Match play begins in all championship divisions

Tim Tingelstad of Bemidji carded the day’s low round in the Senior Championship division and his 73 helped him capture the division’s medalist honor with a two-day total of 76-73-149.

A pair of familiar names were one shot back as Bob Kobilka of Bemidji shot 72-78-150 and Glen Hasselberg of Staples finished at 75-75-150.

Sharing fourth place at 151 were Patrick Wilhelmson of Texas and Jeff Tweeton of Perham while Jeff Nelson of Bemidji finished sixth at 152.

Today’s opening round of match-play in the upper bracket pits Tingelstad against Jim Kennely of Bemidji (163), Peter Bridston of St. Louis Park (154) against Kevin Kircher of Bagley (156), Wilhelmson against Rob Jacobson of Bemidji (161) and Tweeton against David Freborg of Roseville (158).

In the lower bracket Hasselberg will face Doug Hiney of Grand Forks (163), Rob Noren of Bemidji (153) will square off against Gary Vogel of Bemidji (156), Kobilka will tackle Bruce Nord of Grand Forks (163) and Jeff Nelson of Bemidji will face John McEnroe of Woodbury (157).

Rachel Roller of Grand Forks will begin defense of her 2010 Birchmont Women’s Championship crown Thursday after being awarded a bye in today’s first round of match-play.

With 14 women in the field Roller and Cyndey Hasselberg of Staples, who tied for medalist with a 78 on Tuesday, were given opening-round byes.

Roller and Hasselberg were last year’s finalists.

Also shooting 78 were Jenna Palmiscno of Bemidji and Sarah Storandt of Moorhead.

Elizabeth Strom of Fargo shot 79 and Alyssa Konecne of Hatton, N.D. finished with an 80.

The rest of the field includes Missy Taberry of Wadena (81), Abby Knutson of Hatton, N.D. (83), Heather Erholtz of Motley (84), Emily Israelson of Staples (85), Tracy Gustafson of Wadena (86), Olivia Knutson of Hatton, N.D. (90), Emily Frosaker of Bemidji (91) and Cierra Waverek of Staples (106).

Defending champion Jim Trapp of Tucson, Ariz. will open his 2011 Birchmont at 1:36 p.m. today against Dave Vogel of Bemidji who shot 86 in Tuesday’s qualifying round.

Jack Seiberlich of Rush City, Minn. was the Super Senior medalist as he carded an even-par 72. Seiberlich will be matched against Vern Steinmetz of Fargo in today’s round of 16 playdowns.

Also qualifying with scores in the 70s Tuesday were Joe Mayer of Bemidji (76), Tom Hanson of Detroit Lakes (77), Bryant Barnes of Shawnee Mission, Kan. (79), Gerry Douglas of Bemidji (79) and Jim Nelson of Houston, Texas (79).

The Juniors return to the course for today’s first round of match play.

Braeden Ohman of Grand Forks is the reigning champion and he will make his first attempt at a defense 12:51 p.m. today against Dakota Waverek of Staples who qualified with an 84.

Also in the upper bracket, Jack Eickhoff of Grand?Forks (82) will battle Cody Wind of Cass Lake (82), Drew Gumlia of Tustin, Calif. (76) will face Jake Hoffman of Bemidji (83) and Andrew Israelson (77) of Staples will battle Matthew Gregg (83) of Bemidji.

In the lower bracket medalist Trey Dale (72) of Bemidji will face Reed Bohm (84) of St. Hilaire, Minn., Sam Bruestle (81) of Bemidji will battle Dakota Brunelle (82) of Cass Lake, Aaron Leintz (76) of Bagley will match shots with Robert McNeal, Jr. (84) of Red Lake and Zach Rickers of Bemidji (79) will face Alex Barrett (83) of Red Lake.