Outdoor Recreation

On Aug. 15, the Cuyuna Rolling Hills Ladies 18 Hole Golf League played a game called Even Steven.

Fifty student athletes attended the softball pitching clinic conducted by former Notre Dame All-American Trish Sorenson on Aug. 4 which preceded the Wiffle Ball tournament. 14 teams entered in the two age brackets to vie for the wiffle ball dominance in Aitkin.

The Aug. 1 Memorial Tournament winners were: first place, Judy Franks; second place, Jan Hermanson; third place, Judie Jones. Proximity winners were Jan Hermanson, closest to pin on hole 12; Cathy Aykens, closest to line on hole 16; and Jan Hermanson, longest putt on hole 17.

The foursome from the Bird’s Nest turned in the low score at last week’s 21st annual Dollars for Scholars Bay Lake Area Lions Scholarship tournament. The golf tournament raises money for ten $1,000 scholarship awards for Crosby-Ironton and Aitkin high school graduates. Aitkin graduate Heather Gaulke said the money will come in handy as she makes her way to Princeton this fall to pursue a degree in math.

On June 27, the Cuyuna Rolling Hills Ladies Golf League played a net tournament event.

Girls’ softball for Aitkin youth is now a reality. A group of parents, headed by Dr. Austin Krohn and Colleen Krohn, have organized a Big Dreamers program and an 8u traveling team for Aitkin girls.

McGregor Elementary students participated in a track and field day May 16.

For many Mille Lacs area golfers, mid-April in Minnesota kindles thoughts of teeing up the ball on their favorite courses for the first time since putting the clubs in storage back in October.

In 2003, Karen Reid, Tamarack, suffered through the loss of her husband Doug, “the first love of her life.” Doug had been diagnosed with kidney cancer and passed away within eight days of his diagnosis. Reid described her second love, aside from her family, as snowmobiling. “Doug and I both loved snowmobiling and looked forward to winter and going riding,” said Reid, “so it seemed quite fitting in 2004 I joined the Black Woods Blizzard Tour in their benefit ride for ALS in Doug’s memory.”

Snowmobile racing is in Travis Kern’s blood. Kern developed a love for racing on snow as a youngster, following in the footsteps of his father, Rod, who also raced sleds. When older brother Jarod was born, Rod stopped racing, but racing was in the bloodline and Travis caught the fever. About six years ago, Travis began racing seriously and now travels to Wyoming, New York, Michigan, Iowa, and, of course, Minnesota.

On Sept. 18, Cuyuna Rolling Hills Golf Course Couples League had their year-end Battle of the Sexes. The ladies won over the men.

A huge thank you goes out to the Larry Peterson family for their donation from the Larry Peterson Celebration of Life event to Minnesota National Golf Course Youth Golf program. Four new young golfers were each given a brand new set of golf clubs this past week plus others were given new grips for their clubs and some were given miscellaneous clubs to help them fill out their sets. Minnesota National supports youth golf and thanks the entire Larry Peterson family for this generous donation.

Tim Chenevert of Aitkin recorded his first hole in one at Emily Greens in the annual Battle of the Bars scramble golf tournament. Chenevert carded his one on hole 11.

The county fair may have been over, but many came out for the action in the fair grandstand July 22 for the Hill in a Hole competition. The top three winners were: UTV Truck Class – Matt Lueck, Aitkin; Levi Westig, Aitkin; and Shane Wilson, Harris. Mega Pro – Chad Kornovich, Princeton; Floyd Kowalsky, Stanchfield, and Jake Rinkle, Princeton. Mega Lite Truck Class –Daniel Niesen, Princeton; John Kruta, East Bethel; and Ben Partlow, Bruno. Modified Mud Truck – John Kruta; Matt Lueck; and Paul Travis. Stock Mud Truck – Joe Helmer, Moorhead; Tony Weigel, Darwin; and Justin Cartie, Aitkin.

The action was muddy July 22 at the Aitkin County Fairgrounds when four categories of trucks competed in the Hill in a Hole Race. It was part of the Mud Rhythm Race Series and brought to Aitkin by Midwest Machinery and Matt Lueck Construction. Look for race results in the next Aitkin Age.

American Legion’s Post 86 baseball team won four of their five games in June with all victories coming at the hands of Crosby. With only three area legions (Aitkin, Crosby and Pierz) fielding teams this summer, the schedule is limited.

Sunday, June 25, the McGregor Lions Club hosted its four-person Scramble Tournament. The proceeds from this event go toward the McGregor School bus activities fund. The first place team was Jerry Feucht, Norton Sorenson, Dennis Adams and Bill Creighton firing a team score of 32.2. Second place went to Mike Kruse, Lisa Kruse, Mike Krause and Sherry Krause carding a 32.5. There were many other on and off course prizes given. The Lions appreciate the sponsors and participating players who helped make this year’s event a success!

On a beautiful June evening, Woock Field and Connie Lueck Field in Aitkin were abuzz with families and fans of youth baseball, as team Temco and team Riverwood faced off in Minor League action, while the Aitkin Babe Ruth squad played Baxter. See more photos on the main page under Galleries.

On June 14, the Cuyuna Rolling Hills Ladies Golf League played One, Two, Three.

Jason Dox, Aitkin, used a nine-iron on the 125 yard, par three ninth hole of the Lakes Course at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge to record his first ever hole-in-one. The ace was witnessed by Troy Dox, Todd Diemert and Todd Grundemann.