11 Years Later, Skarperud Still Contending for Birchmont Title

BEMIDJI -- Today's Minnesota golf trivia question is: Who was the loser in the greatest match ever played in the history of the Resort Circuit (Birchmont, Resorters, Pine to Palm)?

And the answer is: Tim Skarperud. 

In 2006, he faced Kane Hanson in the final of the Birchmont. Skarperud played the first six holes in 4 under par and was 4 up. He then played the next 10 holes in 3 under -- and lost the match 3&2!

That's not supposed to happen, but it did. Hanson, a former Minnesota State Amateur champion -- and future Minnesota Golf Champions winner (2007) -- played holes No. 7 through 16 in 10 under par. He made eight birdies, an eagle and one par during that stretch in a spectacular display of power, precision and putting. So he was 10 under for 16 holes. Skarperud was 7 under -- and never saw the 17th tee.

Hanson won the Pine to Palm two weeks later, then turned professional. He played the mini-tours for the next four and a half years, winning on the Gateway Tour. Nevertheless, in 2011, at age 29, with a wife and two kids, life on the road as a mini-tour player didn't seem like nearly as much fun. As a result, he gave it up and went into the insurance business in Fargo. 

As for Skarperud, he's still playing amateur golf, and doing pretty well. He's back at the Birchmont this week, and he tied for 19th in the 36-hole qualifying (76-73--149). Since then, he's won two matches. On Thursday, he earned a spot in the quarterfinals with a 1-up victory over the No. 5 seed, Will Holmgren, a junior-to-be at North Dakota State. His opponent on Firday in the quarters will be another Grand Forks resident, No. 4 seed Nick Schaefer, the 2015 Birchmont champ. Schaefer defeated Chris Swenson of Fergus Falls 5&4 on Thursday.

The defending champion, Andrew Israelson, also advanced, with a 5&4 victory over Chad Skarperud. Israelson, a former Minnesota Mr. Golf who will be a sophomore at NDSU in a few weeks, will face Gage Stromme of West Fargo in the quarters. Stromme knocked off Matt Norby of Grand Forks 2&1 on Thursday. 

Israelson and Schaefer are two of the four former champions in the field this year. Three are still alive. (The fourth was Josh Bergrud. He lost to Justin Johnson 1 up in the first round of match play.)

The third surviving member of the former champions club is Johnny Larson, who is also a former Minnesota state high school winner from Springfield. He won the Birchmont in 2011. Larson dispatched the tournament's No. 6 seed, Justin Johnson, 1 up. Larson, who is the No. 11 seed, will face No. 3 Chris Curb, a co-medalist and a former Bemidji State golfer who beat Connor Bjugstad of San Antonio 4&3 in the Round of 16.

Matt Haugstad will play James Foss of Roseau in Friday's other quarterfinal. Haugstad, the No. 15 seed, was the author of the biggest upset of the tournament so far,  beating No. 2 seed and co-medalist Danny Menton in 21 holes to earn his place in the quarters. Foss advanced with a 2&1 victory over No. 7 Lucas Johnson

The biggest surprise Thursday might have been Kristin Glesne's 1-up victory over defending champ Emily Israelson in the Women's Division. Which means that Glesne, a junior-to-be at Iowa, will face Katie Nelson in the women's semis. Nelson needed 19 holes to subdue Hailey Abel.

Katie Sheetz, who won three consecutive Birchmont titles from 2013 to '15, will face the other Nelson sister, Annie, in the semis. Sheetz beat Haley Tollette 1 up on Thursday. Annie Nelson advanced with a 3&2 victory over Abby Kelm of Bemidji. 

The Nelson sisters both played on Bismarck Century teams that won North Dakota state high school championships, and so did their mother, Cherlene, who also coached the 2013 Century championship team that Annie played on.   


MINNESOTA AMATEUR GOLF

Birchmont

At Bemidji Town & Country Club

Par 72

Bemidji

Men's Championship Division

(1) Andrew Israelson, Staples, def. Chad Skarperud, Fargo 5&4

Gage Stromme, West Fargo, def. Matt Norby, Grand Forks 2&1

Nick Schaefer, Grand Forks, def. Chris Swenson, Fergus Falls 5&4

Tim Skarperud, Grand Forks, def. Will Holmgren, Plymouth 1 up

Matt Haugstad, Bemidji, def. Danny Menton, Minnetonka 21 holes

James Foss, Roseau, def. Lucas Johnson, Moorhead 2&1

Chris Curb, Bemidji, def. Connor Bjugstad, San Antonio 4&3

Johnny Larson, Sringfield, def. Justin Johnson, Bemidji 1 up


Women's Division 

Kristin Glesne, San Antonio, def. (1) Emily Israelson, Staples 1 up

Katie Nelson, Bismarck, def. Hailey Abel, Avilla, N.D. 19 holes 

Katie Sheetz, Grand Rapids, def. Haley Tollette 1 up

Annie Nelson, Bismarck, N.D., def. Abby Kelm, Bemidji 3&2