Today I had the opportunity to play Somerby Golf Club in Byron, Minnesota, home of the Nationwide Tour’s Showdown at Somerby. This year’s tournament has been moved up to U.S. Open week, June 11-17. Admission Monday-Wednesday is free; Thursday-Sunday tournament admission is $10 per day or $30 for a four-day pass. Tickets can be purchased several ways:

• Online at the tournament website
• By calling 866-263-4653
• At any of the three Rochester HYVEE stores
• At the gate during the event

The field for the event will not be finalized and announced until Friday evening, but officials expect the move to the earlier date to improve the number of big names playing in the 2007 event.

My playing partner for the day was Greg Peterson, Somerby member and golf writer for the Rochester Post-Bulletin. Greg is a former Gustavus collegiate golfer and continues to play in competitive amateur tournaments around the region. Many of his past golf columns will soon be archived on Golfing in Minnesota.

Tomorrow: notes on the course.