Rolland Beats Holmes to Win First Minnesota PGA Match Play Championship

May 17, 2018 | 7 min.



By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  INDEPENDENCE, Minn. – Rolling in a birdie from eight feet on the third hole Thursday, Eric Rolland took the only lead he would need to defeat Derek Holmes, 3 and 1, to win the 2018 Minnesota PGA Match Play Championship at Windsong Farm.
 
Rolland, who serves as both men’s and women’s head golf coach at Augsburg University, came back from three down with four holes to play during his semifinal match against Casey Vangsness before prevailing in extra holes to reach the final match against Holmes.
 
Notching a victory early in the season, Rolland looks to improve on an impressive 2017 campaign where he collected three victories with 14 top-5 finishes, earning more than $15,000 in earnings.
 
“This definitely gives me confidence and validates the things I’ve been working on,” Rolland said after his win Thursday. “There are some great players that have won this thing multiple times, so it’s cool to be on the list with them.”
 
For the 2018 season, the Minnesota Section rearranged a few events on the schedule, with the biggest change being the match play tournament taking place early in the season and moving the Minnesota Golf Champions to the fall.
 
“Your expectations aren’t lower, but it’s early in the season and you just haven’t been playing,” Rolland said. “There’s not much to go off of, but for me it was staying focused on one shot at a time and not getting ahead. In match play, situations can get your mind to go back and forth, but you have to stay in the moment. Also, I have to give a shoutout to Tim Jochim, who has helped me a lot with my swing.”
 
Rolland got past Brad Schmierer to open the championship Tuesday before edging Brian Seiwert, 1-up, to reach the quarterfinals Wednesday. In another tight match, Rolland needed a playoff hole to get past Timothy Brovold to reach the semifinals against Vangsness early Thursday.
 
During the final match Thursday, Rolland took the first lead by sinking his birdie chance from eight feet at the third. Staying patient and playing conservative paid off for Rolland mid-round as Holmes made bogey on three of four holes after finding the sand to give Rolland a 4-up lead after 10.
 
At the short par-4 11th, Holmes put his tee shot left of the green and chipped on with a makeable putt left for birdie, but was unable to convert. He was able to win the hole after a three-putt bogey by Rolland.
 
Rolland regained a 4-up lead after a three-putt bogey by Holmes at the 13th and appeared to be cruising before missing an opportunity to close out the match on 15 by missing a short par putt. At the par-3 16th Rolland’s tee shot found the water short-left of the green, leading to bogey and his lead shrunk to two with two holes to play.
 
At the 17th, Holmes blew his birdie putt well past the hole and was unable to make the comebacker for par. Rolland’s birdie stopped short of the cup and Holmes conceded the match to give Rolland the victory, 3 and 1.
 
Graduating from Augsburg in 1997, Rolland was named head coach of the men’s and women’s teams in 2014, while serving as the Director of Player Development and assistant professional at Woodhill Country Club in Wayzata, Minn. The men’s team won its first event with Rolland at the helm in 2014 and in 2016 had one of the best seasons in program history.
 
Augsburg won the MIAC conference championship for the first time since 1995, qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Championship for the fourth time in school history.
 
“Playing tournament golf and how it affects your life and experiencing that with my players is what I enjoy about coaching,” Rolland said. “To be able to relate to them and being an alumni having done it and still doing it, I think it’s fun to encourage it. There are ups and downs in college golf, so you just have to be positive—the game’s hard.”
 
A disappointing finish to an otherwise tremendous championship for Holmes, who knocked out three defending champions in Eddie Wynne, Don Berry and Jeff Sorenson en route to the final match against Rolland Thursday.
 
Falling behind early in the final match, Holmes had several chances to stay within reach of Rolland but struggled both off the tee and with the putter down the stretch.
 
Unable to convert his birdie chance from 10 feet at the second, Holmes missed an opportunity to strike first before Rolland sank his birdie look at the third. Looking to even the match on the ensuing hole, Holmes missed a short par putt to remain one back.
 
Holmes later found the sand off the tee three times over a four-hole span, which led to bogey in each case and he found himself down four to Rolland after 10 holes. A pair of bogeys by Rolland late gave Holmes a chance, but a three-putt bogey at the 17th sealed his fate.
 
“I didn’t take advantage of a couple things early and the putter was a little cold, but that’s golf,” Holmes said after his runner-up finish Thursday. “I won some good matches. I thought I played fairly well and I can’t complain. I had a pretty good week—it was bonus golf today.
 
“To me it shows that I can play with those top guys. You play with them and they beat you and beat you, and finally you can play some decent golf.”
 
