I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.
Sept. 3, 1999
By Devlyn Brooks
Gary Thorp had waited 35 years to avenge a college tournament he lost at the Bemidji Town & Country Club, and Wednesday he seemed poised to do it.
But retribution wasn't in the cards as Thorp -- who plays out of Interlachen Country Club -- crumbled on his final hole of the 1999 Minnesota Golf Association Senior Amateur Championships finishing Thursday at the country club.
That left the door open for eventual champion David Rovick, also of Interlachen, who surged with his second straight round of 72 to win the overall championship.
Rovick finished with a 3-over 219 (75-72-72). He was followed by three one back at 220: Thorp (72-70-78), Richard Bloosten (77-69-74) and Bemidji's Gerry Douglas (74-74-72).
Thursday's final round provided surprises for everybody with more than a three-hour weather delay and Thorp's 18th hole debacle.
After capturing the senior division with a 2-under par 142 Wednesday, most thought Thorp would run away with the overall championship. Heck, his nearest competitor, John Christopherson of Edina Country Club, sat three strokes back at a 1-over 145.
But, as if the chilly and drizzly weather wasn't foreboding enough, Thorp started his third round with a bogey on Hole No. 1. His round went south in a hurry.
He finished the front nine with two bogeys, a double bogey and no birdies. That matched his total for bogeys on the front nine from both of his first two rounds.
Thorp's only bright spot came on the back nine, when he birdied the par 3 11th hole. His day ended with a disastrous double bogey on the 18th, where he three-putted from a distance of about 3 feet.
Had he two-putted he would have forced a playoff and a one putt would have won him the title.
Rovick's day was just the opposite. He nailed three straight birdies early on Nos. 3-5 and finished the front nine with a scorching 3-under 33. He faltered a bit on the back nine, shooting three bogeys and no birdies, but it was enough.
Douglas finishes second
Bemidji's Douglas shot an even 72 Thursday to finish tied for second overall.
This was the first time Douglas has ever competed in the state seniors championship because formerly being a teacher, he had always been back in class when it is played in early September.
But enjoying the fruits of retirement, Douglas was finally able to challenge the state's best seniors.
The second-place finish was nice, Douglas said, but he was disappointed he didn't win the overall championship.
"I figured that if I shot a 70 (Thursday) I could win it," he said, "and if I had shot a 70, I would have won it. One would have tied it."
Bemidji's other local golfer who made the final cut to participate in the overall championship was Joe Mayer. He didn't finish because he withdrew and left the country club thinking the tournament would be canceled due to rain.
Notes:
The tournament's three divisions -- seniors, masters and grand masters -- were awarded after the second round was completed Wednesday.
Thorp won the seniors division with a 2-under 142 (72-70); Bob Harris of Hazeltine National Golf Course won the masters title with a 9-over 153 (77-76); and Bud Chapman won the grand masters title with an 18-over 162 (78-84).
1st David Rovick, Interlachen 75 72 72 219
2nd Gary Thorp, Interlachen 72 70 78 220
Richard Bloosten, Edina 77 69 74 220
Gerry Douglas, Bemidji 74 74 72 220
5th John Christopherson, Edina 73 72 76 221
Bill Feehan, Hazeltine 78 69 74 221
R.J. Smiley, Mille Lacs 76 72 73 221
8th R. Anderson, Interlachen 79 73 70 222
Roger Schurke, Northfork 70 76 76 222
10th Jerry Gruidl, Golden Valley 77 74 73 224
11th R. Forsberg, Northfield 79 74 72 225
12th Ken Larson, White Bear Lake 78 75 73 226
John Berger, Northfield 77 76 73 226
14th Bob Tickle, Interlachen 78 76 73 227
James Abelsen, Northfield 75 74 78 227
16th James Erickson, Oak Glen 73 79 76 228
Lee Evans, Olympic Hills 78 76 74 228
18th John Paulson, Minikahda 76 74 82 232
19th David Myers Sr., Rush Creek 78 76 79 233
WD T. Gray, Olympic Hills 79 75 -- ---
WD Bob Harris, Hazeltine 77 76 -- ---
WD Joe Mayer, Bemidji 78 73 -- ---
WD John Reichert, Interlachen 75 76 -- ---
WD Mike Howell, Meadows 78 75 -- ---
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