2015

First Round & Final Round – Loggers Trail GC (Stillwater, MN) Par 72

The first round in the 32nd Riggs Open featured good weather - warm temps in the low 80’s and windy.  The wind was definitely a factor.  Some holes that were into the wind caused the players to club-up by 2 or 3 clubs, in some cases.  The leaders after 9 holes were Craig Steen (gross score of 39, -1 net), Kurt Bursey (43, E), Scott Riggs (44, +1), & Doug Borsch (41, +1).  After 18, Bursey was in the lead after shooting an 85 (-1 net), followed by Steen (83, +3), Steve Jensen (98, +4), and Mike Winge (87, +5).

In the final round, weather was a factor, too.  Temps were in the high 60’s and the wind gusts were up to 40 mph!  Leaders after 27 holes were Bursey (46 on front nine, +2 net total), Steen (41, +4), Borsch (40, +9), and Winge (45, +9).  The tourney came down to a back nine battle between Bursey, Steen, and Winge.  When they came to the par-3 17th hole, Steen had a two-shot lead on Winge (and, a five-shot lead on Bursey).  Steen bogeyed 17, but Winge double-bogeyed it.  So, when they came to the par-4 18th hole, Steen had a three-shot lead!  He played his drive down the right side of the hole leaving an iron into the green.  His second shot ended up pin-high in the rough. When he got his third shot onto the green (and, Winge was on in two), he had plenty of breathing room to wrap up the title.

He 2-putted, which (after many past close calls!) gave him his first Riggs Open Title!!  He wins with gross scores of 83-81, for a net score of +4.  

Mike WInge took second (87-84, +7), Kurt Bursey third (85-99, +12), Steve Jensen fourth (98-104, +14), & Doug Borsch (88-85, +15) rounded out the top 5. 2015 "Chrissy Miller" Humanitarian Award went to John Bevans - nice work, Bev!

Congrats to the 2015 RO Champ, Craig Steen!