Resorters Golf Tournament: Two former champs in Masters Division

Talk about it

It will be two former champions and two longtime golfers who are trying to grab that elusive first title in the Men’s Masters semifinals today.

Eight-time Resorters champion Ron Clayton had to sweat a little bit for his spot in the finals, while four-time title winner George Cliff of Mankato used a strong push on the front to build a lead he never relinquished. Alexandria’s Tom Eidsvold and Dick Lasch of Circle Pines will join them on the first tee when the Masters Division plays for a spot in the finals at 12:12 this afternoon.

Here is a look at how all four got to this point.

Clayton def.

L. Petersen, 1-up

Clayton needed all 18 holes, but he held off Larry Petersen of Albert Lea for the 1-up win on Thursday.

The Sarasota, Florida native got off to a fast start with a birdie win on No. 1. He added a par win on 4 to go 2-up, but Petersen got one back with a birdie on the par-5 6th.

Clayton answered back with birdie wins on Nos. 8 and 10 to take his biggest lead of the day at 3-up. That’s how they stood after 15 holes.

That put the pressure on Petersen and he almost delivered. Petersen won Nos. 16 and 17 with pars, but Clayton got back on track for the 18th as both players parred to give Clayton the narrow win.

Eidsvold def.

J. Peterson, 6-4

Eidsvold will be the next player to have a shot at Clayton after he took care of Benson’s Jerry Peterson 6-4 on Thursday.

Eidsvold was ready to go from the start as he dropped just one hole all day. He took a 2-up lead after parring the first three holes of the day.

Peterson would get a birdie win at No. 6, but it was all Eidsvold after that. Wins at Nos. 8 and 9 sent him into the turn 3-up. Eidsvold wasted little time putting things away from there, winning No. 10 with a par, 12 with a birdie and 14 with a par to put the finishing touches on the win.

Cliff def. Rieder, 5-3

Cliff used a stretch of four straight wins on the front to open things up in his 5-3 win over New Hope’s Jim Rieder.

Cliff shot 2-under during that stretch as he birdied Nos. 6 and 8. Rieder was able to get one back on No. 9 with a par, but the damage had already been done.

Cliff didn’t waver much on the back. He earned a par win on No. 11 before his only bogey on the back helped Rieder take the 13th. It wasn’t enough though as Cliff closed things out with a win on 15.

Lasch def.

Mikesh, 2-1

Dick Lasch of Circle Pines will battle Cliff for the right to play in the final today after he edged George Mikesh of Scottsdale, Arizona yesterday.

Lasch shot 39 on the front and was able to take a 2-up lead into the turn after a bogey win on 7 and a birdie on 8.

He immediately made it a 3-hole lead once he got to the back. A par win on 10 held up until Mikesh got one back with a par of his own at 13. The two then exchanged wins with pars at 14 and 16 before a push on 17 advanced Lasch to the semifinals.

MEN’S MASTERS

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

Ron Clayton def. Larry Petersen, 1-up

Tom Eidsvold def. Jerry Peterson, 6-4

George Cliff def. Jim Rieder, 5-3

Dick Lasch def. George Mikesh, 2-1

FRIDAY’S PAIRINGS

1ST Tee

12:12 p.m. – Clayton vs. Eidsvold; Cliff vs. Lasch

Tags: alexandria sports, resorters 2012, updates, sports, resorters, golf, tournament