Travis Ross won the 2025 Ernotte Hiller Memorial Labor Day Golf tournament at Minakwa Golf Course on Monday, his second straight year winning the tournament. Ross is no stranger to success on the golf course, as he golfed at St. Cloud State University, where he won the NCC Individual championship in 2007, before transferring to D-1 New Mexico, where he made the Mountain West All-Conference in 2011.
After college, Travis played pro and retired 11 years ago. Before last year’s championship, Ross last played in the Hiller tournament in 2005 as a senior in high school.
Ross shot a 67 in qualifying. The medalist was Gannon Walsh with a 63. Ross, being the returning champion Ross received the #1 seed and took on Mark Lyczewski. Ross won the first round match by a 6 and 4 score. In the second round, Ross beat UMC golfer Lukas Justesen 2 and 1. In the semi-finals, Ross beat another UMC golfer, Connor Czirjak 2 and 1. In the championship, Ross took on another Crookston High School grad and former Winona State golfer, Isaac Westlake, 6 up to win his second straight title. “It is always a grind, and my putter can let me down at times. I hit some bad bunker shots to make it a little more stressful in a couple of the other matches, but you just kind of weather the storm,” said Ross. “I hit enough good shots to pull it out.” Ross added that Westlake gave him a little extra ammunition in the championship round. When asked how he golfed in the qualifying round, Ross said, “Isaac did tell me it was the worst he had seen me play in the first nine holes, then I finished pretty well, and I actually didn’t forget he said that so he gave me a little bit of motivation to play well in the championship.”
Qualifying round medalist Gannon Walsh, a UMC Golfer and Crookston High School c-squad basketball coach, won the consolation championship.
OTHER FLIGHT WINNERS
Minakwa Flight – Andrew Wilhelm beat Jack Lindgren in the championship. Layton Bartley won the consolation championship.
Hiller Flight – Trey Christopherson beat Dane Anderson in the championship. Adam Stratton won the consolation championship.
Red River Flight – Rich Sanders beat Ethan Christopherson in the championship. Ryan Kizewski won the consolation championship.
The Ranch Flight – Quinn Westlake beat Seth Hanson in the championship. Paul Bittner won the consolation championship.
First Flight – Julien Nieto beat Mason Pearce in the championship. Vance Harren won the consolation championship.
Second Flight – Jake Abrams beat Dillon Klatt in the championship. Fox Dodds won the consolation championship.
Third Flight – Jay Ricord beat Matt Hann for the championship. Blair Fredrick won the consolation championship.
Fourth Flight – Mike Proulx beat Marley Melbye in the championship. Mark Steinke won the consolation championship.
Fifth Flight – Casey Lucken beat Noah Saltl in the championship. Eric Helgeson won the consolation championship.
