No hassles for Hessels
Ian Hessels leads after the opening round at MGCDavid Griswold dgriswold@marshallindependent.com
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MARSHALL - Tips from the pros can go a long way for the average amateur golfer, but golfing a round with some of the regions best can be an experience like no other.
Monday, at Marshall Golf Club, some of the the local golfers had the opportunity to have that experience.
MGC played host to the Dakotas Tour Pro-Am Tournament, which featured teams of three amateurs and two professionals on the Dakotas Tour.
In the end, three teams split the championship prize after posting team scores of 123.
The three amateurs took the low score between all of them from each hole to accumulate their score and the pros did the same for their score. Both scores were then added together to get the total team score.
Brian Rademacher, Adam Heemeyer, Sean Trygstad teamed up with professionals Ryan Conn and Santiago Escobar to shoot a 123. Nadia Christensen, Laura Strautz, Tony Krogen, along with pros Adam Hagen and Dennis Kwan also finished with a team score of 123. Jim Franson, Tony Alcorn, Tom Gruhot and pros Brad Pemberton and Dave Shearer was the final team involved in the three-way tie atop the Pro-Am leaderboard at the end of the day.
Monday was the only day for the Pro-Am, but the Dakotas Tour professionals will continue play today and Wednesday, as part of the three-day event.
The pros kept a regular score throughout their round Monday, and after the first day of competition, Ian Hessels holds the top position after firing a 64.
"I put it in some good spots and made some good putts," Hessels said. "I never got myself into trouble out there."
Hessels finished the day with six birdies and no bogeys.
"I just wanted to keep it in play," he said. "Hit fairways and greens, and I did that. No bogeys, so it went pretty smooth."
This is the fourth year Hessels has played in the tournament, but he has yet to claim the tournament title. His best finish came two years ago when he ended the tournament in second place.
"I've been playing well now for the last couple of weeks," Hessels said. "It's time to finish it off. I would like to just kind of keep it going."
Hot on his tail is defending champion Judd Cornell, who finished his opening round with a 5-under 66.
Cornell won last year in a playoff, and after posting six birdies and one bogey on his opening round, he sits in position to make another run at another championship.
"I played pretty good," he said. "I left a couple of shots out there, but I'm not complaining at all."
Cornell started the day hot, firing a 5-under 31 on the opening nine holes, but he cooled off on the backside, with an even-par 35 to round out his score.
"I started off with two par-5s and I made two birdies," said Cornell. "It just kind of got things going. I played the first nine 5-under. I couldn't really get anything going after that."
Matching Cornell is Dan Norton, who finished his round with four birdies, one eagle and one bogey. His eagle came on the par-5 7th hole to help round out a 34 on the front nine.
Hessels will carry a two-stroke edge heading into the second round, but with 19 players in red figures, his lead is well within reach.
"Last year I think I had a three or four shot lead going into the final round, and I ended up having to win in a playoff," Cornell said. "It takes all 54 holes to win it."
The cut will come after today's round, with the first tee-times beginning at 8 a.m.
