Schmitz Shoots 68, Leads Opening Round of Twin Cities Championship

  COON RAPIDS, Minn. --  Sammy Schmitz won the Twin Cities Championship back in 2009. Last year, he was tied for the lead going into the final round before losing by one stroke. Redemption must be on his agenda as he fired an opening round 68 Saturday to take the early lead at the 2013 Twin Cities Championship at Bunker Hills Golf Club.

Schmitz, Valleywood Golf Course, shot an opening round 71 last year and was tied for the lead after the first round. But a bogey on the 16th and 17th holes left a slight opening as Dylan Gergen shot a final round 67 to slide in and take the trophy by one stroke.

This year Schmitz will carry a 2-stoke lead into the final round looking to again hoist the trophy.

Schmitz said the key to his round of 68 Saturday was his putter.

"I putted good. I hit the ball good on the front but got a little sloppy on the back but my putter saved me a few times. The wind was swirling quite a bit on the back nine which made things a little confusing, but I felt good putting the ball all day," Schmitz said. 

"I normally play good at Bunker; sometimes courses just fit your game and this is one of those courses that fits my eye," he said.

After the opening round at Bunker Hills, the tournament will finish Sunday at Hastings Country Club. For the past nine years the final round has been played at Keller Golf Course in Maplewood, Minn. 

The change in venue doesn't seem to bother Schmitz in the least.

"It won't be that bad. Most of us have played Bunker Hills, Keller and Hastings in the past so it shouldn't be a problem. As an amateur you're sort of used to bouncing around," he said.

"I know Hastings pretty well. It's different than Bunker; the greens are smaller and it's a little tighter which makes it a little more difficult. We'll see how the greens are running--if they're fast, then it will be a tricky course. I think it's known for having fast greens and putts are sometimes hard to read."

Defending champion Gergen, Mendakota Country Club, is in a great position after the opening round and was pleased with the way he played.

"I played good today--very steady. I made mostly pars for about 10 holes then made a couple of putts to birdie 11 and 13 and played par golf the rest of the way," he said.

"I hit the ball well but just missed a few places. Out here if you can hit greens you'll be in good shape. I putted well today, my speed was a little off but inside of six feet I was good all day," he said.

One advantage Gergen may have heading into the final round is that he used to belong to Hastings Country Club.

"Bunker Hills and Hastings are two different styles of courses. (Bunker Hills) you can get away with spraying shots a little more and Hastings you have to be on and hit the ball straight. Your short game has to be a little better as well as Hastings has smaller greens, he said.

"Sammy is playing really well," Gergen said about Sunday's final round. "Hopefully I'll be in that final round but I'm just going to go out and have fun and hopefully I can play well again."

Trent Peterson, Valleywood Golf Course, will also be playing in the final group Sunday as he carded a 1-under par 71 during the opening round Saturday.

Peterson has been playing very well as of late coming off a disappointing loss Wednesday at the Minnesota Golf Association's Players Championship at Interlachen Country Club. Peterson had put together five good rounds before losing in the championship match.

But Peterson played well again Saturday and sits just three shots behind Schmitz heading into the final round.

"Today went well but I got off to a slow start; I think I only hit three or four greens on the front to finish with a bogey and eight pars. On the back nine I got my act together and made three birdies to finish with a 71," Peterson said.

Peterson is another player that is familiar with Hastings Country Club and said he really only has one objective for the final round, "to shoot four shots better than Sammy," Peterson laughed.

"I just want to play well--try to shoot a couple under par and it would be great if I could be close at the end."

Final round action will begin Sunday at Hastings Country Club at 12:30 p.m.


BUNKER HILLS GOLF CLUB
COON RAPIDS, MINN.
PAR 72, 7,025 YARDS

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

1. Sammy Schmitz, Valleywood GC, 68 (-4)
2. Dylan Gergen, Mendakota CC, 70 (-2)
3. Trent Peterson, Valleywood GC, 71 (-1)
4. Shane Barnes, Twin Cities Golf Club, 72 (E) 
5. Jon Trasmer, University/Les Bolstad, 73 (+1) 
6. Chris Conklin, Hazeltine National Golf Club, 74 (+2)
T7. Brandon Mader, Legends Club, 75 (+3)
T7. Paul Commers, Theodore Wirth GC, 75 (+3)
T9. Jacob Olsonoski, Minnesota Valley CC, 76 (+4) 
T9. Larry Barnacle, Loggers Trail GC, 76 (+4)
T9. Paul Carlson, Rush Creek GC, 76 (+4)
T9.Tony Gergen, Mendakota CC, 76 (+4)
13. Nick Auman, Links at Northfork, 77 (+5)
T14. Jim Foss, Oak Crest GC, 78 (+6) 
T14. John Barry, University/Les Bolstad, 78 (+6) 
T16. Nick Gergen, Mendakota CC, 79 (+7) 
T16 Jake Miller, Eagle Valley GC, 79 (+7)
T16. Jesse Larson, LeSueur CC, 79 (+7) 
T16. Conner Hedlund, Somberby GC, 79 (+7)
T16. Sean Tumlinson, Northfield GC, 79 (+7)
T21. Jeff Druce, Victory Links GC, 80 (+8)
T21. Yarri Bryn, Theodore Wirth GC, 80 (+8)
T21. Tom Bruckner, Rush Creek GC, 80 (+8)
T21. John Juntilla, Links at Northfork, 80 (+8)
T21. Jack Barnhart, River Oaks GC, 80 (+8)
T21. Tony Weber, Columbia GC, 80 (+8)
T21. Jake Witham, Keller GC, 80 (+8) 
T21. Mike Kelley, Territory GC, 80 (+8) 
T21. Maxwell Fox, Hastings CC, 80 (+8) 
T21. Aaron Hoppe, Twin Cities Golf Club, 80 (+8) 
T21. Mike Fermoyle, Southview CC, 80 (+8) 
T21. Jon Holmes, Valleywood GC, 80 (+8) 
33. Elton Mosman, Eastwood GC, 81 (+9)
T34. Steve Gergen,Mendakota CC, 82 (+10)
T34. Brent Grossman, Chaska Town Course, 82 (+10) 
T34. Dan Cavanagh, Perham Lakeside GC, 82 (+10)
T37. Joey Shroyer, Chaska Town Course, 83 (+11) 
T37. Chris Junker, Minnetonka CC, 83 (+11)
T39. Mark Peterson, Valleywood GC, 85 (+13
T39. Derek Pyle, Theodore Wirth GC, 85 (+13)
41. Eric Laorr, Hazeltine National GC, 87 (+15)
42. Jake Warneke, Purple Hawk GC, 88 (+16)
43. Kevin Treacy, Northland GC, 96 (+14)