Peterson Cards 71 in Rough Conditions to Lead MN Golf Champions; Six Tied for 2nd

May 9, 2014 | 2 min.


GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – On a cold a windy day staying patient is usually easier said than done. For Ryan Peterson, being patient paid off as he carded a 2-under par 71 Friday to take the early lead at the 2014 Minnesota Golf Champions tournament at Golden Valley Golf and Country Club.

Peterson, a professional from Interlachen Country Club, began his round rather unassumingly as he recorded a birdie and a bogey on the opening nine holes to make the turn even par.

On the back nine, Peterson heated up as he made back-to-back birdies on the 14th and 15th holes to quickly drop to 2-under par.

After a bogey on the 16th, Peterson bounced back to finish the day with a birdie on the final hole to lead the field by two strokes at 71.

“I chipped and putted pretty well—down here that’s what you have to do, obviously, with the greens being quick and as sloped as they are,” Peterson said. “With the wind and it being cold you know there aren’t going to be a lot of birdies out there so you have to be patient.”

Peterson, the 2012 Minnesota State Open champion, said Friday’s event is only the second event he’s played in the last six months as he’s dealt with tennis elbow all winter.

“I’m happy at 2-under; anything under par is a good score on a day like today,” he said.

Staying patient also paid off for the 2013 State Open champion and current Minnesota Gopher Jon DuToit as he finished the day at even par and is tied for second with five other players.

DuToit, Chaska Town Course, got off on the wrong foot with a bogey on the opening hole to quickly move to 1-over but made three consecutive bogeys on the final three holes of the front nine to turn at 4-over par 41.

Fresh off a Big Ten Championship for the Gophers Sunday, DuToit quickly turned things around on the back nine as he birdied the 11th to get to 3-under.

With back-to-back birdies on the 13th and 14th, DuToit quickly dropped to 1-over and with a birdie on the final hole of the day, finished at even par 73.

“It was a rough front nine that’s for sure, but I calmed down on the back,” DuToit said following the round. “I hit some greens, gave myself some chances and got some putts to drop.”

“You can’t get frustrated if you make a bogey—because you’re going to make bogeys on days like today,” he said. “You’ve got to stay patient and wait for things to turn around.”

Don Berry, Ben Meyers, Scott Gustafson and Jeff Sorenson are also tied for second after shooting even par, as well as 2013 MGA Amateur champion Sam Matthew.

Four-time winner and two-time defending champion Clayton Rask carded a 2-over par 75 during Friday’s opening round to sit tied for 10th as all four of Rask’s victories came at the Minneapolis Golf Club.

For only the second time in 39 years the championship is being played at a club other than the Minneapolis Golf Club. The 2008 tournament was held at Bearpath Golf and Country Club.

The Minnesota Golf Champions tournament continues Saturday at Golden Valley Golf and Country Club with tee times beginning at 11:00 a.m.


For full tournament results go to: http://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga14/event/mnpga147/contest/4/leaderboard.htm

Contact Us

Contact Us

6550 York Avenue South, Suite 411 • Edina, MN 55435 • (952) 927-4643 • (800) 642-4405 • Fax: (952) 927-9642
© 2024 Minnesota Golf Association. All Rights Reserved