The Shortstop, the state’s longest-running match play event, enters its 74th year with this weekend’s three-day tournament at Albert Lea Country Club.

Thursday, August 30, 2001

The Shortstop, the state’s longest-running match play event, enters its 74th year with this weekend’s three-day tournament at Albert Lea Country Club. As usual, the 176-player field is full. And, as usual, anticipation is high.

&uot;We’re looking for a great tournament, we’ve got a good field,&uot; said ALCC’s James Stripe. &uot;The course is in great shape. The greens are going to be firm, they’re going to be quick. The fairways are in great shape.

The defending champion is Nate Rasmussen, who pulled something of an upset last year, claiming a spot in the championship flight through a playoff. Jeff Stadheim was his opponent in the finals.

The first players will tee off at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, with Rasmussen and the top 16 scorers qualifying for championship play. The next 16 go in the Presidential flight, and so on.

Match-play competition starts around 7:30 Sunday morning, with championship and consolation play starting around 7:30 a.m. Monday. The final match usually begins around 2:30 p.m. and ends around 5:30.

The public is invited to view the action.

The top placewinners, by flight, from last year’s Shortstop:

— Championship – 1. Nate Rasmussen; 2. Jeff Stadheim; 3. Dave Pilot; 4. Chris Baas; consolation, Mike Nelson;

— Presidential flight – 1. Bob Heegard; 2. Andy Petersen; consolation, Bob Lerum;

— First flight – 1. Steve Foss; 2. Frank Lorenzen; consolation, Brian Demmer;

— Second flight – 1. Robert Petersen; 2. Dave Hansen; consolation, Brian Demmer;

— Third flight – 1. Vance Mickelson; 2. Doug Johnson; consolation, Brad Adams;

— Fourth flight – 1. Eric Syverson; 2. David Westlund; consolation, Terry Adams;

— Fifth flight – 1. Dutch VanProosdy; 2. Bill Anderson; consolation, Charlie Majerus;

— Sixth flight – 1. Joe Sczublewski; 2. Bud Anderson; consolation, Ron Hansen;

— Seventh flight – 1. Kelly LaFollette; 2. Mik eCarstens; consolation, Kent Klocek;

*– Eighth flight – 1. Tom Keating; 2. Rich Newman; consolation, Craig Willmert;

— Ninth flight – 1. Brian Westberg; 2. Lerry Wettlaufer; consolation, Mark Boyd.