 
 
2018 MINNESOTA PGA MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
WINDSONG FARM
INDEPENDENCE, MINN.
6,693 YARDS, PAR 71
 
 
THURSDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Eric Rolland, Augsburg College, def. Derek Holmes, Dellwood CC, 3 and 1
 
 
THURSDAY’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Eric Rolland, Augsburg College, def. Casey Vangsness, Minneapolis GC, 20 holes
Derek Holmes, Dellwood CC, def. Jeff Sorenson, Minikahda Club, 4 and 2
 
 
WEDNESDAY’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
Casey Vangsness, Minneapolis GC, def. Brent Snyder, Troy Burne GC, 2 and 1
Eric Rolland, Augsburg College, def. Timothy Brovold, Bunker Hills GC, 19 holes
Jeff Sorenson, Minikahda Club, def. Derek Stendahl, Rush Creek GC, 2 and 1
Derek Holmes, Dellwood CC, def. Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, 4 and 3
 
 
WEDNESDAY’S ROUND OF 16 RESULTS
Brent Snyder, Troy Burne GC, def. Dale Jones, Mendakota CC, 4 and 3
Casey Vangsness, Minneapolis GC, def. Erik Toftner, Hiawatha GC, 5 and 4
Eric Rolland, Augsburg College, def. Brian Seiwert, Burl Oaks GC, 1-up
Timothy Brovold, Bunker Hills GC, def. Ryan Hanford, Midland Hills GC, 19 holes
Jeff Sorenson, Minikahda Club, def. Jeff Running, Wayzata CC, 5 and 4
Derek Stendahl, Rush Creek GC, def. Grant Shafranski, Hiawatha GC, 2 and 1
Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, def. Brady Swedberg, Geneva GC, 1-up
Derek Holmes, Dellwood GC, def. Eddie Wynne, University GC, 3 and 2
 
 
TUESDAY’S ROUND OF 32 RESULTS
Brent Snyder, Troy Burne GC, def. Jeff Drimel, PGA of Amer., 4 and 3
Dale Jones, Mendakota CC, def. Chris Borgen, Lost Spur GC, 4 and 3
Casey Vangsness, Minneapolis GC, def. Greg Jamieson, University GC, 6 and 4
Erik Toftner, Hiawatha GC, def. Scott McDonald, Minnewaska GC, 3 and 1
Eric Rolland, Augsburg College, def. Brad Schmierer, Dakota Pines GC, 3 and 2
Brian Seiwert, Burl Oaks GC, def. Andy Smith, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 3 and 2
Ryan Hanford, Midland Hills CC, def. Jonathan Reigstad, Keller GC, 1-up
Timothy Brovold, Bunker Hills GC, def. Tom Kirkland, Victory Links GC, 5 and 4
Jeff Sorenson, The Minikahda Club, def. Brian Pabst, Eagle Lake GC, 3 and 1
Jeff Running, Wayzata CC, def. Christopher Sauer, Cedar Creek GC, 4 and 2
Derek Stendahl, Rush Creek GC, def. Tim Anderson, Bunker Hills GC, forfeit
Grant Shafranski, Hiawatha GC, def. Philip Anderson, North Oaks CC, 1-up
Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, def. Kyle Thul, Stillwater CC, 1-up
Brady Swedberg, def. Paul Speltz, Brackett’s Crossing CC, 3 and 2
Eddie Wynne, University GC, def. George Smith, Club Champion, 4 and 3
Derek Holmes, Dellwood CC, def. Matthew Morin, Wayzata CC, 3 and 2
 
 
TUESDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Jeff Drimel, PGA of Amer., def. Mark Hetland, StoneRidge GC, 3 and 2
Greg Jamieson, University GC, def. Matt Kleinbrook, Windsong Farm, 3 and 2
Erik Toftner, Hiawatha GC, def. James Kidd, Windsong Farm, 2 and 1
Brad Schmierer, Dakota Pines GC, def. Mark Wittig, PGA of Amer., 4 and 2
Ryan Hanford, Midland Hills GC, def. Larry Norland, Greenhaven GC, 2 and 1
Tom Kirkland, Victory Links GC, def. Connor Tanberg, Windsong Farm, 7 and 6
Brian Pabst, Eagle Lake GC, def. Tim Vernon, Yamaha Golf Cars, 20 holes
Tim Anderson, Bunker Hills GC, def. Grant Hanson, Geneva GC, 2 and 1
Philip Anderson, North Oaks CC, def. Gary Westman, Pebble Creek GC, forfeit
Kyle Thul, Stillwater CC, def. Jon Vee, Faribault GC, 3 and 2
George Smith, Club Champion, def. Clayton Johnson, Dellwood CC, 4 and 2
Matthew Morin, Wayzata CC, def. Tim Johnson, Cragun’s Legacy Courses, 3 and 2

 

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