Minnesota (MGA) Senior Players' Championship
EDINA, MN (June 14, 2006) -- Less than one year after qualifying to play in MGA senior events, Rick Ehrmanntraut of Southview Country Club, won the 7th annual MGA Senior Players Championship at The Preserve at Grand View Lodge in Pequot Lakes, Minn. today.
Ehrmanntraut, who turned 55 over the winter enabling him to enter MGA senior championships, ousted 2003 MGA Senior Players champ, Steve Johnson of Elk River Country Club, 1-up, after a back-and-forth match that went all the way to the 18th hole.
Ehrmanntraut jumped out to a quick 3-up lead with birdies on the par-3 2nd and par-5 6th and par on the par-4 3rd. Johnson then came back with a 25-foot birdie putt of his own on the par-4 9th and a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-4 10th to cut into the lead.
Ehrmanntraut won two of the next three holes with pars on the par-4 11th and par-3 13th to go 2-up. Johnson inched closer winning the par-5 16th with a five-foot birdie putt. But, after halving the par-3 17th, Johnson missed an 18-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th that would have extended the match. Ehrmanntraut closed out Johnson by knocking down a seven-foot par putt and secured his first MGA Senior Players title.
For Ehrmanntraut, its his first MGA senior title, but one of many MGA titles the most recent being the 1997 Mid-Amateur Championship at St. Cloud Country Club. Ehrmanntraut, who has been active in the Minnesota amateur golf scene for more than 30 years, also won the MGA Four-Ball Championship with legendary Minnesota pro and amateur golfer, John Harris, in 1973.
For complete match tree results, click on the tournament link above.
ABOUT THE
Minnesota Mid & Senior Players
Concurrent mid-amateur and Senior match play competitions.
Mid: Open to all amateur golfers who are MGA Associate (GHIN) Members and who are at least 30 years of age by the first day of the tournament and whose Handicap Index® is 6.4 or less. Match Play tournament using Pool Play for first 3 rounds. Winner of each pool advances to Championship bracket of 8 players who play single elimination. Top 8 seeds are exempt; other 24 gain spots through state-level qualifying at 11 sites throughout Minnesota.
Senior: Open to all amateur golfers who are MGA Associate (GHIN) Members and who are at least 55 years of age by the first day of the tournament and whose Handicap Index® is 7.4 or less. Match Play tournament using Pool Play for first 3 rounds. Winner of each pool advances to Championship bracket of 8 players who play single elimination. Top 8 seeds are exempt; other 24 gain spots through state-level qualifying at 11 sites throughout Minn.
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