An Alexandria Affair as Rose, Frieburg, Aldrich and Lindberg Reach Semis at Senior Players

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  ALEXANDRIA, Minn. – In search of his first win in two seasons, Jerry Rose collected two more victories Tuesday at Alexandria Golf Club to advance to the semifinal round of the 24th Minnesota Golf Association Senior Players’ Championship.

Utilizing home-field advantage this week, Rose earned a victory over fellow Alexandria, Minn., native Mark Herzog during Tuesday’s morning session before downing Scott Maki during the quarterfinal round.

“Playing on your home course is helpful—knowing where to hit it and not to hit it,” Rose said Tuesday. “It’s a little self-inflicted because you feel like you should have an advantage and you’re trying a little harder because you have people following you. Overall, it’s probably a huge advantage.

“I’ve had a few loose shots here and there, but so far this year I’ve been playing well and scoring well. I played really well this morning—six birdies in 12 holes. I’ve been making a lot of pars and the occasional birdie.”

But Rose isn't the only player remaining in the field who's able to depend on home-course knowledge moving forward as Rick Frieburg, another Alexandria, Minn., native notched victories over Randy Jacobus and Matt Yeager on Day Two Tuesday to set up a semifinal match against Rose.

“Rick knows this golf course well, too, having grown up here," Rose added. "We’ve played numerous times over in [The Resorters Tournament], so it’ll be fun—we’ve been battling it out for 45 years."

Starting his round with three straight birdies during the morning session Tuesday, Rose jumped out to a big lead early over Herzog. Rose stretched his lead to five after nine holes, and would close out his final match of pool play on his 12th hole with the win, 7 and 6.

Facing Maki in the afternoon, Rose birdied the par-4 10th to take the lead for good as he held on for the victory, 3 and 2.

Rose defeated Leif Carlson to win the 2017 championship at St. Cloud Country Club, and finished runner-up to David Rehfeldt the following season at Brackett's Crossing Country Club.

The 2020 tournament resulted in another runner-up finish, this time to Jay Gregory at Cannon Golf Club, but Rose would defeat John Anderson at The Quarry at Giants Ridges to win his second championship in 2021.

Frieburg, who most recently finished tied for second at the Minnesota Senior Open late last month at Keller Golf Club, began the championship Monday with a pair of wins over John Mugford and John Spreiter before earning two more victories Tuesday.

He is looking for his first win since he claimed the 2019 Minnesota Public Golf Association Senior Public Links Championship at Green Haven Golf Course.

In a marathon quarterfinal match Tuesday, Mark Aldrich outlasted J.T. Johnson in 23 holes to reach the semifinal round for the first time at the 55-and-over championship.

“I’ve been playing here since I was 8-years-old, so the local knowledge is great,” Aldrich said. “Some of the guys played the course for the first time two days ago, so I had a big advantage over almost everyone else.

“You have to drive it well out here because it’s narrow. If you’re battling from the rough, it’s not fun hitting through trees and around trees.”

Aldrich defeated Colin Bork early Monday before cruising to a win over Larry Keithann, 5 and 4. He advanced from pool play with his win over J.B. Lloyd before facing Johnson in the quarterfinals.

Carrying a 1-up lead to the 18th, Aldrich watched Johnson sink an 8-footer for birdie to tie the match and force extra holes.

Deadlocked through four playoff holes, Aldrich earned the win when Johnson called a penalty on himself while chipping from behind the green on the fifth playoff hole.

Aldrich will now face Alexandria Golf Club member Mark Lindberg during the semifinals early Wednesday.

Lindberg, yet another Alexandria, Minn., native, began the tournament with a win over Kevin Ewart, 3 and 2, before edging 2019 MGA Senior Amateur champion Trent Wilcox, 1-up.

Lindberg tied defending MGA Senior Amateur Bob Neuberger and survived a playoff, and would then take down 2017 MGA Senior Amateur champion Dave Haslerud during Tuesday’s afternoon session to reach the semifinals in his first appearance at the championship.

The semifinal round of the 24th MGA Senior Players’ Championship is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. at Alexandria Golf Club.