The Men’s Masters Division had an 8-time Resorters champion finish atop the field during qualifying on Monday as Jon Empanger positioned himself well to make a run this week.
Empanger, who has won five Executive championships and three Senior titles during his Resorters career, is going for his first title in the Masters Division.
He shot a 1-over par 73 in qualifying to take the top seed into the match-play portion of the tournament on Wednesday. Dan Elton, the 2016, 2017 and 2020 winner in this division, is the second seed after winning the championship a year ago.
Empanger was steady throughout his round like he often is. He parred 13 holes and birdied the par-4 11th and par-5 14th holes.
Alexandria’s Norty Blanchard, twice a runner-up in this division over the last four years, is the third seed heading into match play after he shot a 3-over par 75 on Monday. His round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-3 7th hole.
ADVERTISEMENT
An 87 was the cut for the 16th and final spot in the championship flight. Joe LaFave and Darryl Johnson both shot that, but it was LaFave who grabbed the 16th seed in the field as he gets the first shot at top-seeded Empanger.
The Masters Division is filled with familiar faces in the championship flight. Tom Ryan, who was last year’s runner-up to Elton, is the fourth seed. Jim Arnold, Gene Seashore, Steve Tessmer, Ray Sauer, Jim Angermeyr, Randy Johnson, Roger Ledebuhr, Joe Klick, Mark Bongard, Thomas Vipond and Rob Davidson will round out the flight when the Masters tee off for their opening round of match play on Wednesday morning at 8:12 from the first tee box.
