened with a 67, including an eagle on No. 13 and led for 44 holes. He and Blooston went to the last hole before it was decided by Haberle's short par putt. Blooston had hooked his drive and bogeyed.

Big Gary Jacobson, an Arizona State golfe,; led for 50 holes at Golden Valley in 1972 but his three-shot lead faded before Rick Ehrmanntraut's late sub-par rush. Jacobson bogeyed No's 15 and 16 and Ehrmanntraut birdied No's 16 and 18. Fermoyle overcame a shaky start on the final round and edged Jacobson by one at the St. Cloud CC in 1973. Hardly mare than a stroke parted them down the stretch. On the last hole Fermoyle, a great scrambler, pitched close to save a one-shot lead.

John Harris' super driving brought him a one-shot victory over Jim Ihnot in 1974 at tough Dellwood. Harris earlier won the Big Ten championship. Young Brian Sund had it going in this tourney and led on the 45th tee where he cracked two out of bounds. Harris started the last round bird-bird and tied for the lead which changed nine times between himself, Sund, Ihnat and Jon Chaffee. Ihnat, the 1973 Public Links chal'npion, got even with Harris at No. 17 but missed a par putt on the last green.

Steve Johnson finished with a two-under round and snatched a close one from Jon Chaffee and Paul Strande at Woodhill in 1975. Jacobson again led at 36 but he got no better than a final 78 while Johnson was out in 33 and curled in an eight-footer for a par on the final green. On a course with lightning fast greens and heavy rough, Johnson, 25, jumped over seven golfers, birdied the 45th and tied Jacobson, grabbed the lead for good on the 46th and held it for a three-shot win over Jon Chaffee and Paul Strande. Jacobson tied for eighth. Johnson, a pro for a short time, had been reinstated as an amateur only about a year. He was foul' back of Jacobson after 36 holes but his 69 final showed three birdies and just one bogey, at No. 13. Woodhill's par 71 exacted its toll. There were only five sub-par rounds and one par round the entire tournament. Defending champion John Harris missed the cut of 157. At season's end Johnson was named the first MGA Player-of-the-Year.

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1976-Bill Israelson, a muscular, sophomore-to-be at Lamar Tech (Beaumont, Tex.), shot 210, level par at Oak Ridge, and won by a whopping seven shots over the two Andersons, Nubs and Bill. The 19-year-old Israelson, a 1975 graduate of Bemidji H.S., scored 30 pars and balanced 12 bogeys with birdies. He led from the start with 69. Izzy bogeyed the first two holes the second day and came back with five birds for another 69 and a six-shot lead over 'Ibm Hoffman who ended third. In the final when he entertained choking thoughts after bogeys at No's 2-3-5, Izzy birdied No.6 and cruised home in par. Defending champion Steve Johnson's bogey troubles on the back nine put him out of contention

1977-With his long, straight drives, stocky Bill Israelson was a birdie maker. He broke his Own record, winning by eight over Bob Steinfeldt and Rick Benshoof at Interlachen. He shot 216 (-3) in a dazzling comeback. After a couple of triple bogeys, Izzy trailed leader Jim Steiner (69) by eight shots in the heat and wind. His one-under 72 lifted him to within three shots of Nubs Anderson and Benshoof. Israelson took his first lead the last day on the Par 5-11th with an IS-foot birdie putt. Benshoof bogeyed No. 12 and three-putted 13. Nubs triple-putted No. 10 and went OB on No. 12. Izzy's brilliant 67 produced a swing of 16 shots after his dull opener, 11 shots on the last round. No one had repeated since Gary Burton in 1968

1978-Bill Israelson became the first golfer to win three in a row since the tourney moved to stroke play in 1967. Only legends Harry Legg and Jimmy Johnston won as many consecutively and those were at match play. A former prep hockey player, Izzy was steadier this time, shooting a one-under 215 for his lihat trick." The treacherous, slippery greens at beautiful Northland overlooking Lake Superior took care of the rest. Chris Perry, the 16-year-old high school champ playing in his first amateur, led Izzy by a shot after two outings. They were the only guys below par, Israelson's birdie on the Par 5-14th was the chiller. With his drive in the rough, he clubbed a three-wood to the green and narrowly missed an eagle putt. Challengers Perry, Dan Croonquist and Bob Lucas couldn't catch him

