WILLMAR - It was not spectacular or dramatic, but Andy Jacobson won his fifth Lakeland Tournament on Sunday afternoon at Eagle Creek.
The five-time champion led first tee to final putt to finish the 54-hole, two-day event that was splashed in sunshine both days with a four-under 212, three-stroke up on Danny Anderson, whose 33 on the final 9 was not enough.
“You don’t catch Andy,” said Anderson, a 2002 Willmar High School graduate. “You need to get out in front.”
Jacobson, who won the club’s Shortstop on June 2 with a white-hot 98 (27 holes), is now within two titles of John Spreiter of Litchfield, who won seven times between 1983 and 2002.
Jacobson, who played his high school and college golf in the South, first won here in 2006.
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He lost last year in a playoff to Rick Frieberg of Monticello, who tied for fourth at 220.
Matt Gorans, a frequent contender here, finished third. He was one of five players within three strokes of the lead with nine holes to go.
Gorans popped his back early Sunday and fought the pain the rest of the way, unable to bend for putting. “It’s from an old pitching injury,” he explained. Still, he finished with a 37 and six strokes back.
Tony Kallevig, a senior this fall at the high school, tied for fourth with Frieberg. His effort was sparked by a 33 on Saturday and a 34 on Sunday.
Steve Whitaker of Becker (Pebble Creek) was in the hunt after a 67 through 18 holes on Sunday, but faltered the final 9. “I represented the over-60 crowd,” he said joking. “Gosh, these young lads hit it a long way; it’s fun to watch.”
“Overall, it was a good month,” Jacobson said on the final day of June. He played in two major state-ams in the middle of the month with modest success.
“I played well in both, but I’ve always said if you’re not at your very best in those events someone is going to get you. Everyone is so good.”
Hunter Mottinger, who, like Kallevig, played for the Willmar Cardinals this spring, won the match-play Select flight, defeating John Hagge in the final.
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This was the 83rd year of the tournament begun in 1931.
Championship
Andy Jacobson 34-35-36-36-35-36-212, Danny Anderson 36-36-37-36-38-33-215, Matt Gorans 37-34-35-36-39-37-218, Tony Kallevig 38-33-38-34-40-37-220, Rick Frieberg 37-39-34-34-37-39-220, Steve Whitaker 114-33-34-40-221, Chuck West 39-35-37-37-37-38-223, Jon Hanner 39-37-35-38-37-37-223 … Pete Hannig 225, Mark Bonnema 228, Eddie Orzonia 230, Anthony Stern 232, Shawn Bohlsen 235, Chase Thonvold 237, Eric Mean 246, Mike Arneson 115-44-WD … President’s Flight leaders: Nate Boie 75, Roque Archilla 77.
Select Flight
Quarterfinals: John Hagge def. Ryan Fernelius 3&2; Dave Nelson def Mitch Johnson 4-2; Dave Bredeson def Norm Strehlow 1-up; Hunter Mottinger def. Gary Hern 1-up
Semifinals: Hagge def. Johnson 4-2, Mottinger def. Bredeson 6-5
Final: Mottinger def Hagge 4&3
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Consolation: Hern def Fernelius 5-4
