The first day of the 27th annual David & Carol Drown SMSU Golf Classic was held Friday at Marshall Golf Club, with more than 30 teams participating in the five-person scramble tournament.
In the Championship Flight, the team of Tom McLaughlin, Doug Krogen, Tim Deutz, Chad Michelson and CJ Haukom took top honors with a score of 48.
There was a three-way tie atop the First Flight, with the lowest score set at 57. Achieving that score were the teams of Tony Mensink, Brandon Mensink, Erik Bly, Jerry Bly and Josh Hawkinson, Curt Kovash, Mike DeBoer, John DeBoer and Brian Gertz, and Ben Wiener, Mike Thielen, Steve Schuler, Gary Koosman and Terry Deacon.
Fifty-nine was the winning score in the Second Flight, where there was also a three-way tie for first among squads with a couple of familiar faces from the Southwest Minnesota State athletics department. SMSU women's soccer head coach TJ Buchholz joined Brian Brandt, Chris Brandt, Betsy Desy and Ron Wood to take a share of first place. SMSU Director of Athletics Chris Hmielewski and his wife, Mary Jo, played with Jeff Mauland, Paul Gewitz and Darrell Wiener and shot a 59. The team of Tim Haubrich, Denny Winter, Mark Hadler, Dave Nelson and Kent Woelber also shot 59 in the Second Flight.
Day 2 of the SMSU Golf Classic will take place today at Tyler Golf Club. The competition will again be an 18-hole scramble tournament.
Team Champions
Championship Flight: Tom McLaughlin, Doug Krogen, Tim Deutz, Chad Michelson, CJ Haukom 48.
First Flight: Tony Mensink, Brandon Mensink, Erik Bly, Jerry Bly, Josh Hawkinson 57; Curt Kovash, Mike DeBoer, John DeBoer, Brian Gertz 57; Ben Wiener, Mike Thielen, Steve Schuler, Gary Koosman, Terry Deacon 57.
Second Flight: Tim Haubrich, Denny Winter, Mark Hadler, Dave Nelson, Kent Woelber 59; Brian Brandt, Ron Wood, Chris Brandt, TJ Buchholz, Betsy Desy 59; Darrell Wiener, Paul Gewitz, Mary Jo Hmielewski, Chris Hmielewski, Jeff Mauland 59.
Flag Prizes
Hole No. 1) Longest drive - Chad Michelson; No. 2) Closest to the soccer ball - Crystal Neile; No. 3) Longest putt - John Claggett; No. 5) Closest to water in fairway - Denny Winter; No. 7) Closest to football helmet - Steve Schuler; No. 8) Longest putt - Ross Reitsma; No. 9) Closest to the hole - Terry Steinbach (5 feet, 10 inches); No. 11) Longest putt - David Curly Neal; No. 12) Closest second shot - Doug Krogen (in the hole); No. 13) Longest Putt - Mike Christianson; No. 14) Longest drive women - Allison Kruger; No. 15) Closest second shot - Hannah Kruger; No. 17) Longest putt - Jeff Leibfried; No. 18) Closest second shot - Bob Jacobsen.