It's Dobbe Again

Viroqua native Troy Dobbe should feel right at home at Viroqua Hills Golf Course.  But this comfortable?  Dobbe won the TRGA Viroqua Hills Open for the fourth consecutive year on Saturday.  His trip to the championship wasn't easy, however.  Dobbe and Mark Miller finished 18 holes with identical 4-over-par 75's on a brutally cold and windy day that also included some snow flurried.   Dobbe ended the playoff quickly, winning on the first hole.    Both players advanced to the playoff with birdies on the par-4 18th hole, which might have been the most difficult hole of the day as it played into a 25 mph wind.  Jeff Dunnum, also a Viroqua native, finished in third place after shooting a 77.  It was Dunnum's best finish of the young season.

Other winners in Viroqua:

First Flight:  Randy Olson.  Olson, Chuck Moore and Steve Sjolander were tied for the lead after 9 holes.  Olson then parred 5 holes on the back nine on his was to an 83.  Moore and Sjolander finished tied for second place at 85.

Second Flight: Randy Blank.  Blank, once again looking like a Kentucky Derby jockey was a run-away winner after shooting a 7-over-par 78.   Blank's 38 on the front nine was five strokes better than anyone else.  From there he cruised down the home stretch.   Tony Friedl and Mike Feldner tied for second at 84.

Third Flight: Dan Breeden.  The NewsChannel 8 meteorologist took some good-natured ribbing for the incredibly poor weather, but kept focus on his golf game.   Breeden played a great back nine (40) and finished with 85.  Paul Jackson was second with 87.   Mike Huegel and Dan Leis tied for third at 89.  It was Huegel's third straight 89 this season.

Fourth Flight: Nick Kleifgen.  Kleifgen's day started at about 5:30 a.m. with a two hour ride from Wisconsin Rapids to Viroqua.   It ended after one playoff hole.   He beat Bob Roers on hole #1.   Kleifgen and Roers finished with 89's.  Patrick Rice was third with 92.

Men's Net:  Rick Wall continued his solid 2016 season with a net 73.  Bob Luce was one shot behind with a net 74.

Women's Championship:  Chelsea Dunnum won with an 87.

Women's Flighted:  Terry Ziegelbauer won with a net 77.

The TRGA is back on the course Sunday, May 22 at Cedar Valley in Winona, MN