Monday, I had the opportunity to play hooky and organize a foursome to play in the annual Great River Faith in Action golf tournament at Pebble Creek.

 

It was a beautiful, weather-wise day and my brothers (Tim, Dave and Brian) and I started the shotgun scramble tournament on Red #1. We represented the Citizen-Tribune (thanks Gary!)

 

I had made a side bet with Marty Dertinger (one of the organizers and participants) that my solid foursome would out-shoot his foursome for the day. I felt I had two ringers (Dave and Tim) on my team and we were going to be competitive and vie for the first place title.

 

The wager was a full breakfast at Cafe Pawz to be enjoyed at a later date.

 

Last year, our foursome of my brothers Tim and Dave and my nephew, Jeff, finished six under par — which I thought was pretty decent on an unfamiliar course (Riverwood) in Otsego. This year, I added my younger brother, Brian, who can hit the ball a mile when his game is on.

 

When he arrived Monday, he informed me he had only played one time prior, so his game wasn’t very polished.

 

I thought, “oh well”, I still have my two ringers.

 

We got off to a great start as I sank a 20-footer for a birdie and immediately I was thinking, “what kind of breakfast should I order at Cafe Pawz?”

 

The second and third holes found us carding pars and then we bogied to bring us back to even par. It wasn’t until the fifth hole that we remembered we had bought mulligan tickets — so we started using them henceforth.

 

We finished the first nine at two under and my breakfast deal was quickly fading from focus. By the time we reached 18, we were at five-under and I knew we probably didn’t have a shot at first-through-third prizes.

 

When I got back to the banquet hall and saw Marty, he asked how we did. I shrugged and said, “five under”. I asked how he did and he said they were “something like 16-under.”

 

Sixteen-under? Woah.

 

“Well it looks like I owe you breakfast,” I said dejectedly.

 

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Marty said laughingly.

 

Marty’s team captured first place and I think the second place team was at -10. Oh well.

 

There was one hole that was a par five and when we got to the teebox, we noticed the longest drive for men placard was way up the fairway. I did my best to smack the ball as hard as I could, but it ended up left of the fairway and way short of the stake. My brother Tim was the only one in our foursome to secure a spot on the fairway and when he hit it, I thought it was one of his longest hits I’ve ever seen.

 

However, when the ball landed and rolled to a stop, it was still at least 50 yards short of the longest drive. As we finished our next shot and neared the long-drive stake, I noticed the name written on the placard.

Lucas Dertinger. 

 

Marty’s teenage son and current Bulldog football player. His drive must have been 300+.

 

When I mentioned it to Marty, he laughed and said “Lucas told me he popped that one up.”

 

Popped that one up? Holy cow! (And Lucas’ drive wasn’t even the longest of the day!) Ugh. I felt unfit to be out there.

 

I’m a big fan of GRFIA as well as my boss and my brothers and we appreciate the things they do for the local communities. We appreciate the leadership of the organization and the workers who dedicate countless hours to helping those less fortunate.

 

The golf tournament Monday was a fine example of a well-run company running a well-run event. Dozens of good-hearted people came out to honor a somewhat-laboring company that — up until a few years ago — was a well-oiled. I tip my hat to the board and to Curtis Hed for leading this organization back to health, just as they do to the citizens of Central Minnesota.

 

I also tip my hat to Pebble Creek  and to Troy Malo and his staff for hosting the tournament. The course was in tip-top shape and the accommodations were excellent. Cornerstone Cafe in Monticello catered the food and it was delicious and filling.

 

Eighteen teams of four played in the tournament Monday and Hed’s prayers for good weather were heeded by the Creator. Good job GRFIA. Your tournament was an eagle on a par five.

 

(Speaking of eagles, Mayor Tracy Bertram’s team eagled Red #1 when her husband, Mark holed out from the fairway to get the team to two-under for the day).

 

First place team: Marty Dertinger, Jesse Miller, Scott Baker and Dan Labelle — received four rounds of golf at Pebble Creek with cart rental and four dozen golf balls;

 

Second place team: Ricard Powell, Steve Degenar, Paul Johnson and David Katzenmeyer — received four rounds of golf at Elk River Country Club and two dozen golf balls;

 

Third place team: John Blanine, Jeff Hilborn, Mark Astagard and Gary Kjos — received two dozen golf balls;

 

Last place team: (No names given - to protect the innocent) — received four rounds of mini golf at McPetes and one dozen golf balls to replace what they lost.

 

The contest winners received different $25 gift cards and one dozen golf balls: Longest drive (women) - Bonnie Timmer; longest drive (men) - Mark Bertram; closest to the pin (women) - Tracy Bertram; closest to the pin (men) -Jason Huetll; longest putt (women) - Barb Fluth;  longest putt (men) - Dan Labelle.

 

Putting contest: KC Foster won $305 which he donated back to Faith In Action.

 

Chipping contest: Tom Nikunen won a new chipping wedge.

 

A $10,000 cash prize was up for grabs for a hole-in-one on White #6 but nobody was able to ace it.

 

Over 20 raffle prizes were won, ranging from rounds of golf, gift cards, hats, shirts to golf balls. A $100 Craguns Gift card and two dozen golf balls was won by Ron Goeb.

 

Four rounds of golf to Breezy Point with two dozen golf balls was won by Citizen-Tribune Staff Writer Bill Morgan.

 

Others are unknown as numbers were drawn ahead of time and winners went up and matched their numbers and claimed their prizes.

 

(Gold): • Pellco  • Northwest Machine • J&B Enterprises • PEM • Minnetonka BMW • Victory Ministries • Darter Plastics • Ultra Machining Corp • M&M Precision Machining • Talon • Becker Furniture;

 

(Silver): • Bergan KDV • Unity Shows • Country Lumber • First National Bank • Precision Rain of MN;

 

(Bronze): • DMG Mori • Servpro;

 

(Hole): • Becker Hardware • Princeton Insurance • Sherburne Sate Bank • Scheideman Chiro • First American Bank.