Pell group wins Kaiserhoff Classic

NEW ULM -- A tough start gave way to a good finish as the Ben Pell fivesome won the 23rd Annual Kaiserhoff Classic Monday at New Ulm Country Club, recording a net score of 55.5 to edge the Ken Paa fivesome by one-half stroke.

"Today, we played great," Pell said. "Everybody contributed, we made a couple of crucial putts. We were down for a little bit, but we turned it up and went birdie, birdie, birdie."

The group birdied Nos. 7, 8 and 9 to establish momentum and the momentum carried them to two birdies in their final three holes -- Nos. 10-12. Pell's fivesome started on No. 13.

"We made a long putt on No. 7," Pell said. "That got our momentum going. ... No. 7 was the key because we were kind of hanging around mediocre right there and Jeff (Gronholz) made a huge putt, and that just got it going."

Gronholz drained the putt on No. 7 from 30 feet.

The rest of the Pell fivesome were Jim Schuetzle, Ted Steichen and Tim Hughes.

Paa, along with Jeff Schmucker, Steve Schnobrich, Mike Hillesheim and Florian Schnobrich, recorded a net 56.0 to win the second spot one-quarter stroke ahead of the Steve Farasyn fivesome. Tom Steinbach, Terry Steinbach, Jeff Olson and Don Veigel made up the rest of the fivesome.

Fourth place went to the fivesome of Bob Eichten, Marty Davis, Don Olson, Harlan Mammen and Jerry Dannheim. They recorded a net score of 56.5.

The fivesome of Monte Mildenberg, Doug Bode, Ken Fischer, Scott Krueger and Ed Grassa recorded a net 57.0 and was awarded fifth place on a scorecard playoff. That relegated Dick Price, Jim Kuderer, Carl Paa, Gary Kohn and Keith Schwager to sixth place.

Seventh place with a net score of 57.25 went to Paul Furth, Jim Babel, Vic Sargent, Jerry Schugel and Tim Babel. Eighth place went to the fivesome of Brian Patterson, Corey Mensink, Mark Reiff, Paul Wesselmann and Gary Landreville with a net 58.0.

Doug Miklas was closest to the pin on No. 2 and Larry Wirebaugh holed the longest putt on No. 2. Dick Helmstetter was closest to the pin on No. 6 and Bob Miller holed the longest putt on No. 6.

Fisher was closest to the pin on No. 10 and Larry Steinmetz holed the longest putt on No. 10. Lou Geistfeld was closes to the pin on No. 12 and Miller holed the longest putt on No. 12.

Roger Schultz was closest to the pin on No. 14 and Hillesheim holed the longest putt on No. 14.