Medalist Bergrud Rallies to Defeat Larson in Birchmont Final

BEMIDJI -- For Josh Bergrud, the ninth time was the charm at the Birchmont Golf Tournament. 

The 23-year-old from Grand Forks had played in this event eight times previously, and he won the Junior Division in 2006. However, he had never been medalist in the Championship Division. Nor had he won the match-play title.

This year, he did both. 

Bergrud said afterward that he was just trying to finish in the top 10 in the stroke-play qualifying, in order to get a high seed. But he followed a 71 with a 67 to claim medalist honors.

Then he went undefeated in the matches, capping his run off with a 3&1 victory over 2011 champ Johnny Larson.

Larson, a former Minnesota state high school champion from Springfield, led 2 up after eight holes, but Bergrud won the next four holes in a row. He got back to all square with a par at the difficult ninth, birdied the par-5 10th and par-3 11th, and won the 12th with a par to go 2 up.

Both Bergrud and Larson birdied the par-5 15th, and Bergrud closed out the match with a birdie at the par-4 17th.

Bergrud was 4 under for the nine and 4 under for the match.  

Birchmont Golf Tournament

At Town & Country Club

Par 72

Bemidji

Semifinals

Johnny Larson def. Tom Jenkins 3&2

Josh Bergrud def. Collin Lervick 3&2

Final 

Bergrud def. Larson 3&1