U of M, Crookston senior and CHS 2007 grad Jake Sanders pulled off a 5&4 win over defending champion Matt Hiller Monday to win the 82nd Ernotte Hiller Memorial Labor Day Tournament at Minakwa Golf Course.
On his road to the title it wasn't all easy riding to Sanders. In just his first round match he faced Rich Clausen, a past champion and eventual consolation champ, and needed an extra hole to beat him. In the quarterfinals, Sanders defeated Todd Ricard 5&4. In the semifinals, he faced last year's runner-up Nick Bergan and won on the final hole 1 up.
Although Sanders won 5&4 in the finals over Matt Hiller, it may have been his toughest test due to the steady rain that started as they made the turn. If the rain affected Sanders at all he didn't show it as he kept his drives in the fairway and kept hitting greens in regulation. When he wasn't on the green in regulation he got up and down with ease.
Sanders closed out the final match on the 14th hole, Minakwa's fifth, to become one of the youngest champions in the tournament's history.
In other flights, Steve Hagen won the Hiller Flight, Bob Gramer won the Minakwa Flight, Jim Gregg won the Red River Flight, Mike Proulx was victorious in the First Flight, Dale Stoe took the Second Flight, Brad Brekken won the Third Flight and Jim Stienke won the Window Flight.
Championship Flight
First Round
Matt Hiller over Seth Hanson 3&2
Wade Hanson over Josh Baldock 2 up
Scott Sanders over Kevin Kircher 3&2
Doug Johannson over Vance Harren 1 up
Mark Lyczewski over Scott Corbin 6&4
Nick Bergan over Dave Kildahl 3&1
Jake Sanders over Rich Clausen 1x
Todd Ricard over Jim Clausen 4&3
Quarterfinals
Matt Hiller over Wade Hanson 5&4
Scott Sanders over Doug Johannson 1x
Nick Bergan over Mark Lyczewski 4&3
Jake Sanders over Todd Ricard 5&4
Semifinals
Matt Hiller over Scott Sanders 2&1
Jake Sanders over Nick Bergan 1 up
Finals
Jake Sanders over Matt Hiller 5&4
Consolation
Seth Hanson over Josh Baldock 3&1
Vance Harren over Kevin Kircher 1x
Dave Kildahl over Scott Corbin 3&2
Rich Clausen over Jim Clausen 8&7
Vance Harren over Seth Hanson 6&5
Rich Clausen over Dave Kildahl 2 up
Rich Clausen over Vance Harren 2&1
Hiller Flight
First Round
Tom Johnson over Ian Schaefer 2&1
Steve Hagen over Gary Pawlik 1 up
John Beauchamp over Ron Gramer 2 up
Chuck Hiller over Matt Bjorgo 7&6
Semifinals
Steve Hagen over Tom Johnson 1x
Chuck Hiller over John Beauchamp 2&1
Finals
Steve Hagen over Chuck Hiller 2x
Consolation
Gary Pawlik over Ian Schaefer 2&1
Matt Bjorgo over Ron Gramer 1 up
Gary Pawlik over Matt Bjorgo
Minakwa Flight
First Round
Scott Lindgren over Gregg Stadden 7&6
Kyle Koerber over Eddie Walker 1x
Bob Gramer over Kevin Hollands 1 up
Zach Strommen over Christopher Hiller 3&2
Semifinals
Kyle Koerber over Scott Lindgren 1 up
Bob Gramer over Zach Strommen 1x
Finals
Bob Gramer over Kyle Koeber 2&1
Consolation
Gregg Stadden over Eddie Walker 4&3
Kevin Hollands over Christopher Hiller 3&1
Kevin Hollands over Gregg Stadden 3&1
Red River Flight
First Round
John Peters bye
Eddie Michael over Jay Ricord 2&1
Jim Gregg over Ralph Pester 3&2
Rob Stoe over Barry Bergan 3&2
Semifinals
John Peters over Eddie Michael 2&1
Jim Gregg over Rob Stoe 3&2
Finals
Jim Gregg over John Peters 2&1
Consolation
Jay Ricord bye
Ralph Pester over Barry Bergan 3&1
Ralph Pester over Jay Ricord 3&2
1st Flight
First Round
Mike Proulx over Trent Fischer 5&4
Chad Ricord over Wayne Melbye 1x
Darrin Kuenzel bye
Dave Strommen over Mark Myrold 3&2
Semifinals
Mike Proulx over Chad Ricord 5&3
Darrin Kuenzel over Dave Strommen 1 up
Finals
Mike Proulx over Darrin Kuenzel 4&2
Consolation
Trent Fischer over Wayne Melbye 4&3
Mark Myrold bye
Trent Fischer over Mark Myrold 4&3
2nd Flight
First Round
Ben Gramer over Bill Markovich 5&3
Joe Helgeson bye
Dale Stoe over Roy Thurston 3&1
Shane Heldstab over Mike Anderson 3&2
Semifinals
Ben Gramer over Joe Helgeson 4&3
Dale Stoe over Shane Heldstab 1x
Finals
Dale Stoe over Ben Gramer 3&2
Consolation
Bill Markovich bye
Mike Anderson over Roy Thurston 1x
Mike Anderson over Bill Markovich 5&4
3rd Flight
First Round
Scott Maves bye
T.J. Dauksavage over Alan Dahlen 2 up
Terry Steffan over Steve Brekken 4&2
Brad Brekken over Casey Steffan 4&2
Semifinals
T.J. Dauksavage over Scott Maves 3&2
Brad Brekken over Terry Steffan 5&4
Finals
Brad Brekken over T.J. Dauksavage 1 up
Consolation
Alan Dahlen bye
Steve Brekken over Casey Steffan 1 up
Steve Brekken over Alan Dahlen 3&2
Window Flight
First Round
Travis Nicholas bye
Dan Rud over Cheri Lindgren 5&4
Billy Gramer bye
Jim Stienke over Jay Titus 3&1
Semifinals
Dan Rud over Travis Nicholas 3&2
Jim Stienke over Billy Gramer 3&1
Finals
Jim Stienke over Dan Rud
Consolation
Cheri Lindgren over Jay Titus
Qualifying
Mark Lyczewski 31-37-68*
Matt Hiller 33-37-70
Rich Clausen 36-34-70
Doug Johannson 36-36-72
Scott Sanders 35-37-72
Todd Ricard 35-39-74
Wade Hanson 38-37-75
Dave Kildahl 41-34-75
Josh Baldock 40-35-75
Jim Clausen 41-35-76
Nick Bergan 36-40-76
Vance Harren 38-39-77
Kevin Kircher 36-41-77
Jake Sanders 39-38-77
Scott Corbin 39-38-77
Chuck Hiller 40-38-78
Seth Hanson 42-36-78
John Beauchamp 39-39-78
Tom Johnson 40-38-78
Steve Hagen 39-40-79
Gary Pawlik 39-40-79
Matt Bjorgo 40-40-80
Ron Gramer 40-40-80
Ian Schaefer 39-43-82
Scott Lindgren 45-37-82
Randy ? 37-46-83
Zach Strommen 42-42-84
Bob Gramer 44-40-84
Kyle Koerber 41-44-85
Eddie Walker 44-41-85
Christopher Hiller 44-42-86
Gregg Stadden 40-47-87
Kevin Hollands 43-44-87
Ben Gramer 48-44-92
Jay Titus 45-47-92
Mike Proulx 48-44-92
T.J. Dauksavage 49-56-105
