Resorters Golf Tournament: Four defending champs return for 91st event

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The biggest battle could be in the Women’s Division

A lot of firepower is in the 2012 field of contestants for the 91st Resorters Golf Tournament next week as four defending champions and a host of former champs will be heading to the tees.

Playoff action begins at 7 a.m. Monday when the first of the qualifying rounds begin, with tournament play beginning at noon on Tuesday with the Men’s ?Senior Championship flight on the first tee.

Men’s Division

Defending champion Ben Vangsness of Alexandria is one of three titleholders back to compete in this year’s Men’s Division.

Also back for 2012 are Mark Lindberg of Coppell, Texas and Jerry Rose of Sarasota, Florida – both multiple winners in this division.

Lindberg won the Men’s Division in 2002 and 2003, while Rose claimed crowns in 1979, 1983 and 2000.

Executive Men’s Division

The last three champions return in the Executive Men’s Division, led by last year’s winner, Tim Peterson of Lino Lakes. Peterson also was the top qualifier last year in this division.

He will have to take on 2010 victor Jon Freeman of Chanhassen and 2009 titlist Stefan Freeman of St. Cloud.

Senior Men’s Division

Dominant is probably the only word to describe defending champion Jon Empanger of Chaska, who owns the last three titles in this division as well as five crowns in the Executive Division.

Empanger was also the top finisher in last year’s qualifying round.

Masters’ Division

Last year’s champion, Pat Vincelli of Rosemount is not back in the field for this year’s tournament, but eight time Resorters champion Ron Clayton is back in the hunt for another Masters’ crown in 2012.

The Sarasota, Florida golfer owns all six titles in this division from 2004 through 2009, as well as a pair of Senior Division titles from 1994 and 2000. He did not play in 2010, but came back last year for another shot at the crown, but fell in the second round to another former champion, George Cliff of Mankato, who was the Senior Division titlist in 2001, 2002, 2005 and 2007.

Clayton and Cliff will both be facing former Super Senior (now Masters) Division champion Jim Fitzgerald of Montgomery, Texas, who won his crown in 2000.

Dave Harris of Alexandria, the Senior Division champion in 1998 and 2006, is also in the field.

Women’s Division

The stars will be out in the Women’s Division for 2012 as five individual champions grace the field.

Leading the way will be defending champion Emily Kvidera of Ramsey, who won the crown in her first year of competition, beating former champion Betsy Aldrich of St. Louis Park, who won the title in 2003 and 2008. Aldrich was the qualifying round medalist last year as well.

Those two both will have to battle Kvidera’s Augustana College teammate Maggie Leland of Alexandria, who is back as well. Leland has a pair of crowns to her name from 2007 and 2009.

The two Viking golfers led their team to a 10th place finish at the NCAA championships this spring as Kvidera finished ninth overall, while Leland was 13th.

Glenwood’s Sarah Roering, the 2010 champion and current Colorado State University golfer, will try her hand at adding another title after a year absence, as will 2002 and 2004 titlist Connie Sornsin of Goodyear, Arizona.

Junior 13-15 Division

Last year’s champion, Nick Heinen of Edmond, Oklahoma has moved on to the Men’s Division, leaving the field wide open for a new champion.

Junior 10-12 Division

Christopher Adams of Maple Grove won the title last year, but has moved into the Junior 13-15 Division, clearing a path to the title in this division.

Lincoln Johnson of Chaska, who won the title in 2010 has an opportunity to take another title home with him as he returns for the third year.

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