Fiedler

works

for title

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM -- Mike Fiedler threatened to run away with the Championship Flight of the New Ulm Invitational Tournament Sunday, but a pair of bogeys in the middle of his final round brought him back to the pack and made him work for his title.

Fiedler, one of two University of Minnesota golf team members in the tournament, finished birdie-par-birdie on the final three holes of the final round for a 45-hole total of 176, three strokes ahead of perennial runner-up Brian Reagan and five strokes ahead of Dave Heisler, last year's champion.

Johnny Larson of Springfield, Fiedler's U of M teammate, who had led the flight going into the final nine holes, bogeyed 10 and 11, and hit the water in front of the 10th hole on his second-shot approach to 18, killing his chances to challenge at the end. He finished with a 183 total for the tournament.

Larson led the championship flight going into the final nine, shooting a 71 in the morning's 18 holes for a 141. Reagan and Fiedler were one back at 142 and Heisler had a 146 after matching Saturday's 73.

Fiedler caught up to Larson on the 10th, parring the hole while Reagan and Larson bogeyed, both missing makeable par putts. Fiedler took the lead on 11 with a par, while Reagan and Larson bogeyed.

Fiedler bogeyed 12, missing a makeable par putt to fall back into a tie with Larson.

On 13, Fiedler hit his first shot into the left-side bunker guarding the corner of the dogleg, but blasted his second shot off the back left of the corner of the green close to the pin. He chipped his third shot in for an eagle. Reagan birdied the hole to tie for second with Larson, who parred the hole. Heisler also birdied the hole to get within three of the leader.

Fiedler and Larson both bogeyed the 14th, while Reagan parred it to make it a three-way tie. Heisler parred to stay two behind

On 15, Reagan tied for the lead with a par while Larson and Fiedler bogeyed. Heisler chipped in from just off the green to save par.

Reagan's drive on 16 went into the trap guarding the corner of the right dogleg. Fiedler's drive was just short of the trap. Larson was in the right rough short of the trap while Heisler was safely in the fairway. Heisler pitched onto the green and two putted for par. Larson's chip from the rough and two-putt gave him a par. Fiedler's chip gave him a tap-in for a birdie and the lead. Reagan's bunker shot was short of the green, and he was up and down for a par.

On 17, where an elevated green means a blind second shot in the valley for all but the longest hitters able to drive the hill. Reagan, Fielder and Larson all drove the hill to give them easy chip shots. Heisler, hitting his second shot from the valley, put it on the green to give him a chance for a birdie. Reagan's pitch from the rough left him a long birdie putt. Fiedler and Larson both had excellent birdie chances. Larson made his putt, but Fielder missed his for a tap-in par.

On the par-five 18, Fiedler made the green in two. Reagan overshot the green by a smidgeon, leaving him a long eagle try from the fringe. Heisler's approach was in the sand on the left of the green, but Larson, who had a tough angle at the green from the left rough, found the water to the right of the green, taking him out of contention. He chipped on and three putted.

Reagan left his put from the fringe short, and missed the birdie try.

Fiedler missed his eagle try but had an easy birdie putt to cement his win.

"I got the job done," Fiedler said after his round, shaking his head over the bogeys on 14 and 15. "I let them back in. I was having a tough time getting it on line on the greens."

Reagan, who finished second the two previous years in the tournament, was philosophical. "I had my chances. I three-putted three times over the last nine holes. I'm just happy at my age to be able to compete with a couple of guys who are on the U of M golf team."

Reagan, whose mother-in-law is the daughter of former New Ulmites Vic and Marie Reim, had his son Jack, 12, caddying for him. Jack said he cheered for his dad, but wasn't able to bring the luck his dad needed to get into first place.

"I'll be back next year. Maybe one of these years I'll win," said Brian.

Larson said he had a good first nine holes, shooting a 33 on the front nine of his morning round, but played poorly from then on.

Accepting the New Ulm Invitational Trophy, Fiedler told the crowd, "The only reason I came here was Johnny told me how nice the people are. It's really true. Everyone was real nice, and I'll be back next year."

The Senior Championship Flight was also competitive. New Ulm's Roger Fortwengler took first with a 159 in his first year in the flight. Doug Cressy and Mark Irgens tied for second with a 160, and Ron Rysavy was fourth with 161.

In the First Flight, Dave VanDien, a former New Ulmite now living in Young America, took first with a 156. Greg Schmitz was second with a 160, Ryan Dreyer was third with a 161 and Jim Hannegan was fourth with 162.

Glen Peters won the second flight with a 155. Rick Hulke took second with a 160. Jeff Lindemann was third with a 163 and Pat Ubl and Jim Gibbons were tied for fourth with 164.

Bob Miller won the third flight with a 164, Rick Belde was second with a 166, Tom Martens was third with a 167, and Chuck Mitch was fourth with a 170.

In the Fourth Flight, Rick Schnobrich was first with a 171; Jerry Boddy and Richard Kolnberger were tied for second with a 172, Bill Drusch was fourth with a 173, and Rob Cherney was 5th with 177.

Phil Gutterman took the fifth flight with a 129. Tom Schmitz and Ed Walsh tied for second with a 138. Robert Alsop was fourth with a 144, and Alexander Elliot was fifth with 145.

James Raun took the Senior Flight after a four-man playoff with Mike Maloney, All Rosby and Rich Loomis. All had a 137.

In the Super Seniors, Tony Vibar took first with a 138, Frank Steinbach was second with a 140, Sam Crea was third with a 142, and Carl Paa was fourth with a 144.

Complete flight results can be found in the scoreboard.