Burnham Wins Third Twin Cities Championship; Vogt Takes Boys' Title

BLAINE, Minn. – With the help of her second career ace on the eighth hole Thursday at Victory Links Golf Course, Sarah Burnham fired a 6-under par 65 to win her third consecutive Twin Cities Junior Championship.

With the victory Thursday, Burnham joins Gretchen Huhnerkoch as the only junior girls golfers to win three consecutive championships as Huhnerkoch won the tournament from 2007-09.

Paul Vogt, Minnesota Valley Country Club, carded an even par 71 to win the Boys 16-18 Division by one stroke over Luke Johanson, Chaska Town Course, who carded a 1-over par 72.

Vogt carded a 3-under par 32 on the front nine before shooting a 3-over par on the final nine holes to win his first Twin Cities Championship with a 71.

“I started off really hot; I was 3-under through 8 and then made three bogeys on 10, 11 and 12,” Vogt said. “I hit fairways and greens and parred in and it worked out.”

“I was driving the ball really well. I think I hit every fairway except one and I was making a lot my 4-footers for par and saving pars on almost every hole,” he said.

Vogt plans to play golf for Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., this fall.

Ian Mackenzie-Olson, Pioneer Creek Golf Course, carded a 1-under par 70 to win the Boys 13-15 Division as he shot even par on the opening nine holes and a 1-under par 35 on the back, beating second-place finisher Tristan Nelko, Windsong Farm, by four strokes.

“I was pretty confident and started off pretty well. There were some easy holes that were very scorable,” Mackenzie-Olson said. “I kept my pace and my irons shots were, surprisingly, good because they haven’t been great lately. I hit a few pretty close.”

He birdied the second hole to get off to a fast start and he would chip in for an eagle on the 12th hole.

Burnham, Rush Creek Golf Club, carded a 2-under par 33 on the front before knocking in her tee shot on the eighth hole from 121-yards, using an 8-iron for her second career ace.

Burnham cruised on the back as she carded a 4-under par 32, with the help of a 30-foot birdie she rolled in on the 15th hole.

“I was playing pretty solid and the hole-in-one always helps,” she said. “I put it past the pin and it spun back and went in.” “I missed a couple of putts, but overall everything was working pretty good today.”

Burnham will play golf at Michigan State University this fall and is preparing for her collegiate career by playing in as many events as she can this summer.

“Playing in a lot of tournaments this summer is really good experience and these events are really fun. It’s good to keep my competitive edge going,” Burnham said.

McKenzie Swenson, Rush Creek Golf Club, also knocked in her second career hole-in-one Thursday as she hit an 8-iron on the 142-yard 17th hole. Thinking she left her shot short, her ball landed on the front of the green and rolled to the cup and in.

With a par on the first playoff hole, Anni Heck, won the Girls 13-15 Division by carding a 1-over par 72 Thursday along with Stephanie Herzog.

Both players carded an identical score (36-36—72) before heading back to the first tee for a playoff.

Herzog’s approach found the right greenside bunker, while Heck’s found the rough off the left side. Herzog’s bunker shot came to rest 15 feet from the cup, but she couldn’t get her par putt to fall.

Heck’s third from the rough rolled to 10 before she stepped up and dropped her par putt to win.

“It was a little rough today,” Heck said after her win Thursday. “I didn’t hit my approach shots or putts very well, but I just kept in there.” “I had some good drives and some good chips here and there. I’m pretty happy with my game and the swing right now,” she said.



23RD TWIN CITIES JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
VICTORY LINKS GOLF COURSE
BLAINE, MINN.
6,282 YARDS (BOYS)
4,848 YARDS (GIRLS)
PAR 71


FINAL RESULTS
BOYS 16-18 DIVISION 
1. Paul Vogt, Minnesota Valley CC, 32-39—71
2. Luke Johanson, Chaska TC, 37-35—72
T3. Noah Rasinski, Heritage Links, 36-38—74
T3. Dakota Waverek, Legacy at Cragun’s Resort, 37-37—74
T3. Jack Koehler, Bent Creek GC, 39-35—74
6. Samuel Franklin, Rush Creek GC, 38-37—75
T7. Matthew Bernston, Chaska TC, 42-35—77
T7. Brandon Ly, Fairway Foundation, 42-35—77
9. Chris Johnson, Baker Nat’l GC, 40-39—79
10. Harrison Cooper, Unaffiliated, 40-40—80


BOYS 13-15 DIVISION
1. Ian Mackenzie-Olson, Pioneer Creek GC, 35-35—70
T2. Tristan Nelko, Windsong Farm, 39-35—74
T3. Matt Moskal, Cannon GC, 38-36—74
4. Michael Uhas, Windsong Farm, 41-38—79
5. Harrison Bruns, First Tee, 55-46—101


GIRLS 16-18 DIVISION
1. Sarah Burnham, Rush Creek GC, 33-32—65
2. Raelyn Spears, Golden Valley, 41-42—83
3. Emma Groom, Olympic Hills GC, 41-45—86
4. McKenzie Swenson, Rush Creek GC, 45-44—89
5. Anna Lee Upzen, Forest Hills GC, 54-52—106


GIRLS 13-15 DIVISION
T1. Anni Heck, Southview GC, 36-36—72 (won playoff)
T1. Stephanie Herzog, Red Wing, 36-36—72
3. Iyanna Hutchinson, Fairway Foundation, 45-41—86
4. Sarah Marie Sontowski, Baker Nat’l GC, 50-41—91
5. Hannah Bruns, Unaffiliated, 63-49—112
6. Jewel Crumbley, Fairway Foundation, 58-56—114