U of M Golfer Flanagan Breaks Course Record to Claim 103rd Minnesota State Open

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  LAKE ELMO, Minn. – University of Minnesota golfer Angus Flanagan entered Thursday’s final round of the 103^rd Minnesota State Open three shots back of Jeff Sorenson’s lead, and helped by a birdie-eagle start, Flanagan quickly closed the gap.
 
But after hitting his tee shot at the par-4 third, Flanagan noticed something was wrong.
 
“My driver broke—the face cracked in on the third hole,” Flanagan said. “I hadn’t looked at it, but it sounded a bit different when I hit it. I’m standing on the sixth hole and I’m just figuring this out. It’s a hole that you have to put your big-boy pants on and hit a really good tee shot to get over the tree. I’m hitting 3-wood into a wind and pulled it left into no-man’s land and luckily made par.”
 
The good news for Flanagan was that his caddie, and former Gopher teammate Thomas Longbella, had his driver sitting in the trunk of his car.
 
“It took me a hole, but they went into Tom’s car and grabbed it. Luckily it wasn’t in my room—I have a spare one in my room. I’m lucky enough to have hit [Longbella’s] driver because I’ve spent most of quarantine with him. It wasn’t alien to me, which was nice.”
 
The soon-to-be senior from Woking, England would play his final 11 holes in 5-under, including a second eagle of the day at the 54^th hole to not only set a new course record, an 8-under 64, but Flanagan earned a two-stroke victory over Frankie Capan at 15-under 201.
 
“It’s definitely a confidence booster—my game is in very good shape right now,” Flanagan said. “I’ve been struggling a bit when I’ve been playing normal because I haven’t had the competitive juices and it’s fine playing with teammates, but you don’t know how you’re going to play in a tournament.
 
“I was nervous on the first tee this morning, but I almost prefer being 7-under instead of 10 because I’ve won from the front before, but after playing for a while it was just go-go-go and see what I can do. I got off to a hot start and was able to hit some shots under pressure.”
 
Thanks to his 3-under start on the first two holes, Flanagan would turn in 4-under after sinking his birdie chance at the ninth to put him in a three-way tie for the lead at 11-under with Capan and Brent Snyder. A pair of birdies early on his back nine pushed Flanagan to the top of the leaderboard despite a three-putt bogey at the 13^th.
 
Flanagan rolled in short birdie putt at the 15^th and would carry a one-shot lead to the final hole before hitting his second at the par-5 18^th inside of five feet and buried his eagle putt, going on to win by two.
 
“I had 178 yards, uphill into a wind with a tucked-left pin. It was a last-day pin and I didn’t feel too good over it, but Tom said it was the perfect 6-iron and to draw it against the wind and to trust it,” Flanagan said. “I’m not going to lie, I pulled it slightly, I wasn’t trying to go left of the pin, but finishing four feet was perfect. I left myself with a couple basic putts towards the end, downhill sliders, but I hit a good putt and it stayed online and went in.”
 
Claiming his first state victory Thursday, Flanagan becomes the first member of the Gopher golf team to win the tournament since Jon DuToit won a three-way playoff in 2013 at Edinburgh USA following his freshman season at Minnesota. Flanagan is also the seventh amateur to earn medalist honors in the past eight seasons.
 
This spring was disappointing for Flanagan in more ways than one. The NCAA cancelled the remainder of the spring golf season in March, and the following month, the USGA announced the 2020 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship to be played at Philadelphia Cricket Club would also be wiped out.
 
Flanagan and Longbella paired up to shoot an 8-under 64 at StoneRidge Golf Club last September to earn a spot in the field for the 2020 national championship.
 
“Let’s not talk about that—it’s a bit sad,” Flanagan joked. “It was some of the best golf we’ve played, both of us. We were looking forward to it. I was planning on playing a really strong summer schedule and that was probably one of the main events I was looking forward to.
 
“I get a go at it with my best mate, and guys I know were playing in it. It was tough, but at the end of the day I’ve been very open-minded during these times. I was nervous not being at home with my family, but Tom has welcomed me in and it’s helped my to take my mind off that and golf.”
 
Following his win Thursday, Flanagan quipped that he’s been “stuck here” during the COVID-19 pandemic and unable to travel back home across the Atlantic. Hollis Cavner, the 3M Open Executive Director and founder of the Royal Club who was in attendance during the final round, rewarded Flanagan with an exemption into the second playing of the PGA Tour event at TPC Twin Cities July 23-26.
 
Capan, who recently finished his sophomore season at the University of Alabama and will now transfer to Florida Gulf Coast University this fall, got off to a quick start Thursday with birdies on two of his first three holes. But a pair of bogeys mid-round proved to be the difference as he would card two birdies over his final six holes to fall two shots short of Flanagan, posting a 13-under 203.

“I played solid all three days,” Capan said Thursday, “I felt like the last two days I couldn’t really get anything going, which was disappointing. Every time I’d make a couple birdies, I’d slip in a bogey. It was a good week and there’s a lot to build on, especially going into the middle of the summer.
 
“I’m pleased with how my game is looking and there are some things I need to work on, like putting and taking advantage of par-5’s, which with my power, should be easier than it was this week. Overall, it was a great week and I’m looking forward to the [state amateur].”
 
Joining Capan in Fort Myers, Fla., this fall are 2018 MGA State Amateur champ Van Holmgren, who transferred from North Dakota State University after the 2019 fall semester, and by Winona State University transfer and the defending Minnesota State Open champion Brady Madsen.
 
Sam Matthew, the 2013 MGA State Amateur champion, and eight-time Minnesota Section PGA Player of the Year Jeff Sorenson finished in a tie for third at 11-under 205 to earn a share of low-professional honors, each taking home a paycheck of more than $7,000.
 
The 104^th Minnesota State Open will be contested at Chaska Town Course.
 
 
 
THE 103^RD MINNESOTA STATE OPEN
ROYAL GOLF CLUB
LAKE ELMO, MINN.
6,901 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
THURSDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Angus Flanagan, University GC, 68-69-64—201
2. Frankie Capan, North Oaks GC, 66-69-68—203
T3. Sam Matthew (p), North Oaks GC, 72-67-66—205
T3. Jeff Sorenson (p), The Minikahda Club, 67-67-71—205
5. Brent Snyder (p), Troy Burne GC, 66-70-70—206
6. Michael Schmitz, 2^nd Swing, 69-69-69—207
7. Max Tylke, Legends Club, 71-68-69—208
8. Nate Stevens, Northfield GC, 68-72-69—209
T9. Ross Miller (p), Medina G&CC, 69-71-70—210
T9. Matt Rachey (p), University GC, 69-68-73—210
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:  https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga20/event/mnpga2026/contest/5/leaderboard.htm