The team event finished in a tie between team 14 (Benoit, Hayne, Winsor and Tinucci) and team 40 (Carlson, Prosser, Borgeson and Passe) at -60.

More information to follow…

In the team competition, the squad of Luke Benoit, Eric Hayne, Jim Winsor, and Patrick Tinucci leads at -42, closely followed by two teams tied at -40.

In the Team Competition, the team captained by Luke Benoit tore up the course with a score of -30, only two shots off the tournament record for a single day’s score. Benoit’s and his A amateur both carded 3-under rounds of 68, and with their teammates Jim Winsor and Patrick Tinucci, they shot to a 4 stroke lead over the team of Mike Zinni, Billy Barnhart, Tim Dove, and Vic Hapka.

And while shots like that will make you a legend, Tentis points out that there are many other legendary aspects to the tournament, such as the level of competition, the comradery of the players and the generosity of the supporters.

“I grew up watching coverage of the Tapemark on T.V,” says Tentis, “so when I turned pro it just seemed natural that I would play in it. This tournament always seemed to have such a wonderful spirit and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Now having played in over 20 tournaments, having won four times, and having created a name for himself with that notorious shot on #9, Tentis finds the most enjoyable part of the tournament just getting to play.

“This is a competitive tournament, and there is no doubt that everyone there is there to play,” he says. “But we all know the real reason for this tournament is help people and that’s what makes it so special.”

Southview golf professional Phil Anderson dropping off donation for Arc's Value Village Store in St Paul.

At the close of the golf season, Anderson takes all his remaining clothing stock from his pro shop and donates it to Arc’s Value Village. In 2009, that donation amounted to $6,170 of brand new golf apparel. In the last two years, Anderson has donated more than $15,400 worth of clothing to Arc’s Value Village Thrift Stores & Donation Centers. Pam Carlson, director of community relations,  Arc Greater Twin Cities, lauded Anderson for his contribution. “This is easily one of the biggest individual donations of clothing we receive each year, and it’s all new, so it’s in great condition.”
 
“I believe that people with disabilities deserve a good quality of life,” Anderson said while making his donation at the new Arc Value Village store on the east side of St Paul. “I know how important the Tapemark charities are to them, and that these organizations continue to have their budgets cut. This is something I can do to help.” To anyone who knows Phil, his generosity and commitment are not surprising. Philip Callen, president of the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am sees this first-hand. “We know from working closely with him that Phil spends a great deal of time in the off-season thinking up ways to make the Tapemark a better golf event and a better fundraiser.” Apparently, it’s a full-time job.
 
Arc’s Value Village Thrift Stores carry gently used and new clothing and household items at locations in St Paul, Richfield, Brooklyn Center and New Hope. All proceeds from the stores benefit the programs and services of Arc Greater Twin Cities, a Tapemark Pro-Am benefiting agency supporting people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Visit them at www.arcsvaluevillage.org or at www.facebook.com/arcsvaluevillage.

Birdies were in ample supply on Sunday, as they had been all weekend. Near perfect playing conditions and the strongest Tapemark professional field ever led to record low scores, and one look at Sorenson’s cards for the weekend bears this out. He carded 17 birdies and three eagles over the three days, but his most important birdie may have been his prettiest. On his final hole of the day, Sorenson’s approach shot on the par-four ninth green hit the green less than a foot right of the hole, hopped straight left over the cup, and settled just left of the hole leaving him an easy birdie putt to secure the lead and his eventual title. But Wynia, who also posted 17 birdies over the weekend, was not to be outdone. His approach shot settled less than 5 feet from the cup, but directly above the cup on the steep slope of the ninth green, and the succeeding tricky putt just missed the left side of the cup.

The course at Southview was in peak condition and set for good scores, with beneficial pin placements and reachable greens. Southview’s greens are notoriously hard to read, with dramatic slopes and some that are less easily seen. But the strong pro field went to work immediately on Friday as Chris Borgen, Rodney Cook, Tom Dolby, David Morgan, and Andy Paulson all shot six-under 65 to tie for the lead. They didn’t distance themselves from their fellow competitors as Wynia, Ben Meyers, Clayton Rask, Mario Tiziani all shot 66 to remain one stroke behind the leaders. Saturday’s second round play was no different, as 18 players broke 70. David Morgan shot ahead to a three stroke lead with his second 65 of the weekend, leading Sorenson, Wynia, and Dave Tentis by three strokes going into Sunday’s final round.

Curt Schnell of Okoboji View GC in Iowa was the Frank Freer Senior Pro champion, finishing at six-under. He edged 1997 Tapemark champion Mike Barge of Hazeltine by two strokes.

Tom Lehman
Tom Lehman from Alexandria, Minn., winner of the 1990 Tapemark Charity Pro-Am (-12): “I remember winning the Tapemark in ’90 very clearly. I won in a playoff on the second extra hole. I also remember the Pro-Am very specifically because it was just a few weeks after our first child was born. I remember her fitting into the little trophy I had won,” said Lehman.

Taking the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am trophy was one of Lehman’s first victories. He went on to become a major force on the professional circuit, compiling more than 23 professional wins, including five on the PGA Tour. In 1996, he won the British Open, the PGA Tour Championship and was named the PGA Player of the Year. He is currently 19th on the alltime PGA money list, with more than $20.3 million in overall winnings.

A Minnesota native, Lehman now resides in Arizona. He still plays several events on the PGA tour and is planning on playing in the PGA Champions tour. Of the Tapemark, he remembered, “It was always a tournament that those who were really serious about golf, especially the professionals, played in. People didn’t skip it. And they still don’t skip it. That says it all.”

Rives McBee
Rives McBee from Las Colinas, Texas, winner of the 1981 Tapemark (-10): “I played pretty well that year, but I have to admit that I had the tourna- ment handed to me when David Haberle missed a real short putt on the second playoff hole. I remember that missed putt, but what I really remember is all the great people up in Minnesota asso- ciated with the Tapemark. It really was a marvelous tournament, run by a bunch of people who all pitched in and ran a really first-class golf event,” said McBee.

McBee played in the Tapemark Charity Pro-Am three times in the late seventies. He took over The Sports Club in Irving, Texas in 1981, where the Byron Nelson PGA event was held in those days. “I left that club a few years later, then I joined the Senior PGA Tour,” he said. “I was fortunate, I played pretty well out there and I made enough money to put a few bucks away and eventually retire.” McBee actually won three times on the Senior Tour, in addition to three second-place finishes.

McBee is now retired, living in Irving. “I take care of my yard and my grandson now,” he said. “Say hello to all the Tapemark people for me.”

Joel Goldstrand
Joel Goldstrand from Worthington, Minn., winner of the 1980 Tapemark Charity Pro-Am (-7): “I played in the Tapemark every year, and I won it in 1980. My tee shot on the last hole landed about two feet from the hole and made birdie to win the tourna- ment,” said Goldstrand. “I remember the Tapemark was always well attended, a good test and a well-run tournament. It was one of the largest in the state.”

Goldstrand became a golf pro at Minneapolis Golf Club in 1973 after a year on the PGA tour. After winning the Tapemark, he went on to take the Minnesota State Open in 1986.

He left the club in 1990 to go into golf course design full-time, and has since designed courses in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North and South Dakota.

After taking some time off from golf in the ‘90s, Goldstrand now plays once or twice a week with a group of life-long friends, including a high school teammate and one he has known since age six.