The Minneapolis Golfweek Amateur Tour kicked off the 2015 Season to wonderful weather, at a great starting course (Deer Run in Victoria, MN), with another great group of guys!

This is the 5th year we've started at Deer Run with the intentions of making this a Tradition.  The course is set up to be a perfect way to get the cob webs off and loosening up some of the joints that are still stiff from winter.  Not to mention the staff is always wonderful!

In champ flight, returning player Matthew Foehse got off to a quick start birdying the first hole and following that up with a birdie on number four.  Playing in a different group, Mike Kelley unknowingly stayed close with complimentary birdies on hole two and four.  Matthew followed the great start with some bogies while it seems Mike stopped for lunch a little early or something on holes 7-11....

Both were even at the turn with Jason Rhoades following just two shots behind.  Jason picked it up on the back nine matching the low nine of the day shooting an impressive 39 (continue reading for the other 39).  Matthew's unwanted consistency, Mikes early lunch break, and Jason stepping it up brought all three players within one shot at the end of the round.  Matthew Foehse takes the win by one shot carding an 80, and only one shot better than both Mike and Jason coming in with an 81.

A flight welcomed back returning player Kevin Watson and welcomed new player Scott Kaiser for a head to head match up.  There were some cob webs, jitters, and a little bogey-itus, running through the A flight at Deer Run.  Scott got off to a great start birdying the first hole, then matched scores with Kevin through hole eight when he carded a bogey while Kevin carded a double.  This gave Scott a two shot lead at the turn. 

Both players continued to struggle on the back nine with neither player running away with it.  Scott comes away with the three shot win in his first event on the tour shooting an 89, with Kevin coming in at 92 (needless to say, neither player was satisfied with their scores!).

B flight again brought the biggest field and some of the best back and forth competition of the day.  Returning players Brad Welle and Jerry "the flop" Carlson led the leaderboard through the first four holes until the others were let in (can't say caught up when there are double bogeys on the cards).

At the turn, new player Bob Santee and returning player "Larry" held the lead by one shot over new player Steven Holland and "the flop", with Brad falling a little behind.

The steady play continued for all the players on the back with some hiccups along the way.  The one with the fewest hiccups turned out to be the rookie Bob bettering his front nine score by two strokes shooting a total score of 82 and winning by two over "the flop".

D flight was filled with all returning players and brought what is typically expected - except one thing.  Competition for the most part was really close with two players holding the lead at one point and the other within one shot of the lead.

Larry Smith started out hot carding a birdie (and skin) on the second hole taking back the lead from Tom Blaido only to relinquish it back on the third hole.  "Steady" Bill Mlodgenski stayed within one shot through the eighth but carded a double bogey bringing his front nine total to a very impressive 42.

One time D flight player (and now C flight player) Tom made the turn with an extremely impressive score of 39 matching the low nine of the day.  the intimidation of that score was too much for Larry and Bill to handle giving Tom his first (and only D flight) victory of the year carding a very impressive score of 82.  Bill came in second with an equally impressive score of 88, and Larry in third with a more typical D flight score of 100.

Another great event in the books at a great course, with great people....who could ask for more?

Next event is Saturday, May 16th at the beautiful Meadows at Mystic Lake.  Hard, solid deadline to register is noon on Friday, May 8th.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO LARRY CALDWELL AND BOB SANTEE FOR TAKING 2ND AND 5TH RESPECTIVELY AT THE MIDWEST MAJOR AT TPC DEERE RUN LAST WEEKEND!  

TOTAL WINNINGS BACK TO MINNEAPOLIS OF $675 BETWEEN THE TWO.

FULL WRAP UP