The 100th Minnesota State Open golf tournament is this weekend in Stillwater. The champion will be the latest to join a select fraternity of winners. We take a look back at some of the previous winners, archived in Minneapolis Star and Tribune sports pages.
Sept. 7: 1917: "Tom Stevens, assistant professional at the Minikahda club yesterday won the open golf championship of Minnesota from a crack field of professionals and amateurs in 36 holes of medal play at the Minikahda course with a score of 73-74-147."
July 23, 1920: "The fans anticipated a battle royal for the championship and its concomitant emoluments, concentrated on this twosome on the afternoon round. In this respect, the gallery was disappointed as [Jack] Burke forged steadily ahead and increaed his lead by four."
June 15, 1932: "[Lee Herron's] most telling work was on the afternoon round each day. Monday he scored his best nine holes of the tournament, a 34, on the home stretch, canning two 20-foot putts and an eight-footer for birdies."
Sept. 28, 1948: "They say anything can happen in golf - and it did Monday as the State Open wound up the 1948 season at Woodhill. Pat Sawyer, the Unfailing, finally failed ... and Joe Coria waltzed away with the title."
June 28, 1955: "Smooth and steady Wally Ulrich won his fourth State Open golf championship Monday at Midland Hills with a 13-under par 203 over the 54-hole route ... 'I must have been in a trance to get that many birdies'"
Aug. 6, 1968: "This was a significant milestone in [Eddie] Langert's career, for several reasons. Not only did it provide him with that first major state title which has eluded him for a decade, but it reaffirmed the faith he had in his decision last spring to give up the insurance business and return to golf."
July 30, 1973: "A combination of Joel Goldstrand's golfsing skills and a midday downpour removed any last possibility of suspense over the eventual champion in the State Open championship Sunday at Dellwood."
