Hill Beats Gustafson to Claim Northland Title

DULUTH -- Tyler Hill had already demonstrated that he could make a splash at Northland Country Club. He had the best finish of any player from Northeastern Minnesota at Northland in the 2015 Minnesota State Amateur, a tie for 27th. (Jon DuToit, who was between his junior and senior seasons at the University of Minnesota at the time, was the winner.) What's more, Hill made five birdies in the first 10 holes in the final round on the way to a closing 73.

Last week, the former Bemidji State golfer from Virginia was a little more consistent, and his reward was a first-place finish at the Northland Invitational. He concluded his triumph with a 4&3 victory over Jack Gustafson.

The stage was set for someone like Hill to claim the crown when five-time champion Dan Moline lost in the second round, and so did the defending champ, Matt Mellin. 

On Sunday, it came down to Hill and Jack Gustafson, an Ohio native who now lives in Minneapolis. 

Gustafson, who had dispatched Moline, knocked off 2015 Northland winner Topher Baron in the morning semifinals, and Hill eliminated Brian Moores.

In the final, Hill got off to a nice start, winning the first hole. Both players parred the second and third holes, and they both birdied the par-5 fourth. Gustufson squared the match by winning the par-3 fifth with a birdie, but Hill responded with a birdie to win the sixth, and he stayed in front for the rest of the match. 

At the daunting 10th, a par-4 up a steep slope and possibly the longest 414-yard hole on the planet, Hill made a 25-foot putt to go 2 up. He went 3 up when he birdied the par-4 13th. Gustafson lipped out a birdie putt at the 14th, and he lipped out a par putt at the 15th, which he lost, and that was the match. 


MEN'S AMATEUR GOLF

92nd Northland Invitational

At Northland Country Club

Par 71, 6,825 yards

Duluth 

Final 

Tyler Hill, Virginia, def. Jack Gustafson, Mpls. 4&3