1979-John McMorrow shot a record-breaking 205 (-S) at Hillcrest, five better than Bill Israelson's 1976 mark. But McMorrow won by only a shot over Bruce Anderson, whose total also broke the record. McMorrow's 67 had the first lead. After 36 he and Anderson co-shared. The final duel was a classic. Trailing by One after eight, McMorrow detonated a 32-2 bomb, an eight-foot birdie on No.9, a 40-yard wedge for an eagle on No_ 10 and a seven~foot birdie on No. 11. More widely known as an Edina H.S. and Providence College hockey player than a golfer, McMorrow, 24, was suddenly ahead by three. He gave a shot back at No. 12 and another to Anderson's birdie on No. 17, Facing a 13-foot putt on No. 18, Anderson's ball hit a bump and stopped on the lip. McMorrow then holed "the longest two-footer I ever faced." Israelson's stranglehold on the tournament vanished far back but nine shooters were under par, two more being even 1980-Red-haired Mike Fermoyle, 31, won his third championship, beating Steve Johnson at Olympic Hills in a playoff, the first overtime in the stoke play meet. They tied at 224, the highest winning 54-hole total. Rick Radder and Dan Croon-quist were the only golfers to play under par (72) after Round One. Round Two-Fermoyle's par 73 tied Radder. On the final day Fermoyle was trapped at No. 17. But he got a crucial 10footer down to reclaim par. Johnson, meanwhile, ambled along to a 71, the tournament's low. In arrears by one on the 18th tee, Fermoyle spanked a wedge from neal' trees so close to the hole that it was a cinch birdie. On the extra hole, Fermoyle reached in two and birdied, Johnson missed an eight footer. Length, rough, slick, undulating greens at one of the area's more difficult courses, took a sizeable toll of the contenders. Johnson, defending State Public Links champion, had been runner-up to Fermoyle in 1970

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1981-Tom Lehman) 22, squeezed a two-under 70 in the final round and won with 215 (-1) at tough Wayzata CC with its monstrous greens. He and Dave Tentis had 145 going into the finale. Steve Johnson and John Snyder lurked at 146. Tentis FIVE-putted the third hole for a triple but recovered. Meanwhile, Lehman was fast out of the gate, three birdies in the first eight holes and a lead of four after 10, But he bogeyed No's 11 and 13. Tentis, a Houston U. sophomore, birdied 121415 and it was deadlocked at level par. Lehman drained a 20-footer for a bird at the 16th. When Tentis three-putted the final green Tom's margin was two. Lehman had won the last two MGA Players' Championships. Moreover, he was twice runner-up in the Big Ten, captained the Gopher team and was All-Big Ten the past season 1982-Chris Perry was not excited about Town & Country before he shot seven-under and crushed the field with 209. But he needed help. Perry and Dave Tentis blew the short layout apart with opening 66's. Perry, 20, a junior at Ohio State, held steady with a 73 and Lehman had 68 for the 36hole lead at 139. In the closing round on a humid, cloudy day, Tentis, who bogeyed 2610 but birdied No. 15, was about out of it. Lehman controlled until Perry had four birdies in seven holes, 9101215 and caught Lehman at No. 13. At No. 16, the second of three consecutive Par 5's and not an especially difficult hole, Lehman hit a good drive and a two-iron that put him right of the green on a steep bank. Then he wedged, blasted and whiffed until he doubled the par - a horrendous TEN. It was then Perry by five, a lead he maintained. Tentis and Lehman tied at two-under 214

1983-Chris Perry, 21, the Big Ten champion, whipped the crowd when the tour-ney traveled to the Detroit CC in Detroit Lakes. He was the first since Bill Israelson to win successive titles. In the end, the course, termed by some as easy, gobbled them all up but Perry who was five under at 208. Only four finished at par or better. Rick Render returned a first round 67. Perry solved the mystery in the second round. He eagled No.3 and birdied three of the last five on the front em-oute to a 67 and a tie with Render at 140. Perry bogeyed No. 14 of the title round and Jim Strandemo birdied there for a tie. On the key 15th Perry chose a 2-iron off the tee, wedged to within 15 feet and birdied. He closed with three pars while Strandemo bogeyed in. Seven birdies by John Harris, his first MGA tourney since being reinstated as an amateur, earned him a tournament"low 66 and the No.2 position. Strandemo was next at 212, the only other under par. Mike Fer-moyle was at even pal'. The next month Perry was runner-up in the National Amateur.

