A Second Straight 67 Gives Sorenson a Slim Lead at Minnesota State Open

View full size image

 
By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  LAKE ELMO, Minn. – Posting a 5-under 67 for the second consecutive round Wednesday, professional Jeff Sorenson will carry a one-stroke lead to the final round of the 103^rd Minnesota State Open at Royal Golf Club, looking for his first major state victory since 2016.
 
Sorenson, an eight-time Minnesota Section Omega Player of the Year, will need to fend off Frankie Capan, who carded a 3-under 69 Wednesday to sit one shot back with 18 holes to play.
 
Carding three birdies over his final five holes to begin the championship Tuesday, Sorenson began the second round Wednesday two shots off the lead and got to work quickly. Starting his round on the 10^th, Sorenson showcased strong iron play by hitting close approaches at the 10^th and 14^th and converted birdies to move to 7-under.
 
Taking advantage of the par-5 17^th and 18^th holes, a pair of birdies put Sorenson at 9-under with nine holes to play. Birdying his third par-5 of the round Wednesday, Sorenson moved to 10-under, but had trouble keeping his approach on the green at the par-4 fifth hole, leading to his only bogey of the day.
 
Reaching the par-5 ninth in two, Sorenson narrowly missed his eagle, but would settle for birdie and a second-round 67 to sit atop the leaderboard at 10-under 134.
 
Long considered one of the state’s best professional players, Sorenson has accumulated more than 55 wins across the Minnesota Section dating back to 2007. A win Thursday would be his first major win in the state since defeating Don Berry at the Minnesota PGA Match Play Championship at Burl Oaks Golf Club in 2016.
 
Capan, a former Minnesota Golf Association Junior Boys’ Player of the Year who recently finished his sophomore season at the University of Alabama, carded four birdies during his final nine holes during the opening round Tuesday to begin Day Two a shot behind.
 
An up-and-down front nine to begin the second round saw Capan turn at even par for the day, but he would find his footing on a sweltering day at Royal Golf Club, carding three birdies over his first six holes on his inward nine, en route to a second-round 69 to pull within one shot of Sorenson.
 
Capan claimed a single top-15 finish for the Crimson Tide during the 2019-2020 before the collegiate golf season was cut short. In 2019 Capan placed 15^th at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 117^th Western Amateur Championship.
 
Capan and partner, Ben Wong, won the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Pinehurst Resort.
 
Brent Snyder, a three-time Minnesota Section Omega Player of the Year, followed his opening-round 66 by carding a 2-under par 70 on Wednesday and will begin the final round two shots off the lead. The teaching professional from Troy Burne Golf Club is in search of his first major state victory since winning the Minnesota PGA Match Play Championship at Midland Hills Country Club in 2017.
 
University of Minnesota assistant coach and former Gopher golfer Matt Rachey will begin the final round tied for fourth with current Gopher Angus Flanagan and University of St. Thomas golfer Ben Frazzini, three shots back of the lead at 7-under.
 
The 103^rd Minnesota State Open concludes Thursday with final-round tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Royal Golf Club.
 
 
 
THE 103^RD MINNESOTA STATE OPEN
ROYAL GOLF CLUB
LAKE ELMO, MINN.
6,901 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
WEDNESDAY’S SECOND ROUND RESULTS
1. Jeff Sorenson (p), The Minikahda Club, 67-67—134
2. Frankie Capan, North Oaks GC, 66-69—135
3. Brent Snyder (p), Troy Burne GC, 66-70—136
T4. Ben Frazzini, Windsong Farm GC, 65-72—137
T4. Matt Rachey (p), University GC, 69-68—137
T4. Angus Flanagan, University GC, 68-69—137
T7. Michael Schmitz, 2^nd Swing, 69-69—138
T7. Andrew Israelson, Vintage GC, 66-72—138
T9. Sam Matthew (p), North Oaks GC, 72-67—139
T9. Trey Fessler, Medina G&CC, 69-70--139
T9. Max Tylke, Legends Club, 71-68—139
 
 
For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga20/event/mnpga2026/contest/5/leaderboard.htm