Peterson and Smith Head to Final Round of MN State Open Tied for Lead; Constable One Back

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


COON RAPIDS, Minn. – After carding one of the best rounds of his career during the opening round of the 2014 Minnesota State Open at Bunker Hills Golf Club, Trent Peterson shot a 2-over par 74 during Saturday’s second round to sit tied with former Minnesota Gopher Justin Smith on top of the leaderboard at 137.

Peterson, Valleywood Golf Course, said the biggest difference from the day before was his touch on the green.

“A couple of three-putts today is what killed me,” he said, “I hit the ball okay, but I putted too many times and my lag putting wasn’t good. I didn’t have good speed today, so I had some long par putts that I missed, unfortunately.”

One day after making 10 one-putts by rolling 10 birdies, Peterson saw a much different game during Saturday’s second round as he began his day with a bogey at the 12th hole before rolling in two birdies on the 13th and 16th to make the turn at 10-under for the tournament.

Things began to slip on the back with five bogeys, but perhaps saved his round with birdies on the second and ninth holes to finish the day at 7-under par for the tournament.

“I made some good comebackers—a couple of birdies after some bogeys to keep my spirits high,” Peterson said. “Luckily I had a big enough cushion so I’m still in it.”

“Tomorrow I need to get my speed down and make some more putts,” he said. “The three-putts were frustrating. I didn’t play terrible today, I just didn’t putt well.”

Smith, University/Les Bolstad Golf Course, opened the tournament with a 4-under par 68 before turning in a flawless scorecard Saturday, carding a 3-under par 69.

He rolled in 14 straight par putts before a trio of birdies at the 15th, 16th and 17th moved him to 7-under for the tournament. He finished the day with another par on the final hole to shoot 69.

Certainly no stranger to the big stage, Smith sank the final putt to clinch the national championship for the Gophers in 2002.

Another former Gopher, Donald Constable, moved himself into contention during Saturday’s second round by shooting a 4-under par 68, and will begin the final round Sunday one stroke behind Peterson and Smith.

Constable, Spring Hill Golf Club, fired a 3-under par 33 on his front nine Saturday to get to 5-under before dropping a stroke on the first hole with a bogey.

With back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes, Constable moved to 6-under for the championship, before another bogey at the eighth. He finished with a birdie on his final hole to sit just one shot off the lead at 138.

“I made a couple of mistakes on the back side, but overall I hit it pretty good and the putter feels pretty solid,” Constable said. “I hit the ball better today—yesterday was a little sloppy and I got up and down from everywhere.”

Constable said with the way the course is playing, the tournament is still up for grabs heading into Sunday’s final round.

“It’s a fun golf course and it’s set up to where you can make a bunch of birdies. The greens are soft so you can take everything at the pin and the ball is stopping out of the rough, so you can give chase pretty quick,” he said.”

“I’m one back to [Peterson] and [Smith], so I’m right there, but I think two-three-four back is still right in it.”

Dylan Gergen fired a 2-under par 70 Saturday and will begin the final round two shots behind the leaders at 139.

Gergen, Mendakota Country Club, began his round on the tenth tee and struggled during the opening nine holes with three bogeys and a birdie to shoot 2-over par 38.

The two-time Twin Cities champion quickly turned things around on his back nine as he rolled in four birdies to finish the round in fourth at 5-under par 139.

Professional Cameron White’s 5-under par 67 Saturday was the day’s lowest round as he’ll begin the third round in fifth place at 140, three strokes behind the leaders.

White, the Palms Golf Club, rolled in four birdies on his front nine with two bogeys to shoot 2-under par 34, before carding another three birdies on his final nine holes to shoot 67.

Thomas Campbell (University/Les Bolstad Golf Course), Dan Lensing (Burl Oaks Golf Club) and 2012 State Open champion Ryan Peterson (Interlachen Country Club) are tied for sixth place after two rounds, and will start Sunday’s final 18 holes four shots off the lead.

The 97th Minnesota State Open concludes Sunday with tee times beginning at 8:20 a.m. at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids, Minn.


For complete tournament results go to: http://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga14/event/mnpga1445/contest/4/leaderboard.htm