Crookston’s Mark Lyczewski won his fifth Ernotte Hiller Memorial Red River Valley match play golf tournament championship by beating Jason Thompson 7-6 at Minakwa Golf Course in Crookston.
With the win, Lyczewski has won five titles, and he has finished runner-up four times. Thompson is from the Twin Cities metro area and found out about the tournament when his kid came to play baseball for the University of Minnesota Crookston and has been playing in the tournament ever since.
In the consolation championship, Crookston’s Wade Hanson beat Connor Humble (a UMC golfer) 3-2.
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT –
Lyczewski had a great battle with another Ernotte Hiller veteran Scott Lindgren. They were tight the entire match, and Lyczewski was able to earn a 2-1 win. “Scotty has been around (the tourney) for about 25 years, and we are the same age, and we both hit it the same distance and I always enjoy playing against him,” said Lyczewski. “I struggled early, and he was ahead of me, then he struggled down the stretch, and I was able to pull through.”
In the Championship match, Lyczewski took an early lead and was four up after nine holes over Jason Thompson. “The greens got really fast. They went out and cut and rolled the greens, so they got really fast. He struggled a bit, controlling it, and I think we all struggled a bit with it,” said Lyczewski. “I got some breaks and made a few putts.” Lyczewski continued to roll and won the match on the 12th hole. There was a little confusion after the 12th hole on the actual score with the two golfers, but Thompson said to Lyczewski, “I think you just beat me.” The two double-checked, and Lyczewski won the match 7-6 (up seven with six holes left). “It helped out that I finally putt well today. I am just happy to win,” said Lyczewksi. “As you get older, it gets tougher, but I enjoy it. It is better to win as you get older. I am blessed to get lucky and win again.”
Championship Semi-finals
Mark Lyczewski beat Scott Lindgren 2-1
Jason Thompson beat Eric Schultz 2up
Championship consolation semi-finals –
Connor Humble beat Zach Strommen 4-3
Wade Hanson beat Craig Stahlecker 8-7
CHAMPIONSHIP – Mark Lyczewski beat Jason Thompson 7-6
CONS. CHAMPIONSHIP – Wade Hanson beat Connor Humble 3-2
MINAKWA FLIGHT-
Minakwa semi-finals
Wyatt Hanson beat Ross Koerner 3-2
Isaac Westlake beat Alex Stoe 2-1
Minakwa consolation semis –
Quinn Westlake beat Scott Strom 3-1
Rich Clauson beat Brady Heppner 6-3
MINAKWA CHAMPIONSHIP – Wyatt Hanson beat Isaac Westlake 1up
MINAKWA CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP – Rich Clauson beat Quinn Westlake 2-1
HILLER FLIGHT-
Hiller semi-finals
Vance Harren beat Marc Schultz 5-4
Sam Melbye beat Tanner Christianson 3-1
Hiller consolation semi-finals –
Trent Fischer beat Easton Tangquist 4-2
Matt Rust beat Travis Nicholas 4-2
HILLER CHAMPIONSHIP – Vance Harren beat Sam Melbye 2-1
HILLER CONSOLATION CHAMPIONSHIP – Trent Fischer beat Matt Rust
RED RIVER FLIGHT-
Red River semi-finals
Cade Peterson beat Trey Christopherson 5-4
Seth Hanson beat Rich Sanders 3-2
Red River consolation semi-finals
Adam Stratton had a bye
Masen Nowacki beat Dale Stoe
RED RIVER CHAMPIONSHIP – Seth Hanson beat Cade Peterson 2up
RED RIVER CONS. CHAMPIONSHIP – Adam Stratton beat Masen Nowacki 2up
KWA FLIGHT-
Kwa semi-finals
Jason Tangquist beat Danny Swenson 1up
Curtis Regan beat Joe Helgeson 7-5
Kwa consolation semi-finals
Andy Fee beat Brian Smith (Smith withdrew)
Brad Brekken beat Todd Ricard 2-1
KWA CHAMPIONSHIP – Curtis Regan beat Jason Tangquist 4-2
KWA CONS. CHAMPIONSHIP – Andy Fee beat Brad Brekken 2up
1ST FLIGHT-
1st Flight semi-finals
Dave Kildahl beat Bob Gramer 2x
Barry Bergan beat Dick Gramer 5-4
1st Flight consolation semi-finals –
Brian Gramer beat Cam Harren 5-4
Kyle Koerber beat Jim Clauson 2-1
1ST FLIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – Dave Kildahl beat Barry Bergan 1up
1ST FLIGHT CONS. CHAMPIONSHIP – Kyle Koerber beat Brian Gramer 5-3
2ND FLIGHT-
2nd flight semi-finals
Mitch Graham beat Troy Magsam 1x
Troy Fischer beat Matt Hann 2up
2nd flight consolation semi-finals-
Adam Maruska beat Carrie Clauson 4-3
Marley Melbye beat Kaleb Thinglestad 6-5
2ND FLIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – Mitch Graham beat Troy Fischer 5-4
2ND FLIGHT CONS. CHAMPIONSHIP – Adam Maruska beat Marley Melbye
3RD FLIGHT-
3rd flight semi-finals
Joe Lessard beat Jay Ricord 2up
Mike Proulx beat Steve Brekken 1x
3rd flight consolation semi-finals –
Rob Stoe beat Eric Helgeson 3-1
Roy Thurston beat Chad Ricord 4-2
3RD FLIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – Mike Proulx beat Joe Lessard 1x
3RD FLIGHT CONS. CHAMPIONSHIP – Rob Stoe beat Roy Thurston 2x
4TH FLIGHT-
4th flight semi-finals
Blake Fee beat Hunter Nicholas 5-4
Paul Bittner beat Wayne Melbye 5-3
4th flight consolation semi-finals –
Mike Aanestad beat Les Swenson (Swenson WD)
Cheri Aanestad beat Jim Steinke
4TH FLIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP – Paul Bittner beat Blake Fee 2-1
4TH FLIGHT CONS. CHAMPIONSHIP – Mike Aanestad beat Cheri Aanested
FOR THE SUNDAY RESULTS – CLICK HERE
