Open has co-champs

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By Ken Barhorst

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It was an afternoon of “firsts” in the annual Shelby County Open Men’s Golf Tournament Sunday.

For one thing, it was the first year of the new format. In the past, the tournament has always included 18 holes at Shelby Oaks and 18 at the Moose over two days. This year, it was all played on one day, and reduced to 27 holes, with 18 at the Oaks and nine at the Moose.

The other firsts came from the overall winners. Mike New and Wil Fridley tied for the championship, and for both, it was their first Open titles.

The co-champs said they liked the new format.

“I thought it went well,” said Fridley, son of Oaks club pro Rob Fridley. “I think more people will want to play in the Open, being one day only.”

“I like the way they did it,” said New. “It was still a struggle at times playing 27 holes in one day. It took a real effort. But I thought it worked out well.”

The two ended up shooting 2-under for the tournament at 105. There is no playoff in the Open, so they shared the top prize.

“I hit the ball well all day,” said Fridley, who began playing in the lower flights of the Open when he was only 12 years old. “I think I actually played above my abilities. But I think everybody hit the ball well today.

“It’s always different going from here (Oaks) to the Moose,” he added. “Out here, you can hit the ball left or right, and still have a shot at a birdie. At the Moose, it gets you in trouble.”

Fridley’s round included seven birdies, five of them at the Oaks.

“I played well today,” said New. “I hit a lot of greens and was able to make some putts. We had a good foursome at the end and there were a lot of good shots.”

Fridley shot a 2-under 70 at the Oaks, where the first flight teed off at 8:30 a.m., then went to the Moose and shot an even-par 35.

New shot a 1-under 71 at the Oaks, and a 1-under 34 at the Moose.

“I just tried not to make a mistake at the Moose,” said Fridley. “You’re one shot away from a bomb going off over there.”

Fridley’s brother Nate was just one stroke back with a 106 after shooting 71 at the Oaks and 35 at the Moose, and last year’s champion Barry Gowdown was two strokes behind the winners with an even-par 107 on 71-36.

Shelby County Open

Sunday at Shelby Oaks, Moose

First flight

`SO-M—Tot.

Wil Fridley`70-35—105

Mike New`70-35—105

Nate Fridley`71-35—107

Barry Gowdown`71-36—107

Justin Richardson`78-33—111

Jason Varney`74-38—112

Chad New`75-38—113

Mike Krusemark`77-36—113

Dave Westover`73-41—114

Andy Schulze`81-35—116

Steve Beaty`80-38—118

Eli Kuck`83-45—128

Tyler Bergman`76-43—119

Mason Jones`77-47—124

Tyler Lachey`81-44—125

Justin Burch`78-47—125

Randy Schafer`79-42—121

Nick Fischio`79-42—121

Ross Pulfer`82-40—122

Second flight

Cole Cartwright`78-39—117

Jim Cain`78-40—118

Sam Long`81-39—120

Connor Bornhorst`82-40—122

Tom Reier`81-41—122

Mason Platfoot`85-40—125

Josh Platfoot`85-42—127

Phil Walter`84-43—127

James Devine`85-42—127

Jacob Caldwell`86-43—129

Jason Latimer`87-45—132

Patrick Kindelin`87-48—135

Third flight

Jim Gooding`84-42—126

Chad Manger`86-42—128

Steve Shatto`84-45—129

Brian Scoggin`86-44—130

Gabe Griffith`93-39—132

Ron Tackett`90-44—134

Ernie Vibbert`93-42—135

Trent Platfoot`89-47—136

Nicholas Lucas`90-49—139

Jerry Binkley`90-49—139

Mike Freisthler`93-46—139

Bucky Watren`96-46—142

Steve Huelskamp`104-47—151

Shane Herbert`102-49—151

Craig Steenrod`99-59—158

Ladies

Defending champion Emily Knouff was again the class of the field in the Shelby County Ladies Open, held at the Oaks.

Knouff shot an even-par 72 to win the 18-hole event by 14 strokes over runner-up Tina Bulle, who shot an 86.

There were 13 ladies participating in the Open.

Results

First flight — Emily Knouff 72, Tina Bulle 86, Karen Dickman 91, Melissa Henderson 96, Cindy Helman 97, Shelly Lott 98, Ellen Joslin 99.

Second flight — Pris Reier 100, Deb Goffena 103, Denise Walker 108, LuAnn Fultz 110, Rashell Reier 116, Trish Hoying 135.

Wil Fridley (left) and Mike New hold on to the first-place trophy they shared on Sunday at the annual Shelby County Open. They both finished with 2-under scores of 105 in the 27-hole event.
http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/07/web1_GolfChamps.jpgWil Fridley (left) and Mike New hold on to the first-place trophy they shared on Sunday at the annual Shelby County Open. They both finished with 2-under scores of 105 in the 27-hole event. Ken Barhorst | Sidney Daily News

Chad New tees off at the Moose Golf Course Sunday during first flight action in the Shelby County Open.
http://www.sidneydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2017/07/web1_SDN071717Golf1.jpgChad New tees off at the Moose Golf Course Sunday during first flight action in the Shelby County Open. Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News Luke Gronneberg | Sidney Daily News

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