Everybody seems to be happy with Albert Lea hosting the American Legion State Golf Tournament.

Tuesday, August 07, 2001

Everybody seems to be happy with Albert Lea hosting the American Legion State Golf Tournament.

Well, almost everybody. People coming from another town to compete might feel differently. The championship has yet to leave town.

Green Lea Golf Course hosted the event for the third year in a row and again an Albert Lean took the top spot, with Nate Rasmussen winning in a playoff over Lance Engebretson. Mick Hockinson won the tournament in 1999 and 2000. And it will be back here again next year.

&uot;The local post has already been awarded the tournament for next year,&uot; said Green Lea manager Jeff Elseth, who’s also the commander of the Sons of the American Legion Leo Carey Post 56, which sponsored the event.

Rasmussen and Engebretson both had 144 strokes after 36 holes, 18 Saturday and 18 Sunday. Both birdied the first playoff hole, No. 10. Rasmussen won it with a par on 11.

The other top finishers, by flight:

* First flight – 1. Earl Krieger, 166; 2. (tie) John Reagan, 170; Kyle Werner, 170;

* Second flight – 1. (tie) Charles Brandt, 170; Scott Weber, 170;

* Third flight – 1. Rich Gleinxner, 183; 2. (tie) Justin Christen, 190; Bruce Christen, 190;

* Fourth flight – 1. Art Whipplinger, 215; 2. Rick Loberg, 224;

Senior flights:

* First – 1. Chuck Lee, 164; 2. Butch Donovan, 165;

* Second – 1. Ken Foster, 168; 2. Darrell Ellertson, 173;

* Third – 1. Andy Christian, 179; 2. Denny Aubin, 186;

* Fourth – 1. Dick Nordby, 192; 2. William Fisher, 198;

* Fifth – 1. (tie) Jack Moyers, 197; Fred Chandler, 197;

* Sixth – 1. Dorma Kangas, 202; 2. Jim Wlaschin, 206; 3. Dale Heilman, 207.

Elseth said a total of 89 golfers participate, &uot;down a little bit&uot; from last year.

&uot;We feel it was a well run tournament,&uot; said Elseth. &uot;Thanks should go to all the volunteers who helped out at the course and the Legion club. They’re the ones that make it happen.&uot;