Only sixty-four remain after one day of blistering tee shots

I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.

July 28, 1998

By Devlyn Brooks

Ten golfers fired rounds of 71, 1-under-par, or less Monday in the first round of qualifying in the Men's Championship Division for the 1998 Annual Birchmont Golf Tournament.

After one day of qualifying, only 64 participants remain in the hunt for the coveted championship, including two past champions and last year's runner-up. A second round of qualifying that will trim the field to 32 competitors will take place today beginning about noon.

J.P. Prenevost of LeSuer burned up the course, firing a blistering 4-under-par 68 to take the medalist honors in the opening round, and Drew Corwin of Fargo followed close behind with a 69.

This year's contest should be wide open with the absence of last year's tournament champion, Lee Kinney of Red Wing, who recently turned pro, disqualifying him from playing in the Birchmont.

That leaves last year's runner-up, Steve Erickson of Bemidji, who fired a 1-over-par 73 Monday; past champions Jim Strandemo of Cass Lake (75) and Pete Passolt of Minneapolis (72); and several other recent semi-finalists to battle for the 74th tournament championship to be held Saturday.

Monday's scores ranged from Prenevost's leading 68 to 11-over-par 83, leaving the field scattered with new names in spots, but also at least half of last year's final 32 palyers.

Last year's qualifying scores were a few strokes lower than this year's tournament, but according to several golfers, the course was playing tough Monday.

Bemidji Town & Country Club's course pro, Paul Grovum said Monday, some slight winds and slick greens probably produced some of the higher scores.

Locally, Bemidji is represented by more than 15 qualifiers and several others from the surrounding region, but Monday's best included golfers from Fargo, Detroit Lakes, Grand Forks, Halstad, Roseau and Minneapolis. Bemidji's highest qualifiers were Paul Daman at 1-under-par 71 and Kevin Krigbaum, who also shot a 1-under-par 71.

Following today's qualifying round, the Men's Championship flight will resume Wednesday with the beginning of the 32-man match play tournament.