Dakotas Individual Results
1. Ian Hessels 64; t2. Judd Cornell 66; Dan Norton 66; t4. Tim Ailes 67; Brett Swedberg 67; t6. A.J. Elgert 68; Joy Jurecic 68; t8. Kane Hanson 69; Blayne Hobbs 69; Brady Swedberg 69; Adam Wynia 69; Jason Swihart 69; t13. Andre Moreno 70; Chad Fribley 70; Drew Dvorak 70; Trent Peterson 70; Travis Stockholm 70; Anthony Verna 70; Dustin Wigington 70; t20. Cody Eberl 71; Ryan Devlin 71; Justin Herron 71; Young Joo 71; Nick Kwaterski 71; Keigo Painter 71; Josh Persons 71; t27. Jonathan Hanner 72; Tim Kunick 72; Khris Niess 72; Dave Schearer 72; Kevin Starr 72; t32. Neil Johnson 73; Brian Johnson 73; Adam Hagen 73; Santiago Escobar 73; Rodney Hamblin 73; Bryan Newman 73; Jeff Hieman 73; Luke Slaymaker 73; Matt Rost 73; t41. David Morgan 74; Brad Pemberton 74; Don Littrell 74; Dennis Kwan 74; Jeremy Decko 74; Jonathan Reigstad 74; Jason Talcott 74; Josh Wilks 74; t49. Ryan Conn 75; Michael Bielawski 75; Joe Ryon 75; t52. Jeff Burton 76; Peter Vogel 76; t54. Adam Hanson 77; Paul Wackerly 77; James McCarthy 77; t57. Erick Gress 78; Heath Neal 78; Michael Strand 78; 60. Chris Robertson 79; 61. Logan O'Reilly 81; t62. Jeff Noeske 83; Richard Rosales 83; t64. Kevin Hoppman 85; Andrew Womeldorf 85; 66. Brian Beck 92.
Pro-AM Results
Brian Rademacher, Adam Heemeyer, Sean Trygestad, Ryan Conn, Santiago Escobar 63-60-123
Nadia Christensen, Laura STrautz, Tony Krogen, Adam Hagen, Dennis Kwan 62-61-123
Jim Franson, Tony Alcorn, Tom Gruhot, Brad Pemberton, Dave Shearer 61-62-123
Tim Stegner, Joff Thompson, Lee Webskowski, Judd Cornell, Rodd Hamilton 60-65-125
John Schaefer, Travis Obe, Jason Helm, Josh Persons, Drew Dvorak 62-63-125
Scott Skulstad, Max Deutz, Kurt Johnson, Jason Swihart, Brian Johnsen 64-62-126
Stan Holmberg, Steve Huettl, Tony Yang, Chad Fribley, Michael Strand 57-69-126
Steve Schuler, Brad Cool, Gary Koosman, Ian Hessels, David Morgan 62-64-126
John Bot, Kim Christensen, Todd Madden, Tim Ailes, Anthony Verna 62-65-127
Bob Coonradt, Ron Labat, Bruce Mitlyng, Bryan Newman, Brady Swedberg 65-62-127
Steve Hatlestad, Tom Ellingson, TIm Deutz, Adam Wynia, Richard Rosales 65-62-127
Dave Peterson, Dave Leary Dave Uppman, Kane Hanson, Aaron Moreno 63-65-128
Randy Viessman, Chad Wyffels, Mike Ellingson, Andre Metzger, Kevin Starr 64-64-128
Brian Kirlin, Dave VanKinderen, Nate Bourne, A.J. Elgert, Blayne Hobbs 67-62-129
Mike Rousch, Steve Bennett, Brian Bjella, Dan Norton, NIck Kwaterski 66-63-129
Carlton Lance, Curt Kovash, Chris Ehlers, Tim Kunick, Joe Ryon 67-62-129
Tom Nordby, Kanoa Baynard, Tim Algen, Ryan Devlin, Justin Herron 63-67-130
Bob Nemmers, Scott Baker, Brendan Novack, Joy Jurecic, Trent Peterson 62-28-130
Dave Houge, Jim Carrow, Shane Plante, Young Joo, Travis Stockholm 62-68-130
Jerred Lee, Jeremy Morgan, Mike Sweetman, Jim McCarthy, Jesse Talcott 65-68-133
Tom McLaughlin, Brian Pfeiffer, Doug Krogen, Paul Wackerly, Jonathan Hanner 66-68-134
Joe Daniels, Bill Volmer, Nate Berglind, Dustin Wigington, Adam Hanson 69-66-135
Brian Knachenmus, Jon Knochenmus, Mike Nelson, Neil Johnson, Chris Robertson 70-68-138
Greg Cattoor, Pat Leary, Jay Cattoor, Bret Swedberg, Matt Rost 69-69-138
