Bang Cards 68 to Lead MN PGA Professional Championship at Somerby

  BYRON, Minn. – With an opening round of 4-under par 68, Andy Bang took a one-stroke lead over Kris Kroetsch, Scott Cole and Paul Speltz at the 2014 Minnesota PGA Professional Championship at Somerby Golf Club.

Bang, Austin Country Club, got off on the right foot by birdying the opening hole Tuesday, but gave a stroke right back on the ensuing hole with a bogey to remain even.

He would then heat up as Bang rolled in four birdies over the next five holes to quickly mover to 4-under, but a double-bogey on the par-4 ninth hole dropped Bang to 2-under at the turn.

Bang continued his consistent play to the final nine holes as he fell to 1-under with a bogey on the 10th, but rallied with three birdies over the next four holes as he would go on to shoot 4-under par 68 to take a one-stroke lead into Wednesday’s final round.

Kroetsch, Fargo Country Club, teed off on the tenth hole and didn’t get off to the start he wanted with a bogey on the opening hole, but put together a solid round beginning on the 11th with a birdie to pull even.

A birdie at the par-4 16th hole put Kroetsch at 1-under as he would cruise over the next five holes before dropping an eagle at the par-5 fourth hole to move to 3-under. He would conclude his round with five consecutive pars to finish tied for second at 69.

Cole, StoneRidge Golf Club, birdied the opening hole to quickly jump into red numbers but would make back-to-back bogeys at the fourth and fifth to fall to 1-over.

Cole got back to even with a birdie at the sixth, but gave it away with another bogey at the seventh to make the turn at 1-over. He would cruise over the final nine holes as he rolled in four birdies over the first five holes and finish his round tied for second at 3-under par 69.

Speltz, Midland Hills Country Club, opened with a bogey on the 10th hole but settled in with four consecutive pars before pulling even with a birdie at the 15th.

He rolled in three birdies during the first six holes on his back nine to move to 3-under, but dropped a stroke with a bogey at the par-3 eighth hole.

He would finish strong with a birdie on the final hole to card a t 3-under par and sit tied for second, one stroke off the lead.

Brent Snyder, Troy Burne Golf Club, and Ryan Paulson, Minneapolis Golf Club, sit tied for fifth after Tuesday’s opening round as both carded a 2-under par 70, while two players are tied for seventh at 71.



2014 MINNESOTA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
SOMERBY GOLF CLUB
BYRON, MINN.
7,029 YARDS, PAR 72


TUESDAY’S RESULTS
1. Andy Bang, Austin CC, 34-34—68
T2. Kris Kroetsch, Fargo CC, 34-35—69
T2. Scott Cole, StoneRidge GC, 37-32—69
T2. Paul Speltz, Midland Hills CC, 33-36—69
T5. Brent Snyder, Troy Burne GC, 35-35—70
T5. Ryan Paulson, Minneapolis GC, 34-36—70
T7. David Richardson, Soldiers Memorial Field GC, 36-35—71
T7. Jon Mikolyzk, Olympic Hills GC, 38-33—71
T9. Jack Wawro, the Pines at Grand View, 35-37—72
T9. Timothy Brovold, Bunker Hills GC, 34-38—72
T9. Ryan Bakken, Pheasant Acres GC, 34-38—72
T9. Dave Nordeen, Somerby GC, 38-34—72
T9. Eric Chiles, Chaska TC, 34-38—72
T9. Greg Snow, Olivia GC, 34-38—72