Erwin repeats as Siouxland Senior Open champ
By Barry Poe Journal sports writer | Posted: Thursday, May 22, 2008
Dale Erwin considers a putt at the Siouxland Senior Open Wednesday. He won the tournament by shooting a 69. (Sioux City Journal, Jerry Mennenga)
As a competitive golfer, Dale Erwin seems to be getting better with age.
The 64-year-old Erwin fired a 1-under-par 69 in perfect conditions Wednesday at Two Rivers Golf Club, repeating as champion in the 16th annual Siouxland Senior Open.
Winning championships, though, is nothing new to the retired insurance executive, who also won this event in 2003.
Erwin captured his second Men's City Championship three years ago at the age of 61 and has also won the Interstate Amateur (1992) and River-Cade (1989) tournaments.
"I hit the ball about as well as I could from tee to green," said Erwin. "I hit the driver as well as I could hit it and my irons, too, but I didn't putt particularly well."
It helped that Erwin hit 16 greens in regulation, including a pair of par-5s where he wound up tapping in for birdie. And, a terrific par save on the 10th hole, Erwin's first, got his round off to a good start.
Erwin pulled his tee shot on the par-4 10th, an extreme dogleg left, into the trees and wound up some 113 yards from the hole. He lofted a wedge over a tree and onto the green, but the ball bounced off the putting surface and long, forcing him to pitch within nine feet. He wound up draining the putt for par.
"That was a good way to start and after that I just kept hitting greens and two-putted my way around," said Erwin, who had nines of 35 and 34 on the par-70 layout. "It's always fun to win."
Erwin's eagle opportunities came on the 457-yard second hole, where hit a 5-iron to within 12 feet and two-putted, and the 500-yard No. 5, where he hit driver and 7-wood to 30 feet and lagged another putt for an easy tap-in birdie. Erwin also had a birdie on the par-4 14th and bogeys on No. 16, a par-4, and No. 6, a 144-yard par-3.
Tom Olson of Dakota Dunes, the 2006 champion, finished second overall at 37-35--72 while Tom Bohnenkamp of Aurelia, another former champion, was third with 37-38--75. Olson, Bohnenkamp and Erwin were part of the same foursome.
Interestingly, Erwin and Olson renewed acquaintances during this tournament last year. The two played against each other as collegians, Olson at Creighton University and Erwin at Wayne State, in the 1960s.
"It was probably the nicest day we've had all year to play, perfect conditions," said Erwin, who will compete again in the 72nd Interstate Amateur June 6-7 at Two Rivers. "I'm lucky enough to still be able to hit the ball pretty well, but I'll have to take a putting lesson sometime soon."
Former Iowa State University basketball coach Johnny Orr, a fixture at this event the past several years, wound up sharing the Super Senior flight championship with Gordie Ellis. The 80-year-old Orr and Ellis, 81, each carded 87. Ellis won Men's City titles in 1951, '52 and '62.
Warren Lasher, a longtime baseball coach at Galva-Holstein High School, nearly matched his age. The 73-year-old Lasher carded 37-39--76 to win the 71-75 flight.
Other flight winners included Mark Krause (50-55) with 42-41--83, Clarence Pippett (56-60) with 39-37--76, Bill Estes (61-65) with 37-40--77, Jon Cleghorn (66-70) with 38-43--81 and Chuck Calhoun (76-79) with 45-40--85.
Paul Morin and Al Chartier, the two oldest competitors at age 86, shot 88 and 113, respectively.
The Siouxland Senior Open, which attracted 101 players, benefits Senior Day Services, the Alzheimer's Association's adult day program in Sioux City.
Ray Obermiller, a highly-successful coach at old Sioux City Central High School and later Grinnell College, was the honorary chairman.
RESULTS
Top 3 overall: Dale Erwin 35-34--69, Tom Olson 37-35--72, Tom Bohnenkamp 37-38--75.
Flight 50-55: Mark Krause 42-41--83, Jim Buttermore 43-42--85, Curt Baker 45-44--89, Brad Frost 45-49--94, Steve Corrie 49-46--95, Dale Tigges 49-47--96, Lane Johnson 49-48--97, Kent Vriezelaar 49-49--98, Dave Conway 54-49--103.
Flight 56-60: Clarence Pippett 39-37--76, John Mitchell 38-39--77, Dan Kvidera 39-39--78, George Peterson 39-39--78, Dick Keith 39-42--81, Ron Van Buskirk 41-41--82, Scott Wilson 44-39--83, Kahlid Rasheed 42-42--84, Randy Davidson 42-44--86, Dave Mogren 42-45--87, Steve Moore 46-41--87, Rick Oldenkamp 44-44--88, Bill Pelchat 49-41--90, Roger Kelly 48-42--90, Jim Peck 47-43--90, Mick Everett 52-43--95, Mike Fitzpatrick 47-48--95, Gary Mennon 46-49--95, Bill Adams 49-48--97, Doug Batcheller 50-48--98, Ron Choquette 50-48--98, Wayne Steckelberg 50-49--99, Fred Chartier 59-56--115.
