Football player husband teams up with wife as caddy at Birchmont

BEMIDJI -- The Birchmont and NFL training camp made for an unexpected, but familiar relationship Thursday.

2005 ladies champion Mary Harris - formerly Mary Hasselberg - advanced to the semifinal round with a 3 and 2 win over Teddi Roberts Thursday.

On the bag was her caddy and husband Tuff Harris.

Mary, formerly of Staples, is listed on The Birchmont roster with a hometown of Meridian, Louisiana.

"Well, not anymore," Mary said.

That's because Tuff was cut from the New Orleans Saints training camp roster Wednesday.

So the former safety decided to join Mary in Bemidji at The Birchmont and swapped his shoulder pads for his wife's golf bag.

Tuff arrived in Brainerd on the late flight Wednesday and was picked up by Mary and her mother. By the time the trio returned to Bemidji, it was nearly 1 a.m. Thursday.

Then it was back to the golf course for the 8:42 a.m. match with Roberts.

Harris said she wasn't tired after all of Wednesday's events.

"I think I played pretty good, I really can't complain," she said. "I've been playing really consistent, although I've had a few problems with my driver straying off."

Harris also admitted that she is not playing as regularly as she used to, so she knows contending at The Birchmont from here on out is going to be a challenge.

So if her game happens struggle, she joked her backup plan will be a hat.

"I need to do whatever it takes," Harris said. "I brought out this bucket hat on Tuesday and it worked out well for me then. If I make it to the championship, I think I'm going to have to break out my beach hat."

Harris described her beach hat with the word 'large' and said it is made purely of white paper.

"I think I have to do something to throw someone off," she joked.

And if she makes it there, Tuff will back back on the bag--as he was when she won The Birchmont in 2005.

After The Birchmont, Mary hopes that Tuff will still land with an NFL team.

"We're just going to have to wait for that phone call," she said.

Harris will face Jenna Buckwalter of Fargo, N.D. today in one semifinal; Amy Anderson of Oxbow N.D. will face Anne Fraser of Peabody, Mass. in the other semifinal.

Anderson was the women's championship runner-up last season.

Executive

Defending champion Todd Schaefer advanced to the semifinal round by defeating Jim Fish of Bemidji 4 and 3.

Russ Moen defeated Scott Hinners in a match of Bemidjians 2-up and will face Schaefer today.

Qualifying medalist Scott Anderson of Bemidji also advanced and will face Daniel Gilman of Centennial, Colo.

Seniors

In senior men's championship play, defending champion Jack Seiberlich of Rush City advanced to the semifinal round by defeating Don Dale 6 and 4.

He will face John McEnroe of Woodbury, who defeated Chuck Hiller 5 and 4.

In the other semifinal, Glen Hasselberg of Staples will face Tom Hanson of Detroit Lakes.

Super Seniors

The first Birchmont championship will be decided today when Joe Mayer of Bemidji takes on Bryant Barnes of Shawnee Mission, Kan.

Mayer advanced to the championship by defeating Bill Enghauser of Bemidji 3 and 2. Barnes advanced to the championship by defeating Del Gangelhoff of Cass Lake 2 and 1.

Juniors

In junior championship play, defending champion Sam Matthew of Roseville advanced to the semifinal round and will face Micah Megorden of Moorhead.

In the other semifinal, Erik Deiderich of Fargo will face Bill Carlson of Fargo.

Deiderich defeated 2007 junior runner-up Rob Pemberton of Redby.

Y estromgren@bemidjipioneer.com