Thomas Lehman is carrying on a family legacy. His father, Tom, has been a professional golfer for over 40 years, and the younger Lehman said he has learned a lot from his father, who won the U.S. Open championship back in 1996.

“I didn’t play much golf,” Lehman said. “I didn’t start playing until basically I was 18, so after that I started to learn a lot about golf from him.”

Lehman’s childhood memories with his father include trips overseas to countries such as Scotland.

“It was a lot of fun growing up being able to go to certain places,” Lehman said. “He was gone a lot, obviously, when I’d be at school, but over the summer it was nice traveling and going to different places watching him play.”

The Alexandria, Minn., native said he enjoys the Pro-Am tour, as well as the Moccasin Creek golf course.

“I love this course. I love Aberdeen. I haven’t played it in three years, but I have good memories from 2020, the last time I played,” Lehman said. “The new clubhouse looks amazing, it’s a great course, and I’m just excited to be here.”

Entering day two, Lehman hopes to continue his momentum on the course after shooting even par on Friday.

“I shot even, didn’t play my best, but had a stronger back nine, so a lot of momentum for (Saturday’s) round,” Lehman said. “Hopefully a little bit better tomorrow.”

PFEIFFER AT HOME ON MOCCASIN CREEK COURSE

Max Pfeiffer was enjoying his time during the Pro-Am golf tournament Friday, especially being around the professionals.

“It’s a lot of fun to watch the pros play,” Pfeiffer said. “We had a great pro today. He shot two under and it was a lot of fun.”

Max and his father Steve are both participating in the tournament, and Max recalled his father taking him to the golf course growing up.

“I grew up playing golf with him. We lived on the course when I was young and I still live out here, so we have a lot of fun playing golf,” Pfieffer said.

Pfeiffer said Friday’s weather could not have been better for the tournament.

“It was perfect. There was no wind. It was nice. It was warm,” Pfeiffer said.

When asked what he is looking forward to the most, Pfeiffer said he is waiting for the shootout against the pros tonight.

“The shootout (Saturday) night with the pros is probably my favorite part of the tournament,” Pfeiffer said. “It’s just fun. We have two or three amateurs and then a pro and we play an alternate shot. I think it’s the top eight or ten pros and then everybody who’s leading their flight, and a bunch of people come out and watch, and it’s a lot of fun.”

GAINING KNOWLEDGE FROM THE PROS

David Planteen is a member at the Moccasin Creek Country Club and participating in the Pro-Am tournament as an amateur. Planteen says he is impressed with how the pros play the game.

“It’s really fun watching them play because when they hit the ball it has a completely different sound off their club than us amateurs, and it’s just fun watching them, the way they can shape their shots and just get up and down from tough situations that they do get in,” Planteen said.

Planteen, a Langford native, said the amateurs can learn tips and tricks from the pros, but usually only at a distance.

“In a tournament here you really don’t want to pick their brain too much,” Planteen said. “You might pick something up by watching them, but you don’t want to go ask them a lot of questions because they’re playing for a lot of money, too, and this is their livelihood.”

Planteen enjoys coming to Moccasin Creek as a member and says his favorite part about the course is the challenge of the par threes.

“The par threes can play so many different yardages,” Planteen said. “One day it might be 200 and then the next day it might be 160 or something like that, so that’s the challenging part of this course and everything, because it’s not the same yardage day after day.”

PRO LIKES CHALLENGES OF LOCAL COURSE

Tony Albano, Jr. and his caddy have a unique bond. The pro golfer’s caddy is actually his father, Tony Albano, Sr. The elder Albano has been his son’s caddy since he retired three years ago, and the younger Albano said his father occasionally travels throughout the country to help him out.

“I don’t really travel that much. In the summer I’m here for the entire summer and then in the winter I stay at home and I work to try to make money to pay for these events if you don’t make much,” Albano, Jr. said. “He’ll travel when I travel. Since he’s retired, he’s got time.”

Albano, Jr. said he likes Moccasin Creek more than any other course on the Dakota Tour.

“This is the best course we play on on the entire Dakota Tour,” Albano, Jr. said. “We love coming here. The people are great.”

The Park Ridge, Illinois native noted that the course is difficult to play, as well as being well maintained.

“So, it’s definitely in the best shape. You keep the greens nice and manicured really well,” Albano Jr. said. “And then it’s actually tough. Some of the other courses you can hit it anywhere, but out here you’ve gotta hit good golf shots.”

Albano, Jr. also noted that Moccasin Creek has similarities and differences compared to a typical golf course back in his home state of Illinois.

“The Illinois ones are a little bigger, like more open, but also hard, and the greens are bigger,” Albano, Jr. said. “This course is really nice. It’s an old-fashioned country club which is really nice.”

Albano, Jr. said he appreciates the time he gets to spend playing with the amateurs at Moccasin Creek.

“Most of them are just great guys, and they’re very respectful of when the pros are putting and playing,” Albano, Jr. said. “And then it’s fun helping them out when they ask, and we have a good time out there.”

While he is in Aberdeen, Albano, Jr.’s goals are no different than any other day, to win the tournament.

“I want to try to win every tournament you play in. Once you start thinking about just making cuts and stuff, that’s when you get a little too nervous, so you have to try to win the tournaments,” he said. “Then it’s easier to make cuts when you’re trying to go for it. Hopefully, we do well the next two days.”

To see Friday’s results, click on the following link:

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/9169763435343253036