Flight 61-65: Bill Estes 37-40--77, Ron McManamy 40-39--79, Rick Scott 39-41--80, Bob Schultz 38-42--80, Mike Borschuck 41-40--81, Steve Krokowski 42-40--82, Terry Smith 40-42--82, Bill Mechikoff 47-37--84, Richard Danielson 42-42--84, Lloyd Sorenson 43-46--89, Roy Yaeger 46-44--90, Dan Augustine 44-47--91, E.B. Baker 48-45--93, Denny Wurster 45-48--93, Don Wilmot 52-45--97, Jim Yeoman 51-47--98.
Flight 66-70: Jon Cleghorn 38-43--81, Harlan Crouch 43-40--83, Sam Killinger 43-41--87, Paul Gorski 45-40--85, John Jones 41-45--86, Dave Mulder 47-43--90, Charlie Pearson 46-44--90, Ted DeVries 46-45--91, Bob Krumwiede 45-46--91, Lee Chamberlain 50-42--92, Wes Ratcliff 48-46--94, Bob Post 46-50--96, Roger Schnaible 48-51--99, Ken Slater 51-49--100, Ray Van Buskirk 54-48--102, Dave Platt 51-51--102, Gene Wink 51-54--105.
Flight 71-75: Warren Lasher 37-39--76, Hal McSparran 40-40--80, Larry Korver 43-39--82, Bill Rawlings 42-41--83, Ray Johnson 46-43--89, Jim Gaukel 47-44--91, Jack Bomar 48-44--92, Jack Huisenga 47-47--94, Fred Frey 50-45--95, John Koson 48-47--95, Larry Menke 53-45--98, John Anderson 47-52--99, Dick Stephen 51-48--99.
Flight 76-79: Jack Calhoun 45-40--85, Don Hamann 44-48--92, Gene Willmott 49-46--95.
Super Seniors: Johnny Orr 43-44--87, Gordie Ellis 45-42--87, Paul Morin 46-42--88, Harry Brink 45-44--89, Irv Walter 49-49--98, Lloyd Pippett 51-49--100, Martin Gubbels 56-54--110, Al Chartier 60-53--113, Wayne Masters 61-54--115.
The 64-year-old Erwin fired a 1-under-par 69 in perfect conditions Wednesday at Two Rivers Golf Club, repeating as champion in the 16th annual Siouxland Senior Open.
Winning championships, though, is nothing new to the retired insurance executive, who also won this event in 2003.
Erwin captured his second Men's City Championship three years ago at the age of 61 and has also won the Interstate Amateur (1992) and River-Cade (1989) tournaments.
"I hit the ball about as well as I could from tee to green," said Erwin. "I hit the driver as well as I could hit it and my irons, too, but I didn't putt particularly well."
It helped that Erwin hit 16 greens in regulation, including a pair of par-5s where he wound up tapping in for birdie. And, a terrific par save on the 10th hole, Erwin's first, got his round off to a good start.
Erwin pulled his tee shot on the par-4 10th, an extreme dogleg left, into the trees and wound up some 113 yards from the hole. He lofted a wedge over a tree and onto the green, but the ball bounced off the putting surface and long, forcing him to pitch within nine feet. He wound up draining the putt for par.
"That was a good way to start and after that I just kept hitting greens and two-putted my way around," said Erwin, who had nines of 35 and 34 on the par-70 layout. "It's always fun to win."
Erwin's eagle opportunities came on the 457-yard second hole, where hit a 5-iron to within 12 feet and two-putted, and the 500-yard No. 5, where he hit driver and 7-wood to 30 feet and lagged another putt for an easy tap-in birdie. Erwin also had a birdie on the par-4 14th and bogeys on No. 16, a par-4, and No. 6, a 144-yard par-3.
Tom Olson of Dakota Dunes, the 2006 champion, finished second overall at 37-35--72 while Tom Bohnenkamp of Aurelia, another former champion, was third with 37-38--75. Olson, Bohnenkamp and Erwin were part of the same foursome.
Interestingly, Erwin and Olson renewed acquaintances during this tournament last year. The two played against each other as collegians, Olson at Creighton University and Erwin at Wayne State, in the 1960s.
"It was probably the nicest day we've had all year to play, perfect conditions," said Erwin, who will compete again in the 72nd Interstate Amateur June 6-7 at Two Rivers. "I'm lucky enough to still be able to hit the ball pretty well, but I'll have to take a putting lesson sometime soon."
