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Monday-Saturday, July 26-31, 2004 | |
| Bemidji Town & Country Club, Bemidji, Minnesota | ||
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| Birchmont Home | Bemidji Town & CC Home | The Vandersluis | ||
| 2004 Junior Championship | ||
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| Curb wins Birchmont junior crown | ||||
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BY JOHN J. McRAE The Pioneer of Bemidji BEMIDJI, Minn.
Until now. Curb, entering his junior year at Bemidji High School, captured the 2004 Birchmont junior division championship Saturday, defeating Nick Bergan 5 and 3. It was the first big tournament for Curb in his young career. "I still can't believe it," Curb said immediately after his win in the final. "This is very, very exciting." The champion got off to a quick start in his final match, taking a 3-up lead after three holes. "I was just making pars," he said. "I did make a good up and down from the back bunker on three to win the hole." Bergan came back to birdie the fourth hole to cut the lead. The pair then halved the next four holes before Curb regained a 3-up lead with a birdie on nine. "I was playing pretty well on the front," Curb reported. "I believe I was even par." Bergan birdied the par five 10th hole to cut into the lead again. After halving the next two Curb went three up again with a par on 13. "On 14 I made a 25 footer for birdie to win the hole," Curb said. "I parred 15 to close out the match." 
Curb said getting out to a fast start was the key. "I was ready to go," he said. "My friends and I always play early in the morning so I knew what to expect. The greens were rolling really nice."While he was excited about the championship win and happy with his play, Curb said he didn't play as well as he did in his semifinal win over Ben Bergquist of Detroit Lakes. "I won that match 3 and 2, but I was two under at that point in the round. It was as good as I've played in a long time." As often happens in match play tournaments, Curb barely made it through qualifying into the match play field. "I shot a 79 and didn't think I'd even make it," he said. "But I got into a playoff and decided to make the most of it. I got in for the last spot and had to play the best player in the field in my opening match, Eric Boettner. I was able to beat him 2 and 1." Curb said he decided to make the most of the tough draw he faced. "I thought, ‘bring on the monster; I'll take my chances.'" In the end he took care of all the monsters. "This is a great confidence booster," he said. "Now I know that I want to keep working hard and improve my game further. I'm very excited my game has come around so far this summer. I want to keep going in that direction." View 2004 Junior Championship Brackets |
