Warian Is Medalist & Gophers Are Team Champs at Highland Meadows
April 16, 2024
By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. – Winona State University golfer Brady Madsen fired a 7-under par 65 at Rush Creek Golf Club Friday to open the 102nd Minnesota State Open presented by Grand View Lodge, jumping out to a three-stroke lead despite temperatures nearing triple digits.
On Saturday, Madsen had the misfortune of waiting nearly six-hours during a weather delay, only to begin his second round late Saturday, playing eight holes in 3-over before play was suspended due to darkness. Finishing his second round early Sunday, Madsen played his final 11 holes at 4-under par before carding a final-round 67 to claim a one-stroke victory over Max Tylke.
“I hit the ball really solid every round and had a few putts drop,” Madsen said following his win Sunday. “It feels good to have some success—I haven’t had a whole lot of that this summer and it feels good to throw some rounds together when I needed to.
“On my way here, I told [brother and caddie, Brandon] I wanted to play a bogey-free day. If I played smart and hit solid shots, I’d be fine and I actually did that. I played pretty bad yesterday during the first seven holes and wanted to bounce back well. We had that same mentality the last 18 holes and make par at worst.
“I’ve put in a lot of hard work the last week and a half and tried to be confident and let my game back me up. It feels good to see some results and know you’re working on the right stuff. It’s a good building piece to keep trying to be successful.”
In control early Sunday, Madsen carded three birdies over his first five holes, including a lengthy putt at the par-4 fifth, moving him to 11-under for the championship and into a share of the lead with 36-hole leader Van Holmgren.
“I got out to a hot start, which was good. Once I made the 25-footer to get to 3-under through five, I knew I had something going,” Madsen said. “I had it rolling for a while on the first day. In the [Minnesota Golf Association State Amateur], I didn’t get out to a good start the first round, but finished strong. I wanted to get out to a good start this week and then go from there and keep building off it.”
Getting up-and-down from the sand to save par at the par-3 seventh, Madsen would turn in 3-under for the round and headed to the final nine holes one shot off Holmgren’s lead.
Rolling in a short birdie putt from four feet at the 11th, Madsen pulled even with Holmgren at 12-under and would take the lead for good at the 13th, sinking his downhill birdie look from 15 feet.
Madsen’s lead increased to two when his 5-foot birdie putt at the par-4 16th fell, but a wayward tee shot at the 17th lead to Madsen’s first bogey over his previous 30 holes, shrinking his lead over Holmgren to one heading to the 18th.
Behind Holmgren in the fairway, Madsen’s second made its way into the bunker right and short of the 18th green. After Holmgren’s second found the penalty area, his fourth landed in the middle of the green, where he’d two-putt for bogey. Madsen left his third well short of the green, but got up-and-down on the final hole, sinking his 4-footer for par to earn the one-stroke victory over Tylke.
“It was a lot of golf today, but if you get in a good rhythm, it can be beneficial for you. That’s what I focused on this morning, getting in a good rhythm and not try to absolutely hammer everything,” Madsen said. “I have a tendency to try and get after stuff.”
Madsen’s victory Sunday is his biggest to date and first since winning back-to-back Minnesota PGA Junior Players’ Tournament of Champions titles (2016-17). He finished tied for sixth at the MGA State Amateur Championship at Hazeltine a year ago and placed tied for 26th at the event Wednesday.
Madsen, who graduated from MACCRAY High School, enters his junior season for the Warriors where he’s collected three top-5 finishes, six top-10s and finished his sophomore season with a scoring average of 74.7, eighth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Hoisting the State Open trophy Sunday, Madsen becomes the sixth amateur to win the championship in the past seven years.
Tylke, owner of six state victories, fired a 1-under 71 to begin the championship Friday, but came charging back with a round of 67 during the second round Saturday. Helped by a string of six birdies in an eight-hole span Sunday, Tylke sprang up the leaderboard and claimed lone possession of second place with his birdie on the final hole, finishing at 12-under par 204.
“Today was shaky early on. A lot of really good shots, but pressing early put me in a goofy spot,” said Tylke, who entered the championship coming off a top-15 finish at the State Amateur Wednesday. “Everyone in front of me is a great player and I knew I had to catch up. I hit a lot of good putts during that early stretch and got myself into contention.
“I’m really happy with my consistency, overall, and improving each day. You can’t complain about shooting 12-under the last two days. That’s great back-to-back rounds. Unfortunately, you have to play good all three days. The game feels good and I hit some good shots when it mattered. You can always build on that.”
Holmgren, who finished runner-up Wednesday at the 116th MGA State Amateur Championship at Somerby Golf Club, carded a final-round 70 Sunday, finishing alone in third place at 11-under 205, his fourth top-5 finish of the season.
Brent Snyder carded a final-round 4-under par 68 Sunday to finish in a tie for fourth with Brian Hills to earn a share of low-professional honors at 8-under par 208.
The 103rd Minnesota State Open will be played at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids, Minn.
THE 102ND MN STATE OPEN PRESENTED BY GRAND VIEW LODGE
RUSH CREEK GOLF CLUB
MAPLE GROVE, MINN.
7,165 YARDS, PAR 72
SUNDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Brady Madsen (a), Olivia GC, 65-71-67—203
2. Max Tylke (a), Legends Club, 71-67-66—204
3. Van Holmgren (a), Baker Nat’l GC, 68-67-70—205
T4. Brent Snyder, Troy Burne GC, 70-70-68—208
T4. Brian Hills, 2nd Swing, 68-71-69—208
T6. Michael Schmitz (a), The Bridges GC, 70-71-68—209
T6. Alex Kline, Troy Burne GC, 69-69-71—209
8. Tyler Leach (a), Minakwa CC, 70-66-74—210
9. Thomas Campbell, 2nd Swing, 70-71-71—212
T10. Jeff Sorenson, The Minikahda Club, 68-74-71—213
T10. Gunnar Broin (a), Chaska TC, 77-64-72—213
T10. Will Holmgren (a), Baker Nat’l GC, 71-71-71—213
For complete tournament results go to:
https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga19/event/mnpga1922/contest/9/leaderboard.htm
April 9, 2024
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