Former Iowa State University basketball coach Johnny Orr, a fixture at this event the past several years, wound up sharing the Super Senior flight championship with Gordie Ellis. The 80-year-old Orr and Ellis, 81, each carded 87. Ellis won Men's City titles in 1951, '52 and '62.
Warren Lasher, a longtime baseball coach at Galva-Holstein High School, nearly matched his age. The 73-year-old Lasher carded 37-39--76 to win the 71-75 flight.
Other flight winners included Mark Krause (50-55) with 42-41--83, Clarence Pippett (56-60) with 39-37--76, Bill Estes (61-65) with 37-40--77, Jon Cleghorn (66-70) with 38-43--81 and Chuck Calhoun (76-79) with 45-40--85.
Paul Morin and Al Chartier, the two oldest competitors at age 86, shot 88 and 113, respectively.
The Siouxland Senior Open, which attracted 101 players, benefits Senior Day Services, the Alzheimer's Association's adult day program in Sioux City.
Ray Obermiller, a highly-successful coach at old Sioux City Central High School and later Grinnell College, was the honorary chairman.
RESULTS
Top 3 overall: Dale Erwin 35-34--69, Tom Olson 37-35--72, Tom Bohnenkamp 37-38--75.
Flight 50-55: Mark Krause 42-41--83, Jim Buttermore 43-42--85, Curt Baker 45-44--89, Brad Frost 45-49--94, Steve Corrie 49-46--95, Dale Tigges 49-47--96, Lane Johnson 49-48--97, Kent Vriezelaar 49-49--98, Dave Conway 54-49--103.
Flight 56-60: Clarence Pippett 39-37--76, John Mitchell 38-39--77, Dan Kvidera 39-39--78, George Peterson 39-39--78, Dick Keith 39-42--81, Ron Van Buskirk 41-41--82, Scott Wilson 44-39--83, Kahlid Rasheed 42-42--84, Randy Davidson 42-44--86, Dave Mogren 42-45--87, Steve Moore 46-41--87, Rick Oldenkamp 44-44--88, Bill Pelchat 49-41--90, Roger Kelly 48-42--90, Jim Peck 47-43--90, Mick Everett 52-43--95, Mike Fitzpatrick 47-48--95, Gary Mennon 46-49--95, Bill Adams 49-48--97, Doug Batcheller 50-48--98, Ron Choquette 50-48--98, Wayne Steckelberg 50-49--99, Fred Chartier 59-56--115.
Flight 61-65: Bill Estes 37-40--77, Ron McManamy 40-39--79, Rick Scott 39-41--80, Bob Schultz 38-42--80, Mike Borschuck 41-40--81, Steve Krokowski 42-40--82, Terry Smith 40-42--82, Bill Mechikoff 47-37--84, Richard Danielson 42-42--84, Lloyd Sorenson 43-46--89, Roy Yaeger 46-44--90, Dan Augustine 44-47--91, E.B. Baker 48-45--93, Denny Wurster 45-48--93, Don Wilmot 52-45--97, Jim Yeoman 51-47--98.
Flight 66-70: Jon Cleghorn 38-43--81, Harlan Crouch 43-40--83, Sam Killinger 43-41--87, Paul Gorski 45-40--85, John Jones 41-45--86, Dave Mulder 47-43--90, Charlie Pearson 46-44--90, Ted DeVries 46-45--91, Bob Krumwiede 45-46--91, Lee Chamberlain 50-42--92, Wes Ratcliff 48-46--94, Bob Post 46-50--96, Roger Schnaible 48-51--99, Ken Slater 51-49--100, Ray Van Buskirk 54-48--102, Dave Platt 51-51--102, Gene Wink 51-54--105.
Flight 71-75: Warren Lasher 37-39--76, Hal McSparran 40-40--80, Larry Korver 43-39--82, Bill Rawlings 42-41--83, Ray Johnson 46-43--89, Jim Gaukel 47-44--91, Jack Bomar 48-44--92, Jack Huisenga 47-47--94, Fred Frey 50-45--95, John Koson 48-47--95, Larry Menke 53-45--98, John Anderson 47-52--99, Dick Stephen 51-48--99.
Flight 76-79: Jack Calhoun 45-40--85, Don Hamann 44-48--92, Gene Willmott 49-46--95.
Super Seniors: Johnny Orr 43-44--87, Gordie Ellis 45-42--87, Paul Morin 46-42--88, Harry Brink 45-44--89, Irv Walter 49-49--98, Lloyd Pippett 51-49--100, Martin Gubbels 56-54--110, Al Chartier 60-53--113, Wayne Masters 61-54--115.
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