Tadewald Leads State Senior Amateur with 71 at Northland

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DULUTH -- Bill Tadewald navigated his way around the tricky greens at Northland Country Club pretty successfully on Monday, as he shot a 71 and claimed a one-stroke lead in the opening round of the Minnesota State Senior Amateur Championship. 

After making a bogey at the second hole -- which has one of the most diabolical greens on the course -- Tadewald birdied the par-five fourth hole, the seventh and the par-5 ninth. He slipped back to even par with bogeys at the uphill 10th (the longest 390-yard hole on the planet) and par-5 11th, and alternated birdies and bogeys over the last four holes to finish at even par.

Mark Knutson didn't get off to the best start in his first Senior Am. The 55-year-old rookie parred the 10th hole (his first), then bogeyed the 11th and doubled the par-3 12th. He rallied with birdies at three of the next four holes and eventually capped off his round with a birdie at the 544-yard ninth for a 72.

He's alone in second place.  

There is a four-way tie for third at 74 that includes two-time champion Leif Carlson (the 2011 champ, Steve Whittaker, is on the DL, a result of shoulder surgery). Carlson bogeyed four of the first six holes, but partially compensated by playing the two par-5's on the front nine in 3 under. He eagled the 471-yard fourth and birdied the ninth.

He made four more bogeys on the back nine, as well as two birdies.

Also at 74 at reigning State Senior Publinx champ Jon Empanger, David McCook and Mike Cleland, who made three bogeys in three rounds on the par-5 ninth at St. Cloud Country Club in last year's Senior Am and ended up three strokes out of first place.

David Kokesh, who won the MGA Senior Players' (Match Play) Championship this spring, has seventh place to himself after posting a 75.   

MINNESOTA GOLF ASSOCIATION

State Senior Amateur

At Northland Country Club

Par 71, 6,450 yards

Duluth 

First-round results

1. Bill Tadewald                71

2. Mark Knutson               72

T3. Leif Carlson                74

T3. Mike Cleland             74

T3. Jon Empanger          74

T3. David McCook          74

7. David Kokesh             75

T8. Ray Sauer                 76

T8. Greg Mattson            76

T8. James Price              76