StoneRidge Recap

Stillwater - Reports of manhole covers jumping in the streets from a sudden downpour in downtown Stillwater but nothing other than a brief lightning delay for us.

Mike Miller is the first MN Tour member to earn 4 wins on the season. He earns his 3rd local win in Sr. Snead to go with his NW Arkansas Major victory. He jumped out to a 4 shot lead over Paul Alexander after 9 holes. They both shot 46 coming home. 

Jeff Loeffler returns to form with his first win this season. Kore' Grate, one of our favorite guests, led by one at the turn over Jeff and Erik Jordhal. Jeff made birdies on 13 and 18 (both SKINs) to capture a 6 shot victory in Jones flight. Erik did edge out Jeff for Low Net to earn the plaque and some nice cash.

Sr. Sarazen flight was a 3 horse race. Ed Favorite shot 41 on the front to lead Warren Ferber by 1 shot but gave it back on the 10th hole. Ed gained the edge once again on 13. Warren played the last five 4 over while Ed struggled to get in the house giving Warren his 2nd win of the season. Doug Bird had been lurking until an unfortunate DQ on 15. 

Lesson for everyone. If you go forward to search for your ball, more than @ 50 yards, you no longer have the option of a provisional. If you return to the spot you last played from, and put another ball in play, the original ball is lost, even if you later find it within the search period. Rule 27-2a says the player must play the provisional ball "before going forward to search for the original ball". Decision 27-2a/1.5 further clarifies saying the purpose of the Rule is to save time. "The player is permitted to go forward a short distance before determining that it would save time to return promptly to play the provisional ball". As a guideline, "going forward" is considered to mean approximately 50 yards. Side note; next year under the modernized Rules, you will be able to drop a ball near where you think the original ball should be for a 2 stroke penalty but avoiding the walk of shame.

Jon Sanz got off to a tough start with a double on the first hole but got a bounce back birdie on #2 and a par on #3. Meanwhile fellow Sarazen Jon Nordstrom birdied #1 and was even par after 3. Both had trouble with #6. After 9 Jon Sanz held a 1 shot lead. Jon Sanz made another birdie on the 14th on his way to a 43 on the back and his first win of 2018.

Sr. Hogan was a pretty tight contest. Gary Braun opened with a birdie and matched Dan Barrett with 42. The back nine was won by Steve Buan with a 42 but he needed one more shot to make up the gap while Gary and Dan tied with 49s. Gary won the playoff by virtue of Dan needing to rush home to be a good Grampa. This was Gary's first win since returning to the Am Tour. 

Anthony Hugelen punches his ticket to Nationals with his 3rd win in Hogan. Timothy Mart took the front side with a 40. Anthony was even on the back through 15 finishing at 40 for an 81 and a 7 shot victory.

Palmer flight was a shootout on the front side. Benjamin Grant started with 2 birdies and turned at even par just one shot ahead of Jeffrey Kovash who also birdied #1 in his first event. John Huinker shot 39 to join the hunt. Mike Kelley struggled on the front but settled down on the back for a 39. John had a run in with the Barn on #11 where Ben managed a birdie to clinch a 4 shot victory over Mike and John. This makes 2 wins this season. 

Championship flight needed a 2 hole playoff between red hot Steve Schubert and visiting Am Tour member Earl Morley of Las Vegas. Earl led John Juntilla by 1 on the front and by 2 over Steve. Steve started the back side bogey, birdie, bogey and finished with 6 pars for a 37 while Earl shot 39 and John a 41. With Earl and Steve tied at 77 they headed back out to the first tee. Earl made birdie on the par 5 2nd to grab the trophy. 

Closest to the pin prizes were taken by Ben Grant and Hobie VanValkenburg. Low Net went to Erik Jordahl.

Ed Favorite took home $165 from the 50/50 raffle. Our season total now stands at $975. Thanks for your continued support. 

We appreciate our 2 guests, Kore' Grate and Robert Handt, for joining us this week. We hope you had a good experience.

Thanks to visiting Tour members Connor and Earl Morley of the Palm Springs Tour for making the long ride down from Duluth to join us. We hope to see you again this summer.

As always, thanks to Mary, Deb and Val for keeping things running smoothly.

Our next tournament is Jul 8th at Victory Links in Blaine. Registration deadline is this Saturday. Please register before leaving town for the 4th. While your at it please consider joining us for the KC/MN Challenge tournament at TCI near Des Moines on the 14th. We need plenty of help to win that cup for MN.