The 1-2 finish by Phil Schmidt and Chris Baas in last weekend’s Albert Lea City Open Golf Tournament may have come as a surprise to some people.

Wednesday, August 18, 1999

The 1-2 finish by Phil Schmidt and Chris Baas in last weekend’s Albert Lea City Open Golf Tournament may have come as a surprise to some people.

But not very many.

The Albert Lea golfers were coming off a 1-3 finish in the recent Northwood Invitational at Northwood Country Club, where they finished only one stroke apart.

Schmidt, who took several months away from the sport before resuming regular play about a month ago, won the 27-hole championship flight at Northwood with 104 strokes.

Baas and Dave Walsh of Osage, Iowa were tied for second at 105, though Walsh took the nod by a tiebreaker.

Following in the championship flight were Jeremy Dudycha, Austin, 108; Jay Thompson, Lake Mills, 109; Scott Goergen, Austin, 110; and John Midtgaard, Northwood, 112.

Albert Lea and other area communities were also well represented in the other flights.

Mark Bennett of Albert Lea won the first flight, shooting 69 for 18 holes. Vance Mickelson of Glenville was second at 75.

Albert Lea’s Dick Diggins was the second flight champion at 84, followed by Kris Houg of Glenville and Brad Nelson of Albert Lea at 85.

Larry Peterson of Emmons was second in the third flight with a 90. Marlin Hicks of Freeborn was third at 91, the same score as fourth-place finisher Lynn Bartness of Lake Mills.

Dan Robb of Northwood won the fourth flight at 99, followed by Mark Mostrom, Lake Mills, 100; John Gold, Albert Lea, 100; and Mike Strothman, Albert Lea, 101.

Here are the results by flight:

* Championship – 1. Phil Schmidt, Albert Lea, 104; 2. Dave Walsh, Osage, 105; 3. Chris Baas, Albert Lea, 105; 4. Jeremy Dudycha, Austin, 108; 5. Jay Thompson, Lake Mills, 109; 6. Scott Goergen, Austin, 110; 7. John Midtgaard, Northwood, 112;

* First Flight – 1. Mark Bennett, Albert Lea; 2. Vance Mickelson, Glenville, 75; 3. Harold Denison, Austin, 76; 4. Phil Bundy, Austin, 77;

* Second Flight – 1. Dick Diggins, Albert Lea, 84; 2. Kris Houg, Glenville, 85; 3. Brad Nelson, Albert Lea, 85; 4. Tom Winkels, Austin, 86;

* Third Flight – 1. Don Francis, Osage, 90; 2. Larry Peterson, Emmons, 90; 3. Marlin Hicks, Freeborn, 91; 4. Lynn Bartness, Lake Mills, 91;

* Fourth Flight – 1. Dan Robb, Northwood, 99; 2. Mark Mostrom, Lake mills, 100; 3. John Gold, Albert Lea, 100; 4. Mike Strothman, Albert Lea, 101.