Royal Recap

Lake Elmo - finally got the better day of the weekend (and I didn't have to spend Monday drying out signage). Players reaction to the redesign by Mr. Palmer and legend Annika Sorenstam was high praise. The course was in excellent shape and while quite busy moved along at a good pace. Lots of good scores as well. It was great to see Tim Palya out at Royal even if it was just as a caddie. He is recovering from a bicycle accident. We hope to see him back playing soon.

The best round of the day (respectively) was posted by Steve Holland in Sr. Sarazen flight. His unusually low round was 11 shots better than his nearest competitor. He carded 2 birdies on the front along with 6 pars to turn in 37. He added 4 more pars before a 3 hole stretch of 4 over. He finished with 2 more pars for a back side 39 to post at 76. This was Steve's first win of the season and earned him the Low Net plaque.

Once again the low round of the day came from the Palmer flight. Coming back off a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Northfork event, Anthony Hugelen took the early lead with a birdie on #1 and added another on #9 to turn in 38. One shot ahead of Jeff Gallagher, Steve Schubert and Bob Murphy. Bob took the lead at #10 with a birdie. Steve became co-leader with birdie on #11. Steve moved 1 ahead on #12. Anthony grabbed the lead back on #14 with birdie. Meanwhile Jeff's only blemish was on #10 which he followed with 5 pars to join Anthony in the lead on #15. Jeff's birdies on #16 & #18 gave him the win by one at 73 followed by Anthony at 74 and Steve at 78. This is Jeff's first win of the season.

Chad Onstot made a birdie on #9 in Championship to turn in 40, 4 shots clear of Daniel Rasmussen. 2 more birdies on #11 & #18 saw him post a 76 for his second win of the season. 

The Hogan flight trophy is headed south to KC in the trailer of Dan Levasseur.  Bill Kelsey led after 9 holes by one over Jon Sanz and 2 over Dan and Aubrey Johnson. Dan and Bill made pars on #10. Jon made pars on #11 & #12 to grab a share of the lead held by Dan after a birdie on #12 (the last hole Mr. Palmer put his design touches on). Dan went 1 under on the final 5 holes with a birdie on #17 to come home in 35 to post at 78. Bill Kelsey took 2nd with an 83 and Bryan Poetsch finished 3rd after a scorecard playoff with Jon (sorry Jon!). This was Dan's 2nd win of the season. We appreciate him joining us on his summer vacation. I'm sure we will see him at Nationals.

Snead flight was hotly contested with only 7 shots separating the 5 players. Pete Rojas added to the excitement with an eagle on the par 4 - 8th. He used "a PW from 122 yards, uphill, from the rough". Jeff McVay led Pete and Stephen Oborn by 2 at the turn. Jeff and Stephen matched cards on the back 9 giving Jeff the 2 stroke victory. His third of the season and now qualified for Nationals.

Only 4 shots separated 4 players in Sarazen. Steve Buan (thank him for the nice weather) had a 2 shot lead over Steve Springer heading to the back 9. Joe Christy was 1 shot further back. Steve S. grabbed the lead on #13. Steve B. joined him on #14. Joe was 3 back with only 4 to play. Joe got a 2 shot swing on both Steves with a par on #15 and then took the lead with a birdie on #17. Steve B made birdie on the final hole but it wasn't enough as Joe made par to capture the one shot win, his 4th.

Paul Alexander continues to flourish after moving up to Sr. Jones. He notched his 4th win of the season but Paul Smallwood didn't make it easy for him. A par on the 9th hole gave Paul A. a 1 shot margin after 9. He added to his lead at #10 & #11 but gave 2 back on #12. Paul S. evened things up on #17 with a par but once again Paul A. finished with a par to retain that 1 shot margin.

Bill Kelsey took home $175 from the 50/50 raffle in support of Feherty's Troops First Foundation. This brings our season total to $1650. Thanks for your continued support.

Steve Schubert and Paul Smallwood won closest to the pin.

Thanks to Deb and Val for pulling extra duty with Mary tending to grandchildren at the lake.
 
Our next event is the MN Tour Championship. If you're not playing why not stop by on Sunday late afternoon as we will be awarding Race to Nationals Flight Champions as well as Tour Championship winners.