Hickey Comes From Behind Again to Win 2018 Minnesota Junior PGA Boys' Match Play Championship

August 2, 2018 | 2 min.

 
  BRAINERD, Minn. – Surviving extra holes against Carson Herron during his semifinal match early Thursday, Kyle Hickey came from behind during his final match against Jacob Pedersen to earn a 3 and 2 victory to win the 20th Minnesota PGA Junior Boys’ Players’ Tour Match Play Championship at the Dutch Legacy Course at Cragun’s Resort.
 
Never trailing during his first three matches of the week, Hickey rallied after falling behind during each of his final three matches en route to victory. He outlasted Nick LaMotte in 21 holes during the quarterfinals before taking Herron to 19 holes during Thursday's semifinals.

"It's definitely one of the biggest tournaments I've ever won," Hickey said Thursday. "I'm really excited to be on the Minnesota PGA Junior Cup Matches team after missing out this past year.

"My putting was the strong point. I made a lot of timely putts. I'm always even-tempered and level-headed, which helps me to never get too high or low during a round." 

Pedersen, of Shorewood, Minn., struck first during the final match by sinking his birdie at the par-5 second, but Hickey answered with a birdie of his own on the following hole. Back-to-back bogeys by Hickey would give Pedersen a quick 2-up lead, but Hickey took advantage of a Pedersen bogey at six and carded birdie at the seventh to once again draw even.
 
Helped by a Pedersen bogey at the ninth, Hickey would take the lead for good and extended it to 2-up with a birdie at the 10th. Closing out the match with a birdie at the 16th, Pedersen earned a 3 and 2 victory to claim his fifth Minnesota PGA Junior championship.
 
Along with earning a pair of Junior Tour victories in 2016, Hickey earned medalist honors in the Warrior Cup at Pebble Creek Golf Club. He fired a 2-under par 69 at Mankato Golf Club to win a Players’ Tour event in 2017.
 
 
 
20TH MN PGA JR. BOYS’ PLAYERS’ TOUR MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
DUTCH LEGACY COURSE AT CRAGUN’S RESORT
BRAINERD, MINN.
6,879 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
THURSDAY’S FINAL MATCH
Kyle Hickey, Rochester, Minn., def. Jacob Pedersen, Shorewood, Minn., 3 and 2
 
 
THURSDAY’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Jacob Pedersen, Shorewood, Minn., def. Benjamin Warian, Stillwater, Minn., 1-up
Kyle Hickey, Rochester, Minn., def. Carson Herron, Deephaven, Minn., 19 holes
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:  https://mnpgajr.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpgajr18/event/mnpgajr1821/contest/85/leaderboard.htm


 

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