1984-Dave Tentis, 21, a member of the 1983 Walker Cup Team, and twice an MGA Amateur runner-up, won at the White Bear Yacht Club, an old, tricky course near his home, one he knew well from his caddy days. Tentis led from the wire, shooting 212 (-4), the only player to break par. Despite numerous subleties, blind shots, and rare level lies, Tentis remained steady while the rest seemed baffled. His margin was five over Pat Herzog, Tom Waitrovich and Ray Pontinen. Pontinen started the third round 4-4-2. 1'entis went 5-5-3 and it was tied at plus one. But Tentis managed a one-shot edge at the final turn. The tide turned at the 16th, a 482-yard Par 5. Tentis hit a one-iron from the tee, reached the green with a two-iron and got down in two from 50 feet for his bird. Pontinen, a quarterfinalist in the National Public Links, bogeyed

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1985-Dave Nordeen, 21, set for his senior year at the University of Minnesota, banged in a pair of four-foot birdie putts on the last two holes and won by a shot over Rogers Donnelly with 214 (plus one) at North Oaks. Donnelly, 23, had a 12-foot birdie putt spin out on No. 18. Donnelly made up a four-shot deficit on the out nine of the final round and then shot nine straight pars. Bill Anderson, the third finisher, bogeyed No. 17 and lost his chance. Jerry Gruidl rallied for fourth and Jim Sorenson, recent winner ofihe National Public Links, wound up fifth. Halted by rain after foul' holes the final day, Nordeen bogeyed No's 5 and 6 and lost his lead to Domielly after another bogey at No. 11. Nordeen scrambled on No. 15 before his clinching birdies, the best being at 18. There he got out of rough with a five-iron to the green's fringe for a chip and a putt

1986-It was a replay for Dave Nordeen. The previous year he trailed by a shot with two to play and birdied in. At Edina CC he trailed Rick Copeland by two with three remaining. He made a trio of pars and beat Copeland by one with 218 (plus two) as one by one the challengers wilted in gusty winds. Copeland) 29) got the sportsmanship award) however, as well as runner-up honors. On the last day when Nordeen went to replace his ball on No.7 Copeland reminded him to do so prop-erly thus rescuing him from a two-stroke penalty. After 36 Copeland and Nordeen were tied. Five still had a great chance and five more entertained hope. While Nordeen was picking up a birdie on 13, he couldn't par No. 15 and Copeland was up by a pail', a lead that disappeared with bogeys on the last two holes and set up the dramatics for No. 18 where Nordeen drove into trees. He punched out but was 60 yards away. He walked up to the green, surveyed, then maneuvered a wedge to within three feet and got his par. Nordeen was the ninth golfer to defend the title successfully. Copeland's father, Richard, was runner-up to Spero Daltas in the 1954 match play tournament at the White Bear Yacht Club

1987~rhirteen wasn't an unlucky number for John Harris. Thirteen years after he won his first amateur, he won his second. It took him two extra holes at massive Hazeltine to beat Jeff Teal. The two former University of Minnesota hockey play-ers scored 224 which tied the record for the highest winning total. Teal, 27, starting the finale six behind leader Steve Johnson, shot a par 72. Harris, who had lost the Players' Championship to Teal at T & C, bogeyed four of the first five holes and fell five off the pace. The Par 3, 17th did it for the 35-year-old insurance agent. There he got a breaking eight-footer to drop for a welcome par. Several juggled the lead on the back. Still ahead after 12, Johnson doubled No's 13 and 14. Larry Barnacle double bogeyed No. 16. The last to go was Lee Kolquist who, tied on the 18th tee, doubled the hole. Johnson and Barnacle were left at 225

1988-Jon Christian, 23, didn't think much of his chances after a 77 starter which left him eight shots behind Chris Daniels, a 20-year-old golfer who scored two eagles and three birdies for a 69. Christ.ian then went to work on MGC. He shot a record-tieing, seven-birdie, bogey-free round of 65. He hit 15 greens and only one birdie putt was as long as 12 feet. In the finale Christian birdied the first hole, then shot 16 straight pars before three-putting No. 18. His 214 (-2) won by five over Jerry Dalen and six over Ted Bodine. All-Southwest Conference twice, Christian had just graduated from Rice with a mechanical engineering degree. He had been a two-time junior college All-American at McLennan Community College (Waco, Tex.). Defender John Harris, the MGA Player-of-theYear, closed with a hot 69 and finished tied for sixth. Christian was the first champion to finish under par in four years.

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1989-John Harris became the third golfer to win three amateurs at stroke play, the others being Mike Fermoyle and Bill Israelson. Harris and defending champ Jon Christian finished at 207 (-6) at the fir-lined Rochester G & CC., Harris escaped from the woods on the first playoff hole. A spectacular wedge through a narrow opening got him his pal'. He won w

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