Seth Heppner won his second Ernotte Hiller Labor Day Golf Tournament championship with a 2-1 victory over defending champ and four-time champion Mark Lyczewski. Heppner won his first title in 2014 when he beat Nick Bergan. “This feels good,” said Heppner. “I haven’t been playing a lot of golf this summer and this winter I didn’t have a lot of time since I was caddying, but it was fun getting with the guys again at UMC (Heppner is helping coach the golf team) and playing with them again got the competitive juices flowing. Everybody I played against played well and they were all tough matches and it was fun.”
Heppner came in as the sixth seed after the qualifying round and beat a former champion, Matt Hiller, 2-1. Lyczewski beat Dane Anderson 6-5 to advance to the championship.
In the championship, the two were all square after nine holes and it came down to the 17th hole where Heppner hit his tee shot in the fairway and Lyczewski hit his off the left and his third shot was in a tough spot under a tree limb. Lyczewski’s options were limited and he tried to hit a shot onto the green and it hit the tree limb and came straight down. Lyczewski had a long put for his fifth shot and sank it to put pressure on Heppner to make his putt. Heppner sank his short putt and secured the victory for his second championship. Heppner was steady and consistent all 17 holes. “On the 15th hole I my up and down was big and the put on 16 was big,” said Heppner. “I think the putt on 16 was the biggest shot for me. I knew it was going to be a tough match and I needed to keep the ball in play. The course was great and the Leach’s do a great job with the course and running the tournament and it is always fun to win.”
In the consolation championship match, Wyatt Hanson beat Josh Baldock 6-5.
Mark Lyczewski congratulates Seth Heppner on the victory
Semi-finals-
Mark Lyczewski beat Dane Anderson 6-5
Seth Heppner beat Matt Hiller 2-1
CHAMPIONSHIP – Seth Heppner beat Mark Lyczewski 2-1
Seth Heppner chips onto the green Mark Lyczewski chips onto the green
Wyatt Hanson tees off on the 2nd hole Josh Baldock chips onto the 4th green
THE REST OF THE FLIGHTS-
The Hiller Flight – (Semi’s and Championship)
Nick Bergan beat Koby Kuenzel
Rich Clauson beat Scott Sanders
CHAMPIONSHIP – Rich Clauson beat Nick Bergan 2-1
The Minakwa Flight – (Semi’s and Championship)
Zach Strommen beat Vance Harren 1up
Scott Strom beat Zach Markovich 6-4
CHAMPIONSHIP – Zach Strommen beat Scott Strom 2-1
The Red River Flight – (Semi’s and Championship)
Max Moore beat Jake Abrams
Eddie Walker beat Jack Ricord
CHAMPIONSHIP – Max Moore beat Eddie Walker 1up
The 1st Flight – (Semi’s and Championship)
Brock Strommen beat Adam Maruska
Trey Christopherson beat Quinn Westlake
CHAMPIONSHIP – Brock Strommen beat Trey Christopherson 2-1
The 2nd Flight – (Semi’s and Championship)
Travis Nicholas beat Dale Stoe 2up
Steve Brekken beat Cam Harren 3-1
CHAMPIONSHIP – Travis Nicholas beat Steve Brekken 3-2
The 3rd Flight –
Barry Bergan beat Mark Myrold 2-1
Mark Steinke beat Craig Stahlecker 1up
CHAMPIONSHIP – Barry Bergan beat Mark Steinke 5-4
The 4th Flight-
Kevin Hollands beat Jay Ricord 4-3
Mike Proulx beat Dave Strommen 2-1
CHAMPIONSHIP – Kevin Hollands beat Mike Proulx 3-2
The 5th Flight –
Mark Menard beat Jay Titus 6-5
Al Dahlen beat Carrie Clauson
CHAMPIONSHIP – Mark Menard beat Al Dahlen 3-2
The large gallery surrounds the sixth green during the championship match on Monday evening
