Two share top spot in NU Invitational

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Woodbury's Dave Heisler and Sleepy Eye's Ben Meidl are co-leaders after the first round of the 43rd annual New Ulm Invitational held at the New Ulm Country Club Saturday.

Meidl and Heisler, a three-time runner up, shot a first round 72 to share the lead.

"I was happy with what I got out of the round," Heisler said. "I didn't hit the ball well at all and then I started to get in trouble on the back nine, but I turned it around on the last two holes. I'm going to have to hit the ball better tomorrow."

Heisler got a little bit of luck on the Par 3 No. 2 hole after his second shot went in the bunker. However, he sank a 40-foot chip shot and from that moment on he was inspired.

"On No. 2 I was in trouble," Heisler said. "I hit it in the bunker. It was a plug lie and I just kind of chunked it out of the bunker. It was a long chip and I chipped it in to save par, and that really got the day going."

Heisler shot a 35 on the front nine and a 37 on the back. Meidl had the reverse results of Heisler as he carded a 39 on the front before shooting a 3-under 33 on the back nine.

"There was a lot of bad drives," Meidl said. "The 18th I hit it 100 yards, and I didn't play the par 5's well at all. Everything else is satisfactory."

Three other players sit near the top of the leaderboard heading into the second round. Tim Duren, Brian Brigger and Brian Reagan all shot a 74 to put themselves into contention.

Jeff Garske, who made the trip to New Ulm from Hilton Head, South Carolina, is making a bid for his third title after he shot a 75 Saturday on the Senior Championship Flight.

"The front side I actually struck the ball better than the back side and didn't get as much out of it," Garske, a two-time winner, said. "I had four birdies, which kind of offset some of my bad holes."

Garske leads by two strokes. He said for the most part, he didn't take too many chances and played within his game.

"I played smart and pretty conservatively," Garske said.

A first-time participant leads the way on the First Flight. Mankato's Pat Haefner shot a 75 and he said he never envisioned leading the tournament after the first day in his debut.

"I hit a lot of greens and I hit a lot of fairways and I putted very well," Haefner said. "The course was in excellent shape. It's one of those things that you just come out and you play the best you can play."

Haefner got a bit of a second wind late in the day after a birdie on hole 16 got him pumped up to finish the round in good shape.

"I was 1-over going on the front side, and hole 16 I drove the green and I ended up making a birdie and it really turned things around," Haefner said. "I was very happy with my round today."

Ryan Friedrich and Steve Prunty both shot a 77 to stay within two strokes of Haefner heading into today's finale.

On the Second Flight, Tim Reinke and Frank Schneider both shot a 80 to put themselves on top of the board. Another member of their four-man group, Mike Doyle, is one shot back after he carded a first-round 81.

In the Third Flight, Tim Schultz shot an 83 to lead the way. Jim Gibbons and Troy Lollar each shot an 85 and sit tied for second.

Rob Cherney has built himself a six-stroke lead after the first round of Fourth Flight. Cherney carded an 83. Tom Furth and Rick Schnobrich are tied for second after they each carded an 89.

In Flight Five, Rodney Zimmer shot a 69 and leads by one stroke over Ed Walsh and Larry Ressner, who each shot a 70. Terry Olson leads the Senior Net Flight with a 64. Olson is a stroke ahead of Mike Maloney's 65 heading into today's action.

Two men sit atop the leaderboard in the Super Senior Flight. Doln Olson and Tony Vibar each shot a 70 and Don Szczech shot a 71.

Play resumes at 7:30 